Maria V. Snyder - The Eyes of Tamburah

When MARIA V. SNYDER was younger, she aspired to be a storm chaser in the American Midwest so she attended Pennsylvania State University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology. Much to her chagrin, forecasting the weather wasnt in her skill set so she spent a number of years as an environmental meteorologist, which is not exciting at all. Bored at work and needing a creative outlet, she started writing fantasy and science fiction stories. Over a dozen novels and numerous short stories later, Marias learned a thing or three about writing. Shes been on the New York Times bestseller list, won a half-dozen awards, and has earned her Masters of Arts degree in Writing from Seton Hill University, where she is now a faculty member.

Her favorite color is red. She loves dogs, but is allergic, instead she has a big black tom cat named Kitty (apparently naming cats isnt in her skill set either). Maria also has a husband and two children who are an inspiration for her writing when they arent being a distraction. Note that she mentions her cat before her family. When shes not writing shes either playing volleyball, traveling, or taking pictures. Being a writer, though, is a ton of fun. Where else can you take fencing lessons, learn how to ride a horse, study martial arts, learn how to pick a lock, take glass blowing classes and attend Astronomy Camp and call it research? Maria will be the first one to tell you its not working as a meteorologist. Readers are welcome to check out her website for book excerpts, free short stories, maps, blog, and her schedule at MariaVSnyder.com.

Sentinels of the Galaxy series

Navigating the Stars

Study series

Poison Study

Magic Study

Fire Study

Shadow Study

Night Study

Dawn Study

Ice Study (available as an ebook)

Glass series

Storm Glass

Sea Glass

Spy Glass

Healer series

Touch of Power

Scent of Magic

Taste of Darkness

Inside series

Inside Out

Outside In

(collected as Inside)

The Eyes of Tamburah

Maria V. Snyder

www.harlequinbooks.com.au

To Natalie Bejin, my Chief Evil Minion,

for being a wonderful friend, a spreadsheet maestro,

a beta reader virtuoso, and the best evil minion

an author can have.

Contents

The heat thickened the air in Shylas room to an uncomfortable level. Sweat slicked her skin and dampened her sleeveless tunic. She adjusted the mirrors to better capture the thin ray of sunlight streaming through a single mirror pipe extruding from her ceiling. Moving another reflective panel until it illuminated the ancient map spread over her table, she resumed her work. The faded ink was barely discernable as it crossed the velbloud skin.

The temperature rose another few degrees, warning her that she needed to retreat to the deeper levels before the sun reached angle eighty. Despite being three levels underground, it still wasnt safe to be this high. All of her neighbors had descended angles ago. But excitement zipped along her spineshe was so close.

Shyla continued to translate the archaic symbols. Nothing but sunlight would reveal the location of the Gorgain crypt and the meeting with her client was scheduled for angle two-ten. The historian had paid her in advance for the information, which was proving to be more difficult to find than shed expected.

A damp strand of her long pale-yellow hair slipped free of the tie, but she didnt have time to fix it. According to the maps legend, the blue line represented the tunnel the grave diggers had used. She traced it with a fingertip, honing in on

An impatient pounding on her door broke her concentration. She glared at the thick slab of rough sand-coated glass that guarded her room. It vibrated with each knock. There wasnt time for interruptions, but if it was a client

Its an emergency, called Banqui.

She sighed. Everything was an emergency with Banqui. As the Water Princes chief archeologist, he believed his projects should be her top priority. But the man had referred her services to his colleagues, helping her establish her business. After a forlorn glance at the map, she unlocked the door and slid it aside, allowing Banqui to enter.

He hustled into her room and stopped dead. Scorching hells, Shyla. Its a thousand degrees in here.

Banqui also tended to exaggerate.

Hello to you too.

Ignoring her, he said, Ive been looking all over for you in the lower levels. The sun is almost at angle seventy. What are you still doing up here?

She gestured to the map on her table. Researching.

You need to leave right away.

Theres plenty of time before Im cooked. Before I was interrupted, I was just about to finish up. She gave him a pointed look.

But instead of apologizing for barging in on her and leaving, he just stared at her in shock. Shyla, havent you heard?

She studied her best client and perhaps friend. His short black hair stuck up at various anglesprobably from running his fingers through it in agitation. He was frequently anxious and stressed by the Water Princes demands. But this time fear lurked in his dark brown eyes and his tan tunic and pants, normally impeccablehe had plenty of diggers conscripted by the prince to do his dirty workwere torn and stained with blood?

Heard what? she asked as unease stirred in her chest.

He paced around the table. Tall and lean with lanky legs, it didnt take him long to make a circuit. Her room was small and filled with the basicsa table, sitting cushions, a couple shelves filled with her trinkets and clothes, a water jug, her sleeping cushion mounded with a fur, and the mirrors.

Banqui made another loop. She stepped into his path, stopping him. Tell me before you wear a groove in my floor.

Lines of sweat streaked down the sides of his face, darkening his brown skin. His gaze settled on the map. How long have you been working?

Two or three sun jumps.

And you get immersed in your research, he muttered then drew in a deep breath. I found The Eyes of Tamburah. They were in the temples hidden vault just like you predicted.

Excitement warred with confusion. Thats wonderful. Right?

It was glorious. They were exquisite. Crafted from diamonds, emeralds, onyx, and the purest white topaz Ive ever seen. His voice held an almost fanatical reverence. They were magnificent, Shyla. My greatest find in my entire career.

Considering hed been uncovering ancient ruins and artifacts for over seven thousand sun jumpsroughly twenty circuitsthey must have been impressive. And then the Water Prince claimed them. You knew that would happen. He finances your digs.

Its worse than that.

What could be worse? You lost them?

No! They were stolen! Unable to remain still, Banqui resumed his pacing.

Treasure hunters were always a problem. Despite the Water Princes proclamation that all historical items found within Zirdais official boundaries became the property of the crown, the richer citizens collected antiquities through a thriving black marketthe rarer the find, the more lucrative. And The Eyes of Tamburah were legendary. Rumored to give their owner magical powers, the gemstones had a long and bloody history. No wonder they were stolen by some greedy hunter. They would fetch a staggering sum in any city in Koraha, assuming the thief lived long enough to leave Zirdai.