A Jewel Bright Sea. Claire O'Dell

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      Ei rûf ane gôtter. Ei rûf ane strôm. Lâzen mir sihen der gëste.

      As her perception drifted down and away from the present, a queasy sensation washed over her and her mouth filled with the harsh taste of cheap wine, which barely disguised the tang of raw herbs. Were they fools, not to recognize the wine had been drugged? Or no, the taste changed within a moment to something sweeter, softer. That was the work of magic.

      She thought she recognized Koszenmarc’s own signature—it reminded her of gemstones catching sunlight, bright flashes with darkness in between. Another signature lay underneath his, a sharper, stronger one that reminded her of the healer Thea, the one aboard Koszenmarc’s ship.

      Her own thoughts faded, subsumed by the guard’s memories and emotions.

      ...the glimpse of a dark brown man offering him a flask. She recognized Koszenmarc’s face, his pale eyes narrowed with humor. A sense of trust and camaraderie washed over her, as the stranger tipped back his own flask and drank. “To us,” Koszenmarc said. “To a fine day and bright futures.”

      There was an argument about who deserved the next swallow, but Koszenmarc immediately produced a second flask. The leather was warm from the sun, the wine sweet and cool. It wasn’t until she took a second, longer drink that a sudden chill exploded in her stomach and dizziness gripped her. She knew, the guard knew, the wine had been drugged. Someone caught him, dragged him into the alley behind the stables. He struggled but his arms and legs wouldn’t obey.

      As the guard’s consciousness faded, Anna undid the bonds between them, like cutting stitches from a seam. One last glimpse of the past carried over, not of sight but sound. Koszenmarc’s laughter.

      She released a long, slow breath and murmured another spell to erase her signature. When she opened her eyes, she found both men watching her intently.

      “What did you see?” Raab demanded.

      “Exactly what we guessed. Koszenmarc drugged them, and those fools let him.”

      Raab grunted. “We ought to question them anyway. Maybe we can pick out a few details. Find out what Koszenmarc planned for us.”

      For me, Anna thought. But she did not correct him.