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

I went to stand beside her. She glanced up at me with a brief smile before returning her attention to the view outside. After a moment, she started humming. It was a tune I didn’t recognize.

She caught herself and gave me a sheepish grin. “I hope my humming doesn’t bother you.”

I shook my head. “Not at all.”

She turned back to the window and touched her shoulder against mine. The contact spoke volumes of how worried she was. “It relaxes me to hear it. It’s a lullaby. Father used to sing it to me when I was a young girl.” She smiled. “It was the only way he could get me to go to sleep.”

“Are there words?” I asked.

She smiled. “I’ll sing them for you when things settle down.” She patted my arm.

“I look forward to it.”

She looked up at me like she wanted to say more, but Rourke, the last to arrive, burst into the room panting—like he had run all the way from his quarters. He was clutching a small wooden box.

With a touch, Zofie re-sealed the window against the chill and turned to Rourke. “Were you able to make it?”

Zofie had sent for Rourke at first light, and together we had come up with a plan to deal with Fumiko’s problem.

Rourke smiled. “It was a bit tricky, but I think this should work.” He held the box out to Fumiko. “For you, my lady.” He grinned like a teen giving his first love a Day of the New present.

Fumiko rose slowly and formally took the offered box with both hands. She bowed deeply. “Thank you for making this. It will greatly ease my mind and let me stay by Zofie’s side.”

She opened the box and pulled out a strip of leather with a single unpolished crystal tied within it.

Rourke leaned forward. “I’m sorry the necklace is so simple, but it was the best I could do in a hurry. I hope it’s not too crude.”

Fumiko’s expression did not change. She bowed again. “It is a great gift. May I put it on now?”

“Of... of course,” Rourke stammered. “Please do.”

She took out the necklace and tied it on. As the jewel touched her throat, it immediately gave a flash of white light then faded.

Rourke closed one eye and looked at her, no doubt using his myst sight. “It appears to be working. That should give the bastards something to wonder about. While I couldn’t remove the tracking charm, this at least will suppress it so it can’t reveal anything.”

“Suppress?” Zofie asked. “I didn’t think a charm could stop another charm.”

Rourke smiled. “Suppress might be too strong of a word. The necklace continuously feeds a harmless image and sound through to the person on the other end.”

“And what image is that?” I asked.

“The inside of my toilet closet.”

We all chuckled. Rourke shrugged. “It was the most harmless thing I could think of.”

Spraggel patted him on the back. “I would not call it harmless. You haven’t cleaned it since you got here. They’ll die in horror.”

As we all got another chuckle, Rourke blushed and moved to his seat.

Fumiko then turned to me and bowed. “And thank you Coren, for coming up with the idea.”

I shrugged. “I had one that suppressed Abe until he broke it. I just thought it might work for a charm too.”

Then she turned to Zofie and gave her a bow too. The deepest one of all. “And you Princess for allowing it to be made. I am once again in your debt.”

Zofie smiled. “I’m just glad we were able to figure something out.”

The princess then stepped forward, signaling it was time to start. She remained standing and took a moment to look at each of her small group of advisors: Spraggel, Fumiko, Master Rourke, Captain Milner, and of course, myself. Historian, Secretary, Myst Adept, Commander, and Knight. It was such a small group. To complete the traditional council, Zofie needed to fill at least three other positions. But she just hadn’t had the time.

She cleared her throat. “As you know, we’ve received an offer from the Kuiojia Empire to provide us with supplies in exchange for the Griffin’s Key. I wanted to get each of your opinions on it before I make my decision.”

Rourke perked up. “I think we should accept. The food is too good of an offer to pass up.”

Captain Milner frowned. “I disagree. I’m afraid it would make us beholden to the empire. While I agree it would make things easier, we don’t know the condition of the supplies or if they will even follow through with their offer.”

Zofie turned to Spraggel. “What about you?”

Spraggel nodded. “I don’t think we know the value of the Griffin’s Key. We could be giving away the kingdom for a pittance. We need more intelligence on exactly what it is and what it does. My advice is to ask for more time.”

I chimed in. “I agree with Spraggel. We just don’t know enough.”

Zofie turned to her secretary. “And you?”

Fumiko shifted uncomfortably. “I will abstain. I might be biased.”

Zofie crossed her arms. “There’s something you haven’t told us, isn’t there.”

Fumiko looked up in surprise. She gave a fleeting grin. “You read people so well.” She looked up at Zofie. “Yes, there is.” Fumiko shifted uncomfortably. “I owe you an honest assessment. But it’s complicated. I... I am afraid of what you’ll think of me.”

Zofie gave a gentle grin. “After your outburst last night, I thought there might be something more. And you don’t have to tell us everything. But you’re most familiar with the empire. What do you think of this offer? Can we trust Imperial Advisor Tusita Yonge? I honestly haven’t been impressed with the way he’s