Princess of Death (Three Provinces Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

been having problems. They think you are their only hope and the solution.
    I took a moment in the bathroom to process her words. Brushing my hair I considered how nice it would be to have something else to do. While, yes, of course, it bugged me that Nergal might only like me because he thought I could help with something. He might also need me. I might be useful for once in my life.
    “That might be a fun adventure, Puabi, don’t you think?” Walking out of the bathroom, wrapped in a black silk robe, I plopped down on the bed.
    Hmmm. Your home is a sort of cage, isn’t it?
    “Yup, one I can’t be in for long if Ishtar gets married. I need a plan. Didn’t you like your home?”
    Oh yes… But travel has been fun too. We wouldn’t go there to stay for always, would we?
    Laughing, I leaned back against the dozen or so pillows on my bed and wrapped a scarlet blanket around me, “Of course not. “
    Good, because I am much too used to my own space now. I cannot go back to sleeping with all 12 of my brothers and sisters.
    And with that thought of hers in my mind, I fell into a peace filled sleep.

Chapter 4
     
    I awoke to screams and panic.  Puabi was staring at me, her red eyes unblinking as I tried to shake off my groggy state.
    “What time is it?”
    Early, seven or eight.
    “That’s not really early.”
    Is to a bat. Now go find out what the noise is so I can sleep. With that she closed her eyes and buried her face back into her wings.
    I got up and dressed as quickly as I could. My maid usually woke me and helped me dress. She was vacant this morning, which was unusual. I didn’t care for her, to be honest, a thin wispy little Kassaptu with almost no power.  However, because I had no one to help me lace up the delicate intricate bodice my mother preferred I wear, I chose something more to my own taste.
    A black tunic that came to my knees, sleeveless with a scooped neckline, around the waist a simple cinching corset that came under my breasts in a red that matched my eyes. I shoved my feet into black riding boots and grabbed a fur lined red vest.
    A quick visit to the bathroom and my hair found itself pinned back, for some reason I had the eerie notion I would be outside a lot in the next coming hours.  I opened my door and found Nam just about ready to knock.
    “What’s going on?”
    “Your sister, she’s missing.”
    My breath froze in my lungs at his words, heart loud in my ears. Ishtar was missing? Impossible, no one could get through the castle’s protection spells, and who would want to?
    “She ran away.” As Nam spoke, my breathing began again and I relaxed. If she ran away things would be so much easier.
    “Why is everyone so frantic then? She probably went to the Biri Tea House or hid in the basement, pissed at mom and dad.”  We began down the stairs towards the throne room, servants running by, everyone hectic and frazzled.
    “They have checked all of Biri already. Your mother and father do not sense her; she must be in Nannaru or Adura.”
    “Nannaru then, where’s Mash?”  No way did my baby sister go to Adura, she was afraid of the dark, had been since she was three and stumbled in to the Adura garden and was almost lulled to sleep by the lilies.
    I braced myself before marching into the throne room, hating that Nam couldn’t come in with me. Looking annoyed, Nam handed me sunglasses so I wouldn’t offend anyone.
    The noise assaulted me first, there were over a hundred people present and most of them offering suggestions or condolences. Biri nobles of every persuasion crowded in around my parents.  I found Mash standing to their right, made eye contact.
    I made my way over to Mash and when people began to notice me the room fell quiet, a dark hush and it was then that I knew.
    “She’s not in Nannaru?”
    “I cannot sense her there.” I could tell Mash hated admitting defeat.
    “Damn.” I swore this was bad; no way could my innocent sister survive very long in Adura.