Assassin of Curses: (The Coren Hart Chronicles Book 3)

by Jessie D. Eaker

  I nearly panicked. I wasn’t supposed to show any of my skills and to disguise my walk, so no one knew I was practiced in martial arts. I made a show of awkwardly removing the brush but was unsure what to do with it since I dare not approach the desk yet. So I just held it.

  The grizzly old man sighed. I nearly breathed a sigh of relief since he didn’t seem to notice anything.

  “My lord, this is the woman we discussed. She is Lady Fumiko of the Zhangjunen family.”

  The young man looked nervously at his aide. “Is she the one from Lord Zhiqiang?”

  The aide sighed. I got the impression he did this a lot.

  “No, my lord. Imperial Advisor Yonge recommended her.”

  “Oh,” he said. He looked back down at his paper, and then eyed the pile beside him, before looking back at me. “Then you can tell them I’ve met her. I’ve got too much to do today to be distracted.” He held out his hand toward me. “My brush, please.”

  I hesitated. I was surprised at his abrupt dismissal. I needed at least a few days of access to gather my intelligence. I was supposed to be allowed several meetings to determine my compatibility. He might suspect me already, but I didn’t think that was the case. No, it was something else.

  He impatiently wiggled the fingers of his hand. “My brush.”

  My mind raced. He was used to being obeyed. He was used to girls dressed up and competing for his attention. From the room’s lack of decorations, he had no use for frills, and if I had to guess, thought the women trooped in front of him were mere decorations. Yet, his soldiers loved him, and he had already outmaneuvered one political rival. Plus, this man had somehow evaded a previous assassin and was thought to be a threat. I somehow sensed this man concealed a bright, yet disciplined intellect. And going with the script my masters had carefully constructed was not going to work.

  His aide went to pluck the brush out of my hand, but I suddenly stepped forward and over to the game board. “If you wish your property returned, you are going to have to take it.” I picked up a red soldier piece from the board and moved it in a classic opening.

  The guards squirmed behind me, uneasy at my undignified tone. “Lady...” started his aide.

  The young man blinked at me in surprise. He held up a hand for the aide to wait. Then he stood and moved to stand on the other side of the board. He picked up a blue soldier and moved it in the classic response.

  I reached for the piece that would be the classic reply to his move. He likewise started to reach for his piece in anticipation of the expected move—eager to put this to a quick end. But at the last moment, I shifted to one of the moves that was less than classic. It was considered to be—aggressive—and against a skilled player would do nothing but extend the game.

  His hand froze over the board. Then continued with his classic response. He likely thought I was merely moving pieces around—the game was not popular with females, and I had only been taught as a way to practice planning against an opponent. I was no master, but I knew the basics.

  My next move was to lead with the archer. He quickly followed with the next classic move—another soldier. My archer then took his soldier. His eyes went up in surprise, and he then looked at me—to really see me—for the first time. I had just disproven his belief that I was not a player. The room was deadly quiet. One of the guards shifted, and it sounded like thunder. I tried not to look at him and instead focused on the board.

  The young man brought up his monk, which indicated a shift in strategy. I nearly laughed. I had played out this same plan against Jiaying, so I knew it well. She had stopped playing with me because of it. I moved my archer to endanger his general.

  He leaned forward and put both hands on the desk. It was several minutes before he moved a piece. I quickly responded.

  Back and forth we went, he gained advantage, then I took some back. But eventually, he surrounded my general.

  I straightened and looked into his eyes. Then held out the brush to him. He carefully took it, while not taking his eyes off me. I turned to leave, my guards trailing me. As I reached the door, he called after me. “Join me for dinner this evening....”

  His security was tight as I traveled down the same corridor I had before. The guards were alert as ever, but there was a different glint to their eye. Respect? Wariness? Disbelief? I wasn’t quite sure. The servants that assisted me in getting ready for dinner were almost twittering and kept exchanging knowing looks. Apparently, I had set the household on end. I sighed. If it helped me with understanding the security of the place, that was fine. He would likely be dead before the end of the month. I wondered if I would have to play the bereaved concubine. For some reason, the thought tightened my stomach.

  This evening, I had dressed simply, in a white blouse, vest, and dark skirt. I realized an elaborate dress would do nothing to impress him, so I had to get creative in matching the few pieces I had. My hair was down with two small combs pulling it back from my face. I couldn’t help but wonder what my masters would say—I was severely deviating from the script. But it was the only way I could see to get the information I needed. My hope is he would invite me for a walk in a nearby garden, or even better, back to his chambers where I might find some weakness in his defenses.

  The guards guided me to a different door deeper inside the manor. I was not surprised to find another austere room, with a single table and two chairs in its center. The only decorations on the walls were portraits of the same man and woman from the office. Beneath the pictures sat a small table adorned with a simple bowl candle. Surprisingly, it wasn’t a myst lamp, but an actual candle. I couldn’t help but wonder who those people were.

  But the great surprise was that the young lord was already there waiting for me. His face was expressionless as I entered, but his eyes went up like his face wanted to smile, but wasn’t quite sure how to unlock the expression.

  He indicated the place across from him. “Thank you for coming.”

  The guards took their places by the door, and I went to the only other place at the table. I couldn’t help but notice there were no servants visible. Usually, the nobility liked to show off their wealth by having their staff line up against the wall and then fall all over themselves serving you. I had to admit, it was nice to see a noble restrain themselves.

  “Thank you for having me, Lord Luoyangei,” I said with a polite smile and a bow of the head. “You look well this evening.”

  “As you do you... look well, I mean, very healthy in fact... glowing actually... really pretty.” He blushed. “I like your combs too.” He clearly had no idea how to talk to me.

  I looked down to hide my smile. “My lord is too kind.”

  And as surely as if I had put a knife in it, that’s where the conversation died. We stared at each other for at least three awkward minutes. I never realized that three minutes could last so long. I glanced down occasionally, playing the bashful innocent, hoping he would take the lead. But nothing happened, except for the beads of sweat on his brow.

  Thankfully a servant appeared from a doorway in the back, bearing a tray with our soups. The young man straightened as we were served—the gentle tinkling of the dishes loud in the room.

  I had to help him out.

  And then we spoke at the same time.

  Twice.

  We laughed nervously, but it seemed to break the tension.

  And for the first time since I’d met him. He smiled. I got the impression it was not a frequent thing. And for some reason, the smile warmed me.

  “You go first. Please,” he insisted.

  I nodded. “I was just going to say that the soup is quite good.”

  “Ah, yes, my master of the kitchens is excellent. Although, I would prefer he added a bit more salt. But he insists too much salt weakens the constitution.”

  And so the conversation went—sort of like starting a fire with damp kindling—I would give a spark, it would want to light, but then quickly fade. Oh, but the sparks—those brief insights
into his life were fascinating. The quickness of the time took me unawares.

  “Go with me on a ride tomorrow,” he asked as our time came to a conclusion.

  That was not exactly what I hoped for. I needed to find out more about this fortress of a manor. But I had to go with what was offered.

  “Of course,” I answered.

  Early in the morning, we rode out. His escort and mine were swapped for two mounted soldiers—one male and one female. I couldn’t help but smile. It meant I had graduated from just someone, to a woman he wanted to make comfortable with him.

  We hadn’t been traveling long when we stopped at a tiny house just outside the city’s gates. An old woman came out to meet him, and they gave each other a warm hug. They exchanged pleasantries over the weather, her aching hip, and how she missed her husband. He nodded as she talked, seeming to hang on every word. He then pulled out a tiny bundle, the size of a few coins wrapped in a white kerchief, and tied with a ribbon. He placed it in her hand and folded the fingers over it. He then thanked her.

  When he remounted and turned away, he explained she was the widow of his father’s master at arms. The man had died while protecting his father. So he visited her every week and gave her a few coins. It was the least he could do for the years of service the man had given his family.

  We continued along a well-worn path, but then he turned onto a trail less taken. We chatted along the way. Compared to the previous evening, he was a chatterbox, explaining about the path, the woods, his childhood visits. Dreadfully boring stuff—only it wasn’t boring. The light in his eyes when he spoke and the gentle smile which occasionally curved his lips were more deadly than my sharpest dagger. I realized I was in mortal danger and entering territory an assassin should never enter.

  I was starting to like him.

  At mid-morning, we emerged onto a hilltop meadow, with woods to one side, but otherwise grass all around and an excellent view of the countryside below us. A blanket had been spread in the meadow’s center, and as we rode up, a servant began to set out a light lunch. I couldn’t help but smile. Why that little charmer. Someone had to be helping him.

  The servant withdrew, as did the guards with the horses, to a safe distance. To my surprise, he began to serve me himself. While I appreciated the honor, he was seriously out of protocol. I was merely being presented as a concubine, not a full wife. He had no reason to court me like this.

  Mid-way through our meal—as he chatted about how the crops were doing, how the harvest looked, and his plans for a new irrigation system—I noticed there was a knife placed between us. It had been used to cut a few vegetables. I looked down at the thing like a monster. It was not exceedingly sharp, but would do a good job of entering a man’s body. I could easily jab it in his throat, and he would die soundlessly. I could then quietly ride away. My hand itched to take it.

  And at the same time, I was revolted at the thought.

  I tucked my hands underneath my legs as if to restrain them. It was not my role to kill him, I told myself. I was only to gather information. And for some reason, I was exceedingly grateful.

  He paused for a moment as if considering something. “What do you think of the emperor?” he asked.

  Now that was a dangerous question. To the people, he was supposed to be their moon and stars. Almost their god. To say anything less out loud was to be branded a traitor and be immediately executed. But to me, he was a man who had bedded my mother and then cast her aside when she became inconvenient. The same man who had sent me to bathe in darkness every day.

  I smiled and shrugged. “He is the emperor. The one and only. What more is there to say?”

  He looked off into the distance. “I think something is wrong with him. The empire is falling apart, rotting from inside, and yet he does nothing about it. My father originally supported him, but came to distrust him. He said the emperor had changed.”

  I shrugged again. “I do not know,” I said, looking down. He was talking treason. Anyone could turn him in for saying such.

  He slowly turned to look at me. His expression neutral. But his eyes... they were bright with determination. “I plan to find out. I plan to overthrow him, if I must. But the empire can’t continue like it is.” He paused. “I thought you might want to know before you became more involved with me. I plan to challenge the world.”

  We stared at each other, not saying a word. I didn’t know what to say. If I were to reveal his thoughts to the other nobles, he could easily deny it. There were no witnesses. So it was likely a test to see if I would cause him trouble in the future. Or...

  He could really intend to overthrow the emperor. If that was the case, it would easily explain why he had become a target.

  Thankfully the servant appeared behind me and cleared his throat. Lord Luoyangei was due back for a visitor.

  The gentle breeze that had been playing with his hair paused, leaving the meadow silent. And then I heard it. A sound only one accustomed to weapons would understand. The creak of wood being bent and leather being stretched

  Someone had a bow.

  Then I heard it release.

  Instinctively, I dived forward toward the young lord, but I was too late. A heartbeat before I could reach him, an arrow struck him solidly in the chest.

  “No...” I wailed.

  But he just sighed and pulled the arrow out of his clothes. “Damn. And I just got these too.”

  The guards were already in pursuit.

  I ran my hands over him in disbelief, and he chuckled at my panic. “No need to worry. It is a myst shield. Arrows and knives can’t get through it.”

  And I could feel he was right. While I was touching him, I wasn’t actually touching his body. There was some kind of barrier around him, molding to his shape. No wonder the first attack hadn’t worked.

  Then it occurred to me. The knife laid in plain sight had been no accident. It was to test me.

  He was subdued as we rode back. I think he was embarrassed at me finding out. Or perhaps he was afraid he had pushed me away. But when we reached the stables, he quickly jumped down and came around to help me to dismount.

  “Will you join me for dinner this evening? If you’re not afraid of me, that is.”

  I smiled. “You do not frighten me.”

  But as I turned away, I realized he did. I was terrified.

  Just not for the reason he thought.

  A week later, and after several more dinners, he finally took me for a stroll through his manor’s gardens. It was the last piece of intelligence I needed.

  The evening was pleasant, with spring flowers in bloom and their fragrance lightly scenting the air. To my surprise, he took my hand. It was such an innocent and charming gesture, I blushed despite myself. We sat on a convenient bench, close to each other, and were quiet for a time, listening to the night insects.

  “This garden was my mother’s,” he said, breaking the silence. “She loved flowers. And I’ve tried to keep it just as she would have wanted. I can remember coming here and playing while she sat on this bench and watched.”

  I knew from our earlier conversations that he sorely missed his parents. Unlike mine, they had been kind and understanding people. “Your mother must have been a great lady,” I offered.

  He nodded. “She was. I can remember when I was about nine or ten, sitting on this very bench and declaring I hated girls.” He smiled wistfully. “She brushed my hair out of my eyes and explained that one day, I likely wouldn’t feel that way. But when I chose, I had to choose someone that was not only beautiful but someone intelligent and wise.” He looked at me levelly. “Someone like you...”

  And then it happened, most unexpectedly. An attack that took me completely unawares.

  He kissed me.

  I had expected him to try to seduce me. But a kiss? It was too intimate, too close... and totally disarming, especially since I liked it.

  And I fled.

  I immediately went back to my room and packed my few things. I
then put on my travel clothes and sat down to wait for sunrise. I was too close to him. If I were asked to return with a more sinister objective—I’m not sure I could do it.

  I had just sat down when there was a knock at my door. A servant entered with a tray, and on it was a small envelope. When I opened it, I saw it was from him. And like his personality, it was written in quick, strong strokes. “I frightened you. Please come see me.”

  I sighed. I nearly declined on the spot. I had my intelligence—I knew his weakness. There was no further reason to stay. But leaving too abruptly might raise suspicions. I needed to say good-bye.

  So I went with the servant, and my ever-present guards, to his personal chambers. To my surprise, the guards and the servant were instructed to remain outside. Under no circumstances were they to interrupt.

  Only I was allowed to enter.

  As was the rest of the manor, the room was sparsely decorated. It was of average size and dimly lit by a single myst lamp in the corner. I was impressed with how ordinary it appeared, having only a functional bed, a small writing desk, and the ever-present tribute to his parents. Only this one was different. A single portrait was displayed on the wall—a man, a woman, and a young boy I recognized as the lord himself. On either side of the picture were two shelves. One held a well-worn book propped up for display, and the other a ceremonial knife resting on a red velvet pillow.

  Lord Luoyangei stood by the room’s only window.

  He turned when I entered and immediately noticed my change in clothes. “So you are leaving,” he said. He turned to look back out the window. “Life’s ironic,” he said. “Since my parents died, there has been a long procession of potential concubines, wives, and mistresses. All of them were sure they could win my heart, and if not that, at least share my bed. But as you have seen, I have no use for pretty trinkets, and I sent them all away.” He turned back toward me. “But the one woman that I desperately want to stay is leaving.”