The Dreamer's Curse (Book 2) Read Free

about
the village of Chastain’s curse?”
    She froze in midstep. “I just learned of it. But how did you
hear of it?”
    “Well, the thing is, there’s a little girl here in the
palace that’s from that village. She told me some fantastical tale about waking
up in the library here, of all places. She also says that you’re working on
breaking the curse.”
    Sevana felt a chill go up her spine. Lockbright Palace sat a
good hundred miles away from Chastain Village. To be transported that far.…
“Wait a minute, Pierpoint.” Ducking back outside, she called, “DECKER!”
    It took a few seconds, but he rounded the corner and gave
her a look askance. “Yes?”
    “You’ll need to hear this,” she told him grimly, waving him
to come inside. “Pierpoint, this is Decker, a hunter from Chastain Village. He
just hired me on for the job of breaking the curse. Decker, this is Pierpoint,
the court magician at Lockbright.” Meeting Decker’s eyes, she added, “He’s
calling here because a little girl from your village was found in the palace
library today.”
    “ What?!” Decker dove for the Caller before abruptly
checking himself, apparently realizing that grabbing the Caller would do no
good. Instead he hovered, arms half-stretched toward the white figurine on the
table. “Who?”
    “She said her name is Clari. Clari Hanh.”
    Sevana watched with interest as the color just drained from
Decker’s face, leaving him looking a remarkable shade of pale yellow. “Someone
you know?”
    “My niece,” he responded hoarsely, putting a shaking hand
over his eyes. “Sir, tell me she’s alright.”
    “Oh, she’s fine. We found her an hour ago in the library,
sitting on top of a stack of books with another open in front of her.
Apparently she had every intention of finding someone and telling them what was
going on, but the pretty books distracted her.” Pierpoint chuckled in rich
amusement. “Quite the little girl, your niece. She’s now having a grand time
with Princess Hana, I understand, having an outdoor tea party while I figure
out the situation.”
    “Sitting on top of books,” Decker repeated in a mutter. His
hand dropped, the color returning to his skin as his terror faded. “Why am I
not surprised…wait, she’s with the princess?”
    “Hana’s a sensible sort,” Sevana assured him absently, as
her mind spun in a different direction entirely. “She’s from Milby, actually,
and I trust her more with a child than the rest of the palace put together.
Pierpoint, did you take any sort of magical reading on her?”
    “I did, first thing. That’s what made me believe that she
wasn’t just spinning tales. The magical signature on her…I’ve never seen the
likes of this, Sevana. I’ve never even heard a legend that described something
like this. Just what is going on?”
    “I don’t know, not yet. I haven’t even had a chance to get
to the village yet and do an inspection.” And why, why didn’t she have a portal
anywhere in that area? The border area to the north had a lot of poorer
villages, none of them rich enough to afford her clocks. Maybe she should cut
them a good price, just to get one or two in that area…not that it really
mattered at this particular juncture. She still had a wolf, horse, and a hunter
to transport with her. “Pierpoint, sit on the girl. I’ll be there in two days
to get her. And be a friend—take daily readings on her for me.”
    “I most certainly will. You do realize that as soon as
you get here, King Aren and Prince Bellomi will want to talk about the
situation.”
    “Yes, yes,” she flapped her hands at him. “Shoo. I’ll be
there as soon as I can.”
    “I’ll tell them.” He turned to Decker and said
kindly, “Your niece will be well taken care of until you come for her, Master
Decker. I promise you. And she’s truly well—there’s not a bruise on her. In
fact, she’s having the time of her life here. Do not worry for her.”
    Decker gave the man a