Claire O’Dell - A Jewel Bright Sea

A whirlwind of intrigue, lies, politics, and adventure swirls around one womanand the prize shes been sent to reclaim...

It was her talent for tracking magic that got Anna Zhdanov sent to catch a thief. A scholars daughter sold as a bond servant, she has no desire to recover the Emperors jewel for herself. But a chance to earn her freedom has driven her to the untamed Eddalyon province, awash with warm breezes, lapping waves, and more danger than she could possibly guess.

Within days her cover as an indolent noblewoman is in question, and its clear theres more to Annas task than she knows. Soon shes the captive of the unpredictable pirate captain Andreas Koszenmarc, hunted by the Emperors guard, besieged by a brigand queen, and at odds with her only friend. She must trust someone if she is to survive. But when all thats certain is that everyone is hiding something, its no simple thing to choose...

Novels by Claire ODell

The Mage and Empire Series

A Jewel Bright Sea

The River of Souls Series

Passion Play

Queens Hunt

Allegiance

The Janet Watson Chronicles

A Study in Honor

The Hound of Justice

Writing as Beth Bernobich

The Time Roads

Fox & Phoenix

A Handful of Pearls & Other Stories

Table of Contents

A JEWEL BRIGHT SEA

Claire ODell

REBEL BASE BOOKS

Kensington Publishing Corp.

www.kensingtonbooks.com

To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.

REBEL BASE BOOKS are published by

Kensington Publishing Corp.

119 West 40th Street

New York, NY 10018

Copyright 2019 by Claire ODell

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

All Kensington titles, imprints, and distributed lines are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchases for sales promotion, premiums, fund-raising, educational, or institutional use.

Special book excerpts or customized printings can also be created to fit specific needs. For details, write or phone the office of the Kensington Sales Manager: Kensington Publishing Corp., 119 West 40th Street, New York, NY 10018. Attn. Sales Department. Phone: 1-800-221-2647.

Rebel Base and Rebel Base logo Reg. US Pat. & TM Off.

First Electronic Edition: September 2019

eISBN-13: 978-1-63573-079-1

eISBN-10: 1-63573-079-1

First Print Edition: September 2019

ISBN-13: 978-1-63573-081-4

ISBN-10: 1-63573-081-3

Printed in the United States of America

CHAPTER 1

The innkeeper at Iglazi had promised her ruinsmagnificent, ancient ruins, which surely dated from an age before the Empire conquered these islands. He had not uttered the word romantic , but that was implicit in his description of the tumbledown walls covered with vines, the courtyard and its statues, and his breathless mention of an underground passageway.

Anna Zhdanov surveyed the expanse of broken stone before her. There were walls, yes, if you counted that knee-high mound of rubble as a wall. Here and there she spotted the remains of statues as well, though these were more dust than stone. The man had not exaggerated about the vines, at least. These ruins stood in the midst of a tropical forest, after all, with vines growing in profusion over everything except this desolate square.

A breeze sifted over the stones, carrying with it the scent of overripe flowers and the fainter tang of salt. Anna shivered, in spite of the heat.

Magic vibrated in the air. She felt its echo in her bones; she could almost hear the chants of priests from a civilization long dead.

What had brought Lord Aldo Sarrsz to this strange and lonely place?

Her horse shifted underneath her, as if sensing her uneasiness.

It was just a case of nerves, she told herself. Over the past three months, the search for Aldo Sarrsz had led her from the city of Duenne, the heart of the Empire, through half the western provinces, and across the ocean, to this island called Vyros in the midst of the Eddalyon archipelago. Everything here felt alien, from the dense jungles and the overbright sky to the sense of ancient magic permeating the stones. She reminded herself that once they completed their mission, she could leave the islands behind and go home to Duenne. Besides, as the supposed Lady Vrou Iljana, she had a reputation to uphold. Folly. Extravagance. A taste for excitement. Anything to explain why she had insisted on this most improper and possibly dangerous outing.

Her two companions in this adventure drew their horses next to hers. Both were men skilled with sword and knife. Both of an age between forty and fifty and, by accident or planning, they had the same sharp-cut features and ruddy brown complexion of the northeast provinces as she did.

At Lukas Raabs signal, the six young men who served as their guards obediently arranged themselves in a loose circle. Raab had hired these men from Iglazis local market, where the free swords often gathered, and hed spent the past three days drilling them in proper military discipline. With little success, apparently, because Mat Kovcs regarded the men with a faint air of exasperation.

With a sigh, Mat turned away from the guards and indicated the ruins. Well, Lady Vrou. Does this please you?

I dont know. She sighed in return. Perhaps. It is a ruin, to be sure. And it is ancient.

The hired guards exchanged amused glances. Anna could tell what they thought: here was yet another eccentric noblewoman seeking adventure. Even though that was precisely what she intended them to believe, she still wanted to box their ears, the hypocrites. According to Raab, these young men were all the sons of minor nobles, who had come to Eddalyon with a small allowance and large taste for gambling. Having squandered their money, they hired themselves out as common guards to avoid bonded servitude.

They had no way of knowing their Lady Vrou Iljana Klos was really Anna Zhdanov, a bonded servant herself, ordered by Hr Lord Brun to recover the valuable artifact Sarrsz had stolen from the Imperial courtand not just any artifact, but a rare magical jewel said to be a gift from the goddess Lir herself. One the Emperor depended upon for his endless wars to expand the Empires territory.

Mat knew her identity, as did Raab, but then, they served the same master.

Raab, she said. What do you think?

Raab shrugged. I think you are hungry, Lady Vrou.

Mat scowled. Anna tried to calculate the best response. The Lady Iljana would reprimand a servant, but Anna Zhdanov knew who actually commanded this mission. I am hungry, she said. But I would like to know if I am safe as well. That is why my father hired you.

One of the guards choked down a laugh. Raab shot a glare at the man but managed to tamp down his irritation. Perhaps he too considered the roles they had to play.

I have not forgotten, he said stiffly. If my lady will excuse me, I should inspect the grounds. Kovcs, come with me. You threehe pointed to the three closest guardstake the outer watch. The rest of you stay with our Lady Vrou.