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

I grinned. “Don’t worry. I’m Mister Negotiator. My preference is to talk them to death.”

She returned the grin. “That does fit your style better.” And then she turned and ran toward the inn.

I mumbled softly to myself. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t hold up so well against swords.” I turned and jogged in the direction the amulet indicated, nearly falling on a patch of ice.

During warmer times, the road I traveled was likely a wide and well-maintained thoroughfare into the village. But now, it was mainly just a path through the snow trampled down by those unfortunate enough to be out in the cold. The only thing around me was a blanket of white, broken only by a few trees and the occasional dark house. The thick snow seemed to muffle some sounds, yet amplify others. The crunch of ice under my boots seemed unnaturally loud. It wasn’t lost on me that this would easily alert my presence to any potential attacker.

And Creator, it was frigid. I shivered. My breath came out in dense puffs of fog. I periodically flexed my hands to keep them limber should I have to pull my sword. We had cold and snow back in Brethnach, but nothing like this. It just made it clear that I was a long way from home.

I didn’t have to go far to reach the village square. I paused beside the town’s central well and consulted my charm. It pointed toward a sizable building just ahead. Dim flickers of light could be seen coming from around its shuttered windows. It was too dark to make out exactly what the structure was, but from its shape, it appeared to be a village hall or perhaps a Creator’s temple.

I trotted toward it—again slipping on the ice—and quietly climbed the three stone steps leading up to the door. I could hear voices coming from inside.

It sounded like Eviek, and he didn’t seem happy. “You little witch,” he yelled. “I don’t believe you. You gave him Ellish. You can make him able to read and do numbers.”

“Pa,” came his son Troy’s voice. “Don’t do this.”

“Be quiet!” he yelled. Then I heard a meaty slap.

“Don’t hit Troy!” It was Cabrina. “I’ve told you I can’t!”

I looked back down the way I had come hoping to spot Fumiko, but I didn’t see her. I really should wait for her before confronting the man. He likely had help inside, but I had no clue as to how many or if they were armed.

I heard another slap. “Why did you hit me?” yelled Cabrina.

“Give him the teachings, or you get more than just slap.”

“I’ve told you I can’t,” she pleaded. “Now let me go before I get into trouble. And quit hitting Troy.”

A new voice joined the conversation. Another man. “And my daughter. You said she could have it too!”

I heard another meaty slap, and Cabrina wailed.

I had to act. I reached for the door’s latch—when suddenly the charm on my wrist went hot. I froze.

Coren, can you hear me? I winced at the booming voice inside my head. It was Abe.

I glanced at the door, afraid to speak. I breathed a whispered, “Yes.”

Oh, goody. The princess has been working on getting my voice back inside your head since yesterday. I can still only talk to you when you’re in danger, but she’s most pleased that at least this much is working. I, on the other hand, would have preferred to have gone a few more years without your company.

Yeah, it was Abe.

I breathed another whisper. “What’s inside?”

About that. There’s a big guy standing just inside the door. And he’s a little jumpy. As soon as you opened it, you would have been making a bad fashion statement with a knife sticking out of your chest.

The arguing on the other side of the door seemed to be escalating. Apparently, one of the men thought his daughter should go first.

Now, don’t open the door. In this case, I think it would be better to just knock.

“Knock?” I whispered in disbelief.

He chuckled. Trust me.

I stepped up to the door, gave it a couple of loud raps, and quickly stepped back down to the street.

The door immediately opened, and a large fellow stepped out, brandishing a pretty big knife. As soon as his foot hit the first step, he slipped on the ice, and his feet went flying. He landed on his back and knocked his head hard on the stone steps. He lay there unconscious.

“Not terribly original,” I commented.

Abe snorted. Everyone’s a critic.

I quickly rushed through the door.

Inside was a large room dimly lit from a single lantern resting on a rough wooden table. Eviek and two other men looked up as I entered. I had seen both of them at the inn. One appeared to be unarmed, but the other had a wicked-looking club. Troy leaned against the wall dabbing at his nose.

Cabrina sat on a bench in the center of the room, plainly relieved when I entered. “It wasn’t my fault,” she exclaimed. “I didn’t do anything this time!”

I focused my gaze on Eviek. “In this region, is it customary to abduct one’s guests?”

I caught Cabrina’s eye and motioned her to leave. She started to rise, but Eviek’s large hand came down on her shoulder and pushed her back down.

“She stays until my son gets the teaching he needs.”

I shook my head. “She can’t do that. Now let her go, and I’ll forget this happened. But if you force my hand, I won’t go easy on you.” I hoped I could back up my words.

Troy stepped away from the wall. “Pa, just let her go. This has gone too far.”

Eviek pointed at his son. “You be quiet!”

I took a step closer. “Eviek, this is