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

Lilith. It’s a name I’m fond of and have used over the years.” She adjusted her hat. “I knew you would come today. I have all of Risten’s memories and knew it as sure as the sun rising in the morning. She loves you very deeply and is quite frantic at the moment.”

“Why did you come?” asked Zofie. “Did Wynn send you?”

The woman gave a short bark of a laugh. “Hardly. He’s in a bit of trouble right now. Even we can’t find him and fear he may have gone rogue. He was supposed to be in complete control of this kingdom, and you were supposed to be dead. Playing curses with you and running his own agenda had not been in the plan. As for why I am here...” She turned to face us and put her hand on her sword. “I need something. And you’re going to give it to me.”

“Abe,” I whispered while they talked. “Can I steal her curse?”

A Dark Avenyts? You’ve got to be kidding!

Zofie’s eyes briefly glanced in my direction. She could hear Abe too. Using his newfound abilities, I had instructed Abe to bring Zofie into the conversation whenever she was nearby.

He continued, That’s well outside of my size range. When I steal a curse, it becomes an extension of me. Since most curses are dumb, it’s not a problem. But the Dark Avenyts are like me. They’re intelligent, and they carefully lock themselves into place. I doubt I could steal it, and if by some miracle I succeeded, I would likely be damaged doing it.

Dammit! I slowly began to inch my hand toward my blade.

But the thing in Risten’s body noticed immediately. “Coren,” she said flatly. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. You’ve already got a price on your head.” She ran a finger along the hilt of her sword. “A lot of our kind are angry with you.” A slow mocking grin spread across her face. “You destroyed one of us. Something that hasn’t happened in a thousand years. If they catch you, your death will be quite painful.”

Zofie straightened and tried to refocus the conversation away from me. “What do you want?”

Lilith smiled. “I want you to tell me where the Griffin’s Key is hidden. Only the Xernow heir is supposed to know where it is. And since Wynn doesn’t, that leaves you.”

Zofie shook her head. “Father never mentioned it. I don’t even know what it is.”

Lilith opened her mouth to speak but paused. “I think it best for Risten herself to explain this. And how badly we want it. As I said, she is a bit frantic.” And then the woman’s expression changed. It was very subtle, the tilt of her head, the worry lines on her face, maybe even the tension in her shoulders. But there was a difference.

“Zofie!” exclaimed Risten, tears immediately flowed down her face. “You have to give it to her. They want this thing bad. Real bad. She’s going to kill you if you don’t. And I won’t be able to stop her! You won’t be able to stop them! They’re too powerful. I’ve seen it.” She wiped tears with the back of her hand. “Kill me if you get the...” Risten abruptly stopped.

Her expression grew harder, and I knew that Lilith was back in control. She grinned evilly and wiped the rest of the drying tears away. “Now, are you going to make your cousin kill you, and increase her misery just a bit more? Another death to add to all the others I’ve killed while she helplessly watched? Or are you going to tell us where it is? You have to know.”

Zofie glared at her. “I’m telling the truth. I don’t know. If my father knew, he never passed down the knowledge.”

Lilith frowned, and the grip on her sword tightened. “One last time, princess. Where is the Griffin’s Key?”

Zofie held her head high. “Do your worst. I don’t know. And even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you.”

Lilith shifted and prepared to draw. “Too bad.”

Suddenly, I felt a rush go past me and a pluck at my hip, quickly followed by the clang of two swords meeting. Fumiko, her plain dress fluttering in the breeze, suddenly stood between us and our attacker, blocking the woman’s descending sword. Lilith was momentarily surprised. “Where...?” But she didn’t finish and instead attacked Fumiko raining down blows fast and furious.

And to my utter shock, Fumiko countered her perfectly. Lilith changed direction and swung crosswise. Fumiko leaned backward, the blade passing barely over her, before she straightened and resumed her attack.

I reached for my own sword and suddenly realized it was gone. Looking closer at the battle before us, I realized Fumiko held it. Did she just take it as she ran by? Was that even possible?

I grabbed Zofie’s arm and pulled her away from the action. She reluctantly backed away while reaching for the security necklace she wore around her neck. It broke easily as she jerked it off, releasing its special charm: a call to her captain of the guard.

Fumiko matched the sword-master blow for blow, but Lilith had a height and size advantage, which she used to drive the smaller woman back.

“You’re quite well trained,” commented Lilith. “And your style is not one I’ve encountered before.” She grinned. “But I have your measure now.”

Lilith started to rain down blows driving Fumiko back toward one of the sarcophagi, pressing her against it. I pushed Zofie behind me. I didn’t see how Fumiko could get out of this one.

And then I felt myst gathering. Time seemed to slow, as I watched Fumiko’s knees flex, hands come up, and body bend backward. When her hands touched the sarcophagi, her feet continued upwards, and in one smooth movement, delivered a solid kick to Lilith’s chin. The larger woman staggered back.