Assassin of Curses: (The Coren Hart Chronicles Book 3) by Jessie Eaker (best novels in english TXT) 📕

Fumiko continued the flip to a crouch on top of the stone lid with sword held ready.

I stared in shock. That move was definitely impossible. How did she do it?

Behind me, I could hear the running steps of guards approaching. Lilith glared at Fumiko but did not advance. She instead grabbed her hat and threw it on the floor. Immediately, a portal opened on the ground. The hat seemed to float on the portal’s shiny black surface but did not fall into it.

Lilith stepped to the portal. “While this has been interesting, I must not get caught just yet.”

Fumiko charged, but before she could reach her, Lilith stepped over the portal and instantly dropped through the floor, taking the hat with her. The portal immediately closed.

Zofie turned to the men just reaching her. “Search the castle grounds. That was a short-range portal. She can’t be too far away.”

Fumiko, breathing hard, collapsed to her knees. “I’m out of practice.”

I squatted down in front of her. “If that’s out of practice, I can’t help but wonder what you were like when you were in practice.”

She weakly held out my sword. “I’m sorry I took your weapon.”

“Don’t apologize. You can definitely use it better than I can.”

Zofie squatted down beside me and leaned in to give Fumiko a hug. “Thank you for saving us.”

Fumiko looked down. “Madam Hindenlye had forgotten to include the cups you requested, and I was bringing them to you when I saw her. I...” she looked up with a pleading expression. “I swore to never fight again, but I couldn’t let her hurt you.”

“Where did you learn to use a sword like that?” Zofie asked. “You used it so well.”

Fumiko’s expression fell. She looked pleadingly from one of us to the other. “If you command, I will answer. But please don’t make me. It’s a part of my past. One I’d just as soon forget.”

Zofie patted her on the shoulder. “We won’t press. Tell us if it ever becomes appropriate.”

Fumiko bowed her head. “Thank you, Princess. You have no idea how honored I am to be allowed to be here.”

Zofie smiled. “And I to have you as a friend.” She pulled Fumiko to her feet and surveyed the group of guards now surrounding her. And in the distance, more were coming. She sighed. “I guess my perfectly planned picnic has been put off.”

“I’m sure your mother will understand,” I offered.

She nodded sadly. “You’re right. It can wait for a bit.” She stepped forward and put a hand on her mother’s sarcophagus. I couldn’t help but feel there was more to what she was saying.

Zofie’s movement caused the shadows to shift, and I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. Looking down, I saw a layer of dust had collected on the floor beside the sarcophagus. And the dust had been recently disturbed with a crude message, as if someone had drawn in it with the toe of their boot. Risten had been standing just beside that spot. And it was exactly something Lilith would taunt us with.

I put a hand on Zofie’s shoulder and pointed to it.

She looked down and gasped.

It read, Help me.

CHAPTER TWO

Interrupted

Meal

The attempt on the princess’s life prompted a flurry of activity from the guards and staff—the search for the culprit, the investigation of her entry, and discussions on how to prevent its reoccurrence. But one truth was clear—Lilith had gotten away. The guards found evidence of two horses and traces of myst charms in the overgrowth toward the river. How she got in was still a mystery. There had been a fight reported near the castle gates just after dawn. Nothing much had been thought of it since the food shortages made tempers short. But it could have provided someone with intimate knowledge of the castle, just the distraction they needed to slip in.

The flurry of activity didn’t die down until early evening, which unfortunately made us late for dinner. (Much to my displeasure, we had missed lunch entirely.) Tonight we would be eating with her senior staff. We had a lot to discuss even outside of the day’s events.

So Zofie and I, with Fumiko trailing, entered the dining hall to find Captain Milner and Master Rourke chatting next to the room’s one window—now shuttered against the cold. Upon seeing us, they finished their conversation and moved to stand at their places at the long table.

Much to the disappointment of her chamberlain, Eallair, I escorted Zofie to her chair and pulled it out for her. He was well into his mid-years and took great pride in having served the Xernows most of his life. He also had an attitude that was just a bit too smug for me. Naturally, he and I had a bit of a competition going on as to who would perform this duty. I couldn’t help but gloat. Tonight had been my win.

The princess sat at the head of the table with Fumiko taking her place on Zofie’s left. I took the position on the right with Captain Milner next to me where he sat stiffly. He didn’t particularly care for these affairs, preferring less formal surroundings.

Captain Milner had been a freebooter when we first met, having been forced into banditry just to survive. When Zofie launched her attempt to win back her throne, the captain and his men threw in their lot with us and were nearly executed. For his loyalty, Zofie had named him captain of her guard.

Master Rourke took his place one down from Fumiko. Rourke was a young man not much older than I and relatively new to his craft—and unfortunately now one of the most experienced myst users in the kingdom. Wynn, during his time as king, had either killed or spirited off all