I turned to the one that had fallen, and as I stared at her, my bruised brain gave me her name.
Fumiko.
She lay unmoving, deathly pale, her chest soaked in blood.
Zofie noticed me beside her. She wiped her tears on her sleeve and tried to compose herself. “Quickly, Coren. Curse her. Transform her into something... anything.”
“Abe?” I called again. But there was no reply.
Awareness of the situation began to return.
“I... I... can’t,” I said. “Abe’s not answering. I don’t know what’s wrong.”
“Try anyway,” she demanded.
So I did, but nothing happened. I felt utterly helpless.
I could see Zofie’s tears had resumed. They rolled down her cheek and then dripped onto Fumiko’s chest, mixing with the blood.
Fumiko groaned. She opened her eyes and looked at us both. Her mouth moved, but no words came out.
“Don’t talk. We’re looking for a healer,” said Zofie, never letting up the pressure on her friend’s wound. She tried to project confidence, but the tears betrayed her. We all knew what was coming.
Fumiko tried to lift a hand, and I took it in my own, squeezing it tightly. Fumiko searched my eyes for a moment and then Zofie’s. To my surprise, I felt myst gathering.
Zofie and I were instantly sucked into something like a memory, but yet it wasn’t. It felt more immediate. Like she was sending her thoughts directly to us.
What I saw was Fumiko standing, dressed in a fine gown and her hair now long and pulled back in an elaborate style. She was smiling at us. Fumiko’s eyes slowly flicked from Zofie and then to me. She gave us a deep bow.
“Thank you,” she said, as she slowly righted herself. “While it was short, my time with you was the most enjoyable of my life. Never forget. I love you both.” I felt the vision begin to get blurry, like she was losing focus. “And Coren, you are too trusting. But I thank the Creator that you are.” She looked to the side, and I could see a bright light in the distance. “I have to go now. My love is waiting for me.” She turned back to us and smiled. “As I’ll be waiting for you.”
I suddenly found myself back in my body. I watched helplessly as Fumiko seemed to look at something in the distance, give a gentle smile, and then take her last breath.
Zofie bent over her body and sobbed uncontrollably.
I looked at my hands, which were now tainted with Fumiko’s blood. As the tears flowed on my own cheeks, I realized this blood would join my father’s. I had caused someone else I cared for to die. I couldn’t help but wonder when it would end.
A short while later, as Zofie’s sobs softened and my own tears grew less, an older man entered the room. He appeared thin and frail, but at the same time, had a spark of intensity in his eyes. He wore several layers of fine robes and carried himself with authority. His escort was a dozen well-armed guards, and of course, Spraggel.
As we continued to kneel beside Fumiko, my master came to stand beside us and laid a hand on each of our shoulders. He said nothing because he knew there was nothing that could be said.
The unfamiliar man went to Fumiko’s other side, and with the help of his guards, knelt beside her. He put his hands together and silently prayed for a few moments. Then he opened his eyes and looked down at her.
“I wish I had known her,” he said softly. “I only got to meet her once, but she was only a child then. That was just before I came under the control of Yonge.” His voice was deep and gravelly as one who had not spoken in a while. He looked up at us. “I am her father, Emperor Huang.” He leaned forward. “What was she like?”
Zofie smiled gently. “She was smart and witty, a little too uptight, but always a good friend. She wanted to put her old life behind her and do something for others. She had volunteered to teach at our new school.”
I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. “She saved my life countless times. And she taught me how to fight.”
The emperor nodded. “As I expected from this child.” He brushed a strand of hair out of her face.
We all paused for a moment before he gave a large sigh and motioned to his guards. They helped him stand. Then taking off his outer robe, he laid it gently over her.
After regarding his child a moment longer, he turned toward us. “Please forgive me, but the empire calls. Many things have been neglected while I was under the control of that fiend.” He turned to leave, but paused.
“I would like to give Fumiko a hero’s funeral...”
“No!” Zofie cut him off.
The emperor looked shocked at the outburst.
She shut her eyes for a moment to focus herself, and then she spoke again, but with a softer tone. “I am sorry, Emperor. But I must decline in Fumiko’s stead. This isn’t her home any longer. I want to take her back with me. She would rest well with us.”
The emperor regarded her for several heartbeats before nodding. “You are correct, Princess Xernow. Please do as you wish. Ask the servants for anything, and it will be granted.”
Zofie nodded in thanks.
“Would you also let me know when the funeral will be held. If you are agreeable, I would like to attend.”
She gave a sad smile. “I think Fumiko would like that.”
He nodded once and then headed for the door. But just before leaving, he turned back. “Oh, and one more thing. Now is not the time, but later, I would like to discuss the affairs in your kingdom. I would like to consider you as a partner in the coming war.”
Zofie gave a slight bow. “I would love to, your highness.”
He nodded and then left.
Cabrina came over to us as the emperor’s guards herded Lilith’s men out of the room. “I just checked, and Lilith’s curse mark is no longer on Risten. Apparently, Abe was able to remove her.” She looked down. “But I can’t feel Abhulengulus anymore.”
“I can’t get him to answer me either,” I said.
She nodded distractedly. “I fear that my master has been injured. I hope it wasn’t too bad.”
Zofie and I looked at each other. Her face was a mirror of the mixed emotions I felt. We had accomplished our purpose—removing the charms and beginning an alliance the kingdom sorely needed. We had even gotten Lilith out of Risten. But the cost had been very high. Extremely high.
And Wynn had still escaped with his prize.
I glanced at Fumiko’s body, then over to the unconscious Risten, before looking back to Zofie. Her eyes confirmed the same feeling.
That the worst was yet to come.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Back
Home
Two days later, we arrived back in Brethnach in a snowy field not far from Edlingreen Castle. Captain Milner and Master Rourke, as well as several of the staff, were waiting for us as we emerged from the long-range portal, courtesy of Emperor Huang. He had even sent messengers ahead of us to ensure there were no surprises. He had offered to let us rest in his palace, but we assured him we had to return. Zofie had a kingdom to feed.
Not to mention, the Dark Avenyts waited for no one.
While the air may have been chill, we were warmly greeted by the others, and quickly ushered inside to once again begin governing the kingdom. I was glad of the gentle warmth of the castle. We were all tired. I wasn’t sure where Zofie got her energy. For me, it was an effort to just stand.
Spraggel surprisingly volunteered to stay behind, promising to work through the negotiations with the empire. My master never ceased to amaze me.
Cabrina was with us and came along quietly. She was no doubt wondering what her fate would be now that the charms were off. With the Avenyts inside her, it was hard to know how to treat her. She had started this whole adventure, and yet, she too had been a victim. For now, we confined her to a room in the castle while we discussed her fate.
Risten came with us on a stretcher. She had recovered consciousness a few hours after Lilith had been removed, but it wasn’t much of a victory. All she would d
o was stare straight ahead, seemingly unaware of her surroundings. The healers assured us that she was physically fine. But the havoc Lilith had caused while possessing her must have been too much. I could only imagine the atrocities she had seen.
Of course, Fumiko was with us. Zofie had insisted on preparing her friend herself, dressing her in a fine gown almost identical to the one we had seen in her last vision. For the journey home, her coffin had been draped in flowers and carried by the emperor’s finest honor guard through the portal.
While all the staff was sad and made expressions of condolences, Master Rourke was especially stricken at seeing the coffin. He volunteered, actually insisted, to oversee all the arrangements for her.
Zofie seemed to be taking the return very well. She greeted everyone with a smile, talked animatedly with her staff, and made plans for the following day. But when we entered Zofie’s study, she paused gazing at the tiny desk to one side of her own—Fumiko’s desk. She stepped slowly over to it and placed a gentle hand on it. She stood that way for several minutes and gazed out the window.
I turned to everyone and asked them to give us a few moments. They all reluctantly filed out, and I closed the door leaving Zofie and me alone. I took a deep breath, determined to keep my emotions under control.
I went to her and turned her to face me. Tears were on her cheeks as I wrapped her in my arms.
“I’m going to miss her,” she said.
“Yes,” I nodded as she buried her face in my shirt. “Yes, we will.”
After a moment, she looked up at me. “I’ve decided something.”
“And what is that?”
“The baby’s name.”
“Oh?”
She nodded. “Fumiko.” She looked up at me. “Little Fumiko. Has a nice ring to it, don’t you think? I want my daughter to have a strong name, and I can’t think of any better.”
“How do you know the baby will be a girl?” I teased.
She gave me one of those looks that questioned my intelligence. “She will be. I just know.”
I pulled her tight. “Then, I think it would make Fumiko proud.”
We stood that way for a moment, and my head suddenly bobbed. Zofie looked at me in surprise. “Are you all right? You don’t seem yourself.”
In fact, I hadn’t been feeling well since the fight with Lilith. It was more than the grief over Fumiko’s death, but I wasn’t sure what it was. One of the empire’s healers had checked me over but had not found anything.
And Abe still wasn’t talking to me. I intended to see Rourke about it at the first opportunity.
“I’m just tired. This whole trip has been exhausting. I might even have picked up a case of the sniffles or some such. It is winter, after all.”
She laid her head on my shoulder. “Promise me you’ll have our healer look you over. And no excuses. I need my knight right now.”
I pulled her tighter. “I will.”
And so we stood until the troubles of the world couldn’t wait any longer. And gently knocked on our door.
We separated, and Zofie dried her tears. She gave me a reassuring smile. “The kingdom waits for no one.”
I nodded and opened the door, letting in those outside to resume taking care of the kingdom.
And so, life went on. A long-range portal mysteriously opened in the field where we had arrived. But when it closed, it left behind several giant piles of neatly stacked sacks. Rice, courtesy of the empire. This was quickly distributed to the people who were close to starvation. And the shipments continued until we had more than enough.
Zofie decided not to reveal her pregnancy yet. She thought it best to get through Fumiko’s funeral. Preparations took several weeks as she and Rourke meticulously planned it out. And a stately funeral it was too. Zofie declared her a hero of the kingdom and made Fumiko’s final resting place inside the royal tomb. She thought her parents would enjoy having her near.
For myself, I struggled to make it through the ceremony. The creeping tiredness continued to get worse. As Zofie had suggested, I had gone to the healer about it, but he could not find anything wrong. He diagnosed it as stress and suggested I rest more. I had simply rolled my eyes. Like that was going to happen.
And even after several weeks, Abe still refused to answer. I felt guilty about it. I couldn’t help but wonder if his absence was my fault. He had warned me about the consequences of stealing Lilith’s curse. But strangely, her curse mark had not appeared on my chest.
And just like Abe, Risten’s condition did not change either. She had stayed in her catatonic state, which was far worse than what Zofie had experienced. I couldn’t help but feel guilty about this too. Had I damaged her while trying to save her? Had I sentenced her to a life of unconsciousness?
About a week after Fumiko’s funeral, I was sitting at my desk rubbing my eyes when Zofie came in with a basket on her arm. I had just given Rourke permission to try waking Risten. He had a new idea he wanted to try but was a little mysterious about what it actually was. I had told him to just do it.
“You’re looking especially tired today,” Zofie said.
“I am, but I’ll get over it. I’m sure it’s nothing some rest wouldn’t fix.” I glanced at the basket. “Are you going somewhere?”
She nodded. “If you feel like it, I thought we could all eat together.” She gazed at me hopefully.
How could I resist?
“Any place special?” I asked.
She smiled—something she hadn’t been doing a lot of lately. “I think it’s time for us to announce our new addition.”
I looked at her skeptically.
She took my hand. “Come on. You’ll understand.”
I followed her as we wound our way through the castle and then down into its depths. I suddenly had an inkling of where she was going.
She pulled out a myst lantern at the entrance to the royal crypt and led me deeper inside, until we came to the end of the tunnel. The same place our latest adventure had begun so many weeks ago.
She went to her parents’ sarcophagi and paused in front of them. “Hello, Mother and Father. I hope you’re doing well.” She then stepped to the newest sarcophagus next to them. “And you too, Fumiko, I hope you are also well. I pray my parents haven’t been giving you too much trouble.”
She came over and took my arm, pulling me close. She smiled up at me before turning back to the stone coffins. “Father, Mother, Fumiko... I wanted you to be the first to know that Coren and I are expecting. I am very confident that the baby will be a girl, and I’ve already picked out a name. Winstella Fumiko Xernow. What do you think? I hope you don’t mind me naming her after you two ladies.”
“I think it’s a fine name.”
We jerked at the unexpected voice. We heard a scraping sound, followed by shuffling coming down the darkened corridor. I quickly stepped in front of Zofie and drew my sword.
“Who’s there?” I called.
The shuffling continued toward us. My eyes went wide as I recognized the person before me. Zofie gasped and ran forward, quickly pulling the person into a deep hug, which was richly returned.
Risten looked at me and smiled. I could tell it was her and not the impostor that had been possessing her. She held out her other arm, and I also moved in for a hug.
“I’m back,” she croaked. Tears were in her eyes. “I can’t thank you enough for saving me. I’d given up.”
“What woke you?” I asked.
Risten snorted. “It was Rourke along with that blasted brat and her Avenyts. He brought them to see me.” She shook her head. “That Avenyts is something else. She visited me in my head, saying it was safe to come out.” She smiled. “I didn’t want to at first, but then she told me it was the only way I’d get to see my niece.”
Zofie gave her another hug. “I’m glad you decided to return. I’ve missed you.” She patted her abdomen. “And your niece is going to need her aunt.”
Risten nodded and looked away. “I... I’m still not
well.” She licked her lips. “You would not believe the things she did to me. Or the things she made me do.” She shivered.
I couldn’t help but wonder how Cabrina and Hope had managed it. And then it hit me. “She possessed you, didn’t she? She promised she wouldn’t do that again.”
Risten shrugged. “I told you, she’s something else. And don’t worry, Rourke was standing by in case something went wrong.” Risten’s eyes were drawn to the newest addition to the crypt. “Can you excuse me for a moment?”
She slowly stepped over to Fumiko’s sarcophagus. She put a gentle hand on it. “Thank you. You kept me from committing a sin from which I would have never recovered. I can never repay the debt I owe you.”
Zofie came up behind her and also put a hand on the sarcophagus as she patted Risten’s back. They shared a moment of silence.
The princess turned away and drew Risten with her. “Now, let’s eat. We’ll have to share because I didn’t know we were having guests.” And Zofie began to set out the food.
I sighed, rubbing my eyes and giving a tired smile. The kingdom now had enough provisions and possessed a new alliance with the empire. Things were finally looking up. We might even gain the trust of the neighboring kingdoms. We would definitely need their cooperation if we had any hope of driving back the Dark Avenyts.
And then there was Wynn. Why did he want the Forever Nexus Shadow? It couldn’t be anything good.
I leaned against the corridor’s rock wall. I was so tired. I had never been this tired in my entire life.
It was at that moment that I felt a sudden chill go through me. It was like my spine had been replaced by a block of ice, and my limbs turned into solid lead weights. Then I felt something speaking inside my head from far away. It sounded like Abe, but the words were stretched out. Cor—en... he—lp... I... bro—ken....
The world around me swam. I opened my mouth to call out, but then the floor did the damnedest thing.
It rose up and smacked me in the face.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
The
Promise
Assassin of Curses: (The Coren Hart Chronicles Book 3) Page 37
