Assassin of Curses: (The Coren Hart Chronicles Book 3) Jessie Eaker (best reads txt) 📖

Fumiko looked up. “Like I said, he makes me uncomfortable.”

We considered each other for a moment and then I sighed. “All right. I’ll try.” I cleared my throat. “Abe? Can you help me?”

The response was immediate—loud and booming in my head. I winced.

Oh, so he’s asking nicely now. He must want something.

I rolled my eyes.

“I want to find out if Fumiko has a charm on her. Can you help me see it?”

She might have more than one.

“All right, can you help me see them?”

So, you want to see her charms? Abe asked, with a touch of amusement.

I nodded. “Yes.”

Fumiko looked at me expectantly. “What do you need me to do?” She couldn’t hear Abe’s side of the conversation but knew things were progressing.

Abe continued. The process is simple. Before we can begin, ask her to take off all her clothes.

“Take off her clothes?” I shook my head. “Why? I didn’t have to remove Zofie’s clothes when I took off her charm.”

Fumiko looked unsure. She grabbed the bottom of her dress to pull it over her head. “I guess I can do that. I’ll do anything to get this thing off me.”

Abe continued, Of course, she has to. You want to see ALL her charms, don’t you? Especially, her female charms.

“What?”

Suddenly Zofie skidded to a stop in front of Fumiko’s door. “Coren, what in the Creator’s hell are you doing?” She was wearing her nightgown, so she must have jumped straight out of bed.

I looked at her in surprise while Fumiko blushed and let her dress drop back in place.

Abe howled with laughter.

Then it hit me. Zofie had been hearing Abe’s side of the conversation. Just as the troublemaker had intended.

I looked at Zofie and pointed to Fumiko. “I was going to examine her charms... I mean her hidden charms...” I shook my head. “She wanted me to take them off.”

This was not helping.

Zofie held up a halting hand. “I think I understand. Abe’s been up to his old tricks again.”

I sighed in resignation. “It would appear so.”

Zofie shook her head. “Abhulengulus, you shouldn’t tease Coren like that.”

Sorry, Princess. He’s just so... teasable!

Zofie grinned. “He is, isn’t he.” She sighed and shook her head. “Now, what exactly were you two up to?”

Fumiko seemed to regain her composure. “I asked Coren to look for the tracking charm concealed on my body. I want the thing off.”

Zofie grew serious. “Be careful. It’s generally best for the person who invoked the charm to remove it. Theoretically, someone stronger than the original caster can do it. However, there can sometimes be complications depending on how the charm was put together.”

Fumiko shook her head. “I don’t care. I’ve got to get this thing off me. You won’t... no, you can’t trust me while I still have it. I will be a liability. In fact, it could be listening to this very conversation.”

Zofie turned toward me. “Do you know what a charm looks like?”

“Well, I used it on the firefly, and it looked green with a line stretching off into the distance. Also, when I took that Abeyance charm off you, it was a greenish thing.”

Zofie shook her head. “Charms aren’t green. The colors you’re seeing is the color of the person’s myst. Everyone’s color is unique, like a signature or crest. Most myst users can’t see them, only myst seers can.”

Zofie looked to Fumiko. “Can you see them?”

Fumiko shook her head. “No, I can’t. I was told I was only an average myst user. I can only use it for a few minor charms.”

Zofie turned back to me. “Coren, I think it’s time you have your first myst lesson. Look at Fumiko and tell me what color her myst is?”

“Abe,” I said. “Show me.”

He was still chuckling. Of course. I’ll be happy to let you see her charms.

I sighed and shook my head. “Please, Abe, just show me the myst lines.”

As before, my vision changed. I saw a glowing web of multicolored lines running everywhere, moving and churning. I looked in Zofie’s direction and saw her familiar blue lines. Hers were a vibrant, almost pure blue. Even the curse mark on her chest was the same shade of blue. Which made sense, considering curses took their myst from the host.

When I turned to examine Fumiko, I saw a web of green lines surrounding her. Not nearly as many as Zofie, nor as complex. And nothing seemed amiss in them. I was hoping I would see a thread leading off somewhere as I had with the firefly, but no such luck.

“Fumiko has a bunch of lines surrounding her. They’re a pale green, with a touch of yellow. But I can’t see any sign of an irregularity in them.” I thought for a moment. “Abe, how about you?”

I don’t see anything either. He gave an almost human sigh. I guess it’s time I broke the news to you. Now, stay with me. This is a complex topic which might challenge your monkey brain. He made a sound like he was clearing his throat. I can’t see what you see. I’m blind to myst. Charms don’t even register.

I looked to Zofie who shared my puzzled look. “But you told me what to do when I removed Zofie’s Abeyance charm.”

True. But I was going off past experience. Like a blind person knowing a clear sky is blue, even if they’ve never actually seen the color. If you’ll recall, I told you to look for what was different. I have no idea what a charm looks like. You figured that out on your own.

I was kicking myself for not spending more time with Abe since his capabilities had been unlocked. “If you can’t see myst, then how do you know what a curse