A Jewel Bright Sea Page 25

  “We found Sarrész,” Anna said in a low voice. “And lost him. And…and the captain knows my name.”

  Thea drew back and studied Anna’s face with a searching gaze. “You told him? No, don’t say anything. We’ll talk about this later, and elsewhere,” she added with a brief glance in Nikolas’s direction. “For now, we need you fed and tended to.”

  Thea pointed to a trunk off to one side. Anna obediently sat and drank the potion Thea measured out for her. The potion tasted like the jungles, green and dense, with a hint of sunlight. Or perhaps she was giddier than she first thought. A sudden warmth spread through her body, as if the potion had lit a fire within her.

  “You must teach me how to make this,” Anna said with a gasping breath.

  “Later,” Thea said. “Now for all the rest that ails you.”

  She went to work, methodically cleaning and bandaging Anna’s bites and bruises, many of which Anna had not noticed. Before she was done, one of the ship’s boys arrived with a tray of soup and biscuits, and a pitcher of fresh water.

  “Captain wants you both in his cabin the next bell,” he said. “Sommat about Druss and making plans.”

  “Surely he did not say exactly that?” Thea murmured.

  The boy flushed dark. “No, he didn’t, but I heard—”

  “Never mind what you heard,” Thea said. “Go, fetch Theo from whatever mischief he’s plotting. I want someone to watch over my patient while I’m with the captain. A bell isn’t nearly long enough,” she muttered to Anna, when the boy left. “But he’s right. We can’t let Druss get away from us.”

  She bullied Anna into finishing the soup, which she thickened by crumbling in a few biscuits. When Nikolas complained that he was hungry too, Thea sighed and gave him the rest of the biscuits. “Tell Theo to bring you porridge,” she told him.

  He grumbled, but the promise of Theo’s visit had clearly cheered him up.

  “He’s angry because he missed the fighting today,” Thea told Anna. “As if he hadn’t had a bellyful of danger just a few days ago.”

  “He could have had my share and gladly,” Anna said. The memory of that man dying before her eyes flooded back, and her throat closed. She felt Thea’s hand press against her cheek. Just for a moment, then Thea was handing her another mug of water. This one tasted of herbs and the faintest tang of magic’s green.

  “That should give you back your strength,” Thea said. “You’ve been working strong magic again, haven’t you? Likely you’ll need to work more before we’re done with Druss and that gods-be-damned Sarrész.”

  Before the next bell sounded, Anna had scrubbed herself down with soap and cold water, then dressed in clean clothes from the ship’s stores. Theo arrived soon after that with a basket stuffed with sweet rolls, and what had to be the latest gossip.

  When Anna and Thea came to the captain’s cabin, they found Daria and Eleni already seated with Koszenmarc at a long table underneath the cabin’s broad windows. Koszenmarc had taken a few moments to wash and change into fresh clothes, but he seemed even more drawn and weary than before. None of the junior officers were present, nor was Hahn, but as Anna and Thea crowded around the table with the others, Hahn came running into the cabin.

  “So,” Andreas said, once everyone had taken a seat. “Report on what happened after Anna Zhdanov and I left the ship.”

  Hahn sent a sharp look at Andreas, then Anna. Eleni blinked at Anna’s name, but answered. “It was strange,” she said. “Very strange. Druss gave chase right away, and we played hide and seek for oh, five, six bells. I nearly thought she would catch us, and I was ready to order the lights doused, when she disappeared.”

  “How so?” Koszenmarc said.

  “Just what I said. I thought she meant to trick us, just as we meant to trick her. I waited another two bells before I doused our lights, then sailed on north and east. It was a very long night.”

  A night filled with doubts and second guesses. No wonder Thea and all the others looked so drawn.

  “We kept a lookout the whole time,” Hahn added. “No sign of pursuit, by Druss or anyone else. It was as though she had given us the slip. So at dawn, Eleni gave the orders to round about. It took us a few passes, what with the hurry the night before, and we didn’t have exact bearings, so we didn’t raise the islands until the afternoon.” He paused and licked his lips. “That’s when we saw Druss’s ship. She was headed away from the island.”

  A prickle of apprehension ran down Anna’s back. Druss had arrowed back to those isolated islands as if she knew exactly where to find them.

  “The traitor,” she whispered.

  Koszenmarc nodded. “Even Druss, clever as she is, could not have guessed our plans so exactly. She had help, and a bit of dangerous magic. Tell me what you think of this, Thea.”

  He pulled a metal disc from his shirt—the same one Anna had discovered amongst her medical supplies—and handed it over to Thea.

  Thea hissed the moment the object touched her skin. She dropped it onto the table and stared at it, eyes narrowed to slits. The medallion lay there, a small disc of gold, with words etched deep into the surface in a strange angular script. Blood had caked in the grooves of those words and there was a smear of blood over the surface.

  “A finding spell,” Thea said in a flat voice. “A very expensive one, keyed to a single person, and triggered by their blood. I’ve seen the likes of this before, but only amongst the very wealthy. They use it as a kind of insurance against kidnapping. If you search Druss’s cabin, you will no doubt find the map paired with this device.”

  “Who did this?” Eleni said.

  “You already know,” Andreas replied. “You tried to tell me, didn’t you?”

  She shook her head. Her expression was deeply unhappy, as though she wished she’d been wrong. “I did, but I had no proof.”

  “Now we do. Hahn, pass the word for Joszua. Make ready for trouble.”

  A stir went through those around the table as Hahn left to fulfill those orders. Thea looked even older, the creases in her face more marked than before. Daria laid her hand over her beloved’s, but she seemed distracted, as though she could not quite take in what had happened. Only Eleni appeared unmoved, but by now, Anna had learned not to trust her first impressions with Eleni Farakos.

  A very short time later, Joszua arrived with Hahn close behind. “You wanted me, Captain?”

  “I do. I have a few questions. Stand over there, please.” Andreas indicated a point at the opposite end of the table.

  Joszua hesitated a moment before he obeyed. He must have guessed something, because his skin was damp with sweat. “What’s wrong?”

  Koszenmarc regarded him with a strange expression. “What could be wrong, Joszua? Druss took Sarrész, but we can take him back. Not easily and not without payment in blood, but we can. I do have one question. Why did you betray us?”

  Joszua’s eyes went wide. “What? I never—”

  “You did,” Andreas replied. “You’re the one who came back with that convenient rumor about Sarrész on Idonia. You sent my perimeter guard away from the temple. You insisted on packing Anna’s bag before we left the ship—the bag where we discovered this bit of magical treachery.”

  He pointed to the medallion. Joszua shuddered and glanced around wildly. For a moment, Anna thought he would try to flee, but perhaps he understood he could not escape, not with Hahn guarding the door, not with Daria playing with her knife so openly.

  “She killed my father,” he whispered.

  Andreas nodded, as though that were expected. “Go on.”

  “She took my family hostage,” Joszua went on. “It was after you brought Elise and that man Kovács to Asulos. She said she would murder everyone, even my sister’s children, if I refused. I…I waited too long. She killed Anastasia in front of my eyes. That’s when I told her about Idonia.” He was spe
aking quickly, the words tumbling out. “But I’m no traitor. I never wanted to betray you. So I sent word to Maszny through a friend. Told him where and when to find Druss and her people. He was to arrest Druss before she could overtake you.”

  “You failed,” Andreas said.

  Joszua swallowed hard and nodded.

  “How many died?”

  “Two more.” That came out as barely a whisper. “My mother. My youngest brother.”

  “That is when you agreed to take the medallion.”

  “I did not agree,” Joszua burst out. “She said if I refused, all my sisters and brothers and cousins, everyone who claimed blood ties with me, they would die. So yes, I took that gods-be-damned medallion. But I waited, as long as I could. I never betrayed Asulos—”

  Andreas stopped him with a gesture. “You did enough. My next question is, what shall I do with you?”

  Joszua dropped to his knees. He was weeping. “Please. Let me make amends.”

  “Too late for that. We’ve dead of our own because of you. I won’t execute you, but I want you gone. Now. Give him a boat,” Andreas said to Hahn. “One of Druss’s, though you might want to check if it’s seaworthy. Stock the boat with water and biscuits, nothing more. He can find his own way from now on.”

  Hahn gave a signal. Five of the largest and ugliest members of the crew flooded into the captain’s cabin and hurried Joszua away. Joszua made no trouble. He looked stunned, as if he could not quite take in what had happened.

  The rest of the officers appeared shaken as well. Koszenmarc pressed both hands against his eyes. There was no joy in this discovery, Anna thought, nor any mercy in sparing his life. Joszua’s death would not restore their companions.

  At last, Koszenmarc lowered his hands with a sigh. “Next task,” he said. “What do we know about Druss’s plans. Daria?”

  Daria needed a moment before she could collect herself. “Druss left five hours ago. She took Sarrész and a dozen of her crew, her best and nastiest warriors, the ones who can fight on land and ship. According to our prisoners, she expects to return by tomorrow evening, either with the jewel, or with Sarrész’s blood on her hands.”

  “What do you believe?” Andreas asked Anna. “Was Sarrész lying to Druss when he said he buried the jewel?”

  “I don’t know.” Frustration leaked out in her voice. “He hid the jewel, obviously. But I cannot believe he walked away from a treasure worth so much gold. Even if he meant to return later.”

  He nodded. “My thoughts as well. Which means we must find the man before Druss discovers that lie and murders him. You say Druss took a dozen with her?” he asked Daria.

  Daria shrugged. “If we can believe our prisoners.”

  “Eh, a dozen is a sensible number,” he said, “and Druss is sensible when it comes to such things. If she is twelve, we shall be twenty. Daria, you take charge of our prize. Eleni, you have command of Konstanze. Hahn, I want you as my second-in-command—”

  Eleni held up a hand. “One suggestion. Take me as your second and leave Hahn aboard ship.”

  Koszenmarc regarded her with a wary expression. “Why? You can’t risk the slave catchers.”

  She met his gaze with one equally cautious. “No, I can’t. But unless I’m wrong, you might wish to send a message for reinforcements to a certain man, in a certain city on Vyros. I’d rather face Druss than…than what might happen if I were in command of the Konstanze when she sailed into Iglazi’s harbor.”

  His wariness gave way to...surprise? Dismay? Anna couldn’t tell. “Ah,” he breathed. “This is a day for uncovering secrets. Very well. Hahn, you take command of the Konstanze. Eleni shall be my second on this mission. Let us say twenty of the crew, unless you have further suggestions, Eleni?”

  “None that matter,” she replied with a cool voice.

  Anna had the distinct impression she—and all the rest of the company—had interrupted a long-delayed conversation between the two of them. Koszenmarc seemed aware of that, because his mouth twisted into a sour smile. “So, so. I see I’ve been overmatched. Very well. Here are the people I want…”

  He went on to name twenty men and women, including Maté. All of them were senior members of the weapons drill. With few exceptions, all had served Koszenmarc four years or more. “Thea, I cannot spare you from the ship. Make up a bag with supplies for Anna. Eleni, pass the word to our people to make ready for a long trek. We’ll want gear, weapons, and provisions for two days. No, make that three, in case matters prove less straightforward.”

  Hahn snorted. “They always do.”

  Koszenmarc’s smile was like a bright flash of sunlight, but clearly not a happy one. “The one lesson my father taught me well. So.” He laid both hands flat on the table. “We are done here. Eleni, make ready for our mission. Daria, see to the state of the prize. Hahn, Eleni was right. I shall need to speak with you about a certain message before I leave the ship.”

  Eleni and the other officers left at once to carry out their orders. Anna rose to her feet to follow, but hesitated. Koszenmarc had spoken so confidently, as if they did not face a dangerous trek over the mountainside, with a hard and bloody fight at the end. As if the jewel they both sought was simply an ordinary object, not the Emperor’s rare and powerful weapon.

  Something of her uneasiness must have shown on her face because Andreas smiled. “You look worried. Don’t be. We shall find Druss, and that miserable Sarrész, and by tomorrow, we’ll have that jewel.”

  “What about your client?” she said softly.

  “That is the least of my concerns. Trust me, my client shall be well satisfied. Don’t be worried—”

  “But I am worried. I cannot do otherwise. Especially after what we’ve learned—”

  “Anna,” Koszenmarc said softly. “Never mind what came before. I know what Brun intended for you and Kovács. I swear that once we are done with this matter, you need not go back to him—”

  “How?” she cried. “We cannot steal the Emperor’s jewel and expect anything but death, or a life spent in hiding.”

  Koszenmarc opened and shut his mouth, as if he struggled to find an answer to dispute the indisputable. Anna waited a moment, then shook her head. “I best go.”

  He made no gesture to stop her. She hurried from the cabin to prepare for what came next.

  CHAPTER 20

  Within the hour, the crew had landed on shore and stowed the launch and the other boat among the trees. The youngest two of their expedition—Wim and Iris—cooked a hot meal of porridge and grilled sausage, while the others divided and repacked their gear and supplies for the trek up the mountain. Off in the distance, the Konstanze and Druss’s ship were almost invisible black specks on the horizon.

  “No grog, no rum, until we’ve won the battle,” Andreas told everyone. “We’re hunting a shark, and we need all our wits about us.”

  Karl grunted his agreement. A whisper ran through the rest of the crew. They were all on the edge of anticipation. They knew the risk and the possibility of a grand reward. Anna’s throat closed at the thought of facing Druss once more, but she ate doggedly, knowing it was necessary.

  “Anna.” Maté crouched at her side. “A word with you, please?”

  He wore that same remote expression he had the day he rescued her from Koszenmarc in Iglazi’s streets. She set her plate aside and followed him to the edge of the forest. Eleni shot them a sharp glance, which Maté answered with a shrug.

  A few yards into the shadows, away from the others, he said, “What happened?”

  It was clear what he meant.

  “Nothing,” she said, a bit too quickly.

  He snorted. “Liar. What happened between you and the captain?”

  She hesitated. But this was Maté, her best and oldest friend. “We…we landed on that island. We made our camp, and a damp, uncomfortable camp it was. Rocks and s
and and fleas. You can’t imagine—” She broke off. She was babbling to no purpose. “We talked,” she said quietly. “He kissed me.”

  Maté drew a sharp breath. “That gods-be-damned bastard.” He checked himself and stared at her with a curious expression. “Unless you wanted him to kiss you.”

  “No,” she said at once. “Yes. I’m not sure. Later, I did. But Maté, there’s more.” This part was difficult to tell. “When we found Sarrész, he told me Lord Brun paid him to steal the jewel. He claimed it was Brun who arranged for that priest to die. Sarrész ran because he believes Brun doesn’t want any witnesses—including us.”

  “That…explains a great deal,” Maté said softly. “So. What do we do now?”

  “I don’t know. That’s what I wanted to ask you.”

  “Ah.” He laughed softly. “Because of Eleni.”

  “Because of her and—”

  “—and you aren’t certain what Andreas Koszenmarc himself intends.”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “You didn’t need to. If he meant to turn the jewel over to the Emperor’s people, he would have announced it to his company. A reward is a reward, after all. Instead he—”

  “Zhdanov. Kovács.”

  It was Eleni, summoning them to their business. Maté stuffed the last bite of sausage into his pocket and headed off. Anna watched the glance they exchanged. Did she detect a wariness in Eleni’s expression?

  The crew struck their temporary camp and buried the ashes of their fire. By now the sun was slanting toward the horizon. Druss had set off at least six hours before them. Their goal, Andreas told them, was to reach the temple ruins by the third bell of the evening watch.

  The trail was narrow, edged by stones and packed with dirt. Mountain freshets cut across their path, and from time to time they came across a shelter of rough-cut logs—more evidence of smugglers—but Andreas didn’t call a halt until they reached a clearing on the mountainside, halfway between the shore and the summit. The sun had set hours ago, and the skies had turned to the darkest blue as twilight advanced toward night. Below them, the ocean spread out in a dark expanse, the surf marked by glittering lines.