Chapter 16
A Dread Tide Rising by Walt Shuler
Whew, things are moving fast. Ready for the next installment?
Previously: Mac and Holua’s reunion did not go to plan.
Currently: Kye must deal with a new complication and still somehow escape from the Helmsworth home.
A Dread Tide Rising is a serialized, pulp-flavored, epic fantasy novel set in the world of Thalrassa. It follows the Talon, a group of mercenaries, thieves, and smugglers, as they come face-to-face with an ancient enemy intent on the destruction of the Rakkian Empire.
New to ADTR? Catch up on all the chapters here. You can learn more about the members of the Talon here and explore Thalrassa-related lore here. The map of Thalrassa can be found here.
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Chapter 16
Kye gasped. Her unseen assailant jerked her backward behind the cavern wall and off balance.
Kye lashed out, kicking backward, hard. She felt the kick connect, followed by a grunt of pain. Her assailant stumbled, pressing
his weight against her, and she took advantage of the situation. The young thief pivoted, sending her attacker to the rocky floor and landing on top of him. Air exploded from his lungs in a quiet rush. In a flash, she had her dagger at his throat, but recognition stayed her hand.
“Matti?” she asked, still kneeling on his chest.
The figure under her groaned. “Hello, Kye.”
“What are you doing here?” she demanded, sheathing her dagger.
Matti struggled to say something. Kye leaned in closer. “Could you get your knee out of my throat? It would make this so much easier.”
“Oh!” Kye immediately shifted her weight. “Sorry about that. Better?”
Matti sat up, massaging his bruised throat and ribs. He nodded in answer to her question. “Remind me not to save your life again. Too damn risky.”
“Saving my life? That’s what you get for surprising me! You’re lucky I didn’t stab first.” She eyed the newcomer. Dark, curly hair spilled near to his shoulders, and his nose was as hawklike as ever. Despite its leanness, there was something perpetually youthful about his face. “What are you doing here?” she demanded. “The last I heard, you were working with Alia down in the warehouse district.”
Matti started to reply, then changed his mind. “We should talk about this somewhere else.”
Kye nodded. “Let’s go before Jarl comes back this way. We can talk in the chambers above.”
Matti wobbled as he stood, but soon steadied himself. The pair retraced Kye’s steps through the cavern and up into the lower chambers of the Helmsworth home. Those rooms were as deserted as they had been on her way through. As they walked, the two caught up.
“The thing with Alia didn’t last long,” Matti admitted, kicking apart a cobweb. “I botched a job, and we lost an entire shipment back to the crown. After that, Alia didn’t waste much time finding me something else to do.”
Kye felt for the young thief. Alia was a demanding mistress from all she had heard. Still, the woman had carved out a minor fiefdom around the docks, often despite what the Faceless leadership wanted. She had built her reputation on broken bones and blood, and anyone who did not make the cut was, well, cut.
“Where’d you go?”
Matti glanced at Kye. He opened his mouth, then closed it again.
Suddenly, Kye knew. “You ended up working with her, didn’t you?” The word came out like an epithet.
Matti hung his head. “Guilty as charged.”
Kye punched him in the arm, hard. Matti yelped, and they both paused to let the echoes die away and make sure no one came to investigate. They remained in the unused space below the main house, but were getting close to the stairs.
“How could you?” Kye hissed. “You know what she did to me.”
“That wasn’t exactly fair of her, but Kye, how can you still be mad?”
“Still be mad?” Her voice rose dangerously. “Do you see where we are? This is her fault!”
“She didn’t know this would happen, Kye,” Matti pleaded. “When she found out you were captured, she went into a rage. Killed three of Thynne’s men with her own hand!”
Kye sniffed. “Wouldn’t have happened if she hadn’t thrown me out.”
Matti shook his head. “No, she’s reconsidered, Kye. She wants to start over again, like it was before.”
Kye cocked an eyebrow. “Not real sure how that’s supposed to happen, seeing as I’m way out here and the Faceless are back in Rakka. Plus, I’ve got a new family now, and we don’t turn our backs on each other.”
Again, Matti shook his head. “You don’t get it, dummy. She sent me to fetch you. A bunch of us, really; I lucked out and found you first. She wants you to come home.”
Kye rolled the word around. It felt alien and not all that applicable to the Faceless. She loved Rakka and would gladly return if it ever proved possible, but the guild of thieves wasn’t her home. She said as much to Matti.
“You really going to choose some penny-ante mercenary crew over the Faceless?” he asked.
How could he ever understand, she wondered. He was with the Faceless forever. It made her a little sad to think that they were all he would ever know.
Matti saw from the set of her jaw that she would not be moved. He sighed deeply. “You need to think this through, Kye. You know how your mother gets when she can’t get what she wants. She’ll burn the world down to get you back, whether you will or no.”
Kye put her hands on her hips, face stony. “My mother’s not the only one with an iron will, Matti. I’m not going back, and it’s that simple.” Before he could say another word, she turned on her heel and strode away. Behind her, Matti sighed again but followed the young thief toward the exit.
✸✸✸
Shouting alerted the pair of thieves that all was not well. They emerged through the cellar door into a corridor that was deserted. From the sounds, it would not stay that way for long. The shouting was indistinct, distant, but definitely within the walls of Matilde’s home. Kye shook her head. It could only trouble.
“Come on,” she said, indicating that Matti was to follow her. A quick hand gesture or two gave him the additional information he needed.
-trouble-
-companion injured-
Matti nodded, flashing back his response.
-fight?-
Kye shrugged.
-only if necessary-
Kye drew her dagger, and Matti did the same. They would need to walk softly; surprise was their most valuable asset. If they encountered anything serious, they would need to run. Two daggers would be of little use against armed and armored soldiers. Especially if those soldiers were anything like the not-so-departed Jarl Helmsworth. Kye breathed a silent prayer to Mali that she watch over her wayward children and set off toward the room where she had left Gorm.
The sounds of fighting grew louder as they went. Kye peered around a corner, looking back toward the room where she had left Gorm talking with Matilde. A little way down the corridor, a battle raged. Gorm stood in the center of the corridor, his staff swinging dangerously. Blood dripped from one end and spattered the walls. At least one body lay on the floor. Beyond the burly warrior, Kye could make out several other guards advancing on her friend with murderous intent. Yes, she thought, there’s definitely trouble. The way back was blocked, and there was no way out. She scrambled to think of a way to help Gorm, but there was little she or Matti could do. Then Kye remembered something.
“Gorm!” she called, waving him toward her. “This way! Hurry!”
The big warrior deflected a blow from an attacker and glanced her way. He nodded curtly, then unleashed a flurry of furious blows, driving his foes back and sending them tumbling over one another in their haste to get out of the weapon’s path. With some breathing space between them, he sprinted for Kye.
“Come on, Matti! I think I know a way out of here, but it’ll be close.” She sprinted back down the corridor toward the cellar entrance, stopping halfway. Kye jerked open the door and peered inside. Pale, diffused light met her gaze. It was the right room.
“Quick, inside!” They followed her in, and she slammed the door. Glancing down, she cursed their luck. There was no lock. Kye glanced desperately around the room. “We need to find something to barricade the door.” Already, the sound of booted feet could be heard pounding down the corridor. It would not be long before the guards found their hiding space. Up the corridor, a door thudded open. They were searching room by room.
Gorm began shifting one of the heavy tables, and Matti lent a hand. Within a few moments, they had the table against the door, wedging it tight. “That will hold them for a few moments, but it won’t stand against a determined assault,” Gorm advised, wiping blood and sweat from his face.
“We only need those few moments,” Kye said, moving to the dirt-streaked window. Gorm’s eyes widened as realization dawned. “Good thinking, Kye. Let’s get that open and see what lies beyond.” He turned to Matti. “And who are you?”
Matti looked uncomfortable beneath the warrior’s critical gaze but drew himself up. “I’m Matti,” he said, extending a hand. Gorm looked unconvinced about the boy’s intentions but took the offered hand anyway. “I’m a friend of Kye’s from Rakka.”
Gorm’s eyes narrowed once more. “Seems like quite the coincidence that you and she would both be here.”
Matti blushed. “Not really a coincidence. I was sent to bring her back. The leadership of the Faceless, er, want to put things back on even footing.”
A squealing sound interrupted the conversation, announcing that Kye had gotten the window open. Out in the corridor, the sounds of the search intensified. They could make out the individual voices of the guards now, and the footsteps were louder.
“Quickly, you two go. I’ll hold things down here for as long as I can.” Gorm braced himself against the table, lending weight to keep the door shut. Kye looked torn, but Matti had no such concerns. “C’mon, Kye! Now’s the time.”
With one last glance back at Gorm, Kye went out the window, followed by Matti. They found themselves in a narrow space between the house itself and the wall surrounding it. Thick, unkempt grass was underfoot, but there were no guards in sight, nor did they hear a shout of alarm from any watching sentries. Not far away, a couple of gnarled apple trees grew beside the wall, providing easy purchase for the nimble thieves. Matti quickly made his escape. Kye turned, calling back for Gorm to follow. “Come on! There’s a way out of this place.” Thudding from inside told her that the guards had discovered their hiding place.
“Go!” Gorm’s voice was strained with effort. Kye hesitated, torn between her need to help her friend and the wisdom of fleeing. She gasped as she saw the door splinter under the assault. The guards had brought axes. With a rending, splintering sound, part of the door collapsed inward. Gorm stepped back, giving up on preventing the guards from entering in favor of readying himself to defend. With a crash, the rest of the door gave way, and Kye caught a glimpse of guards moving the table while trying to dodge the blows from Gorm’s staff.
“Go, now!” Gorm roared. Kye wasted no time in following his advice. It took only a few seconds to cross the yard and almost no time to scale the apple tree. Matti waited for her at the top of the wall. The two shimmied down the far side, dropping the last few feet to the street and landing lightly on their feet.
“Where do we go?” Matti asked, eyes flicking back and forth, searching for guards.
“We need to stay close in case Gorm gets free.” She started down the cobblestone street, one ear cocked for sounds of pursuit.
“That’s foolishness, Kye.” Matti jogged to catch up with the other thief. “He’s as good as dead. Besides, if we hang around, we’ll probably get our necks stretched, too.” He grabbed his throat and stuck his tongue out.
Not amused, Kye replied, “Suit yourself. I’m not deserting him.”
“C’mon, Kye. Be reasonable!”
Kye was having none of it. She turned down an alley not far from the Helmsworth home. A few moments later, she scaled a wall and clambered on top of a building that gave her a view of the entire street and settled down to wait. Gorm was her friend, and she would be damned to a watery hell before she abandoned the man. Matti climbed up beside her, but neither said a word. Together, they waited.
They did not have to wait long.
Gorm, staff in one hand, vaulted down from the apple tree and hit the cobbles at a run. Blood flecked his face and clothing, but he moved with an easy lope that gave Kye hope he was not injured.
“Gorm, up here!” she called, hoping her voice would carry to him, but not to any pursuers. He glanced up, and she knew her plan had worked. Gorm nodded and turned down the alley the two thieves had used. He slung his staff across his back and scaled the wall. Within moments, he was crouched on the roof between Kye and Matti.
“Good to see you two again,” he grinned, catching his breath.
Kye smiled but didn’t answer. Instead, she surveyed the scene below. One guard, more intrepid or determined than the others, scaled the wall after Gorm. Another followed in his wake. They scouted the road up and down the length of the wall, seeking signs of Gorm’s passage but found nothing. Eventually, the trio heard other guards coming, exiting from the compound’s main gate. Soon, there was an entire contingent below on the road, although they did not seem very sure of themselves.
“I suppose we’ll have to wait until they lose interest,” Gorm said, making himself as comfortable as he could on the cold roof tiles.
“Not necessarily,” Matti replied with a grin.
“Well, unless you have something hidden away that’ll let us deal with those guards, I don’t see that we have much choice but to hunker in place.”
Matti’s smile widened. Kye chuckled as she realized what he was talking about. “The High Road?”
Matti nodded.
Gorm frowned, looking from thief to thief. “High road? What are you two on about?”
Matti rose to his knees, hunched over so that he remained hidden from the guards below. He swept his arm out, encompassing the roof and the other buildings around them. “The High Road!”
Kye couldn’t help but laugh, and even Gorm cracked a smile as he realized what the pair were talking about.
“Never thought I’d be crawling around over the top of the city like some damned pigeon. How far do you think we can get?”
Kye glanced at the rooftops around her. It wasn’t Rakka, where the buildings often crowded together so closely that the High Road was almost a seamless expanse stretching away into the distance, but it was close. They could get as far away as they needed.
“We can at least put some distance between us and our pursuers,” she told Gorm. The big man glanced down at the street below. The guards were still there, slowly widening their search, intent on finding them. A slow smile spread across his face.
“Great. Let’s get going then.”
Together, the three of them set off, staying low to keep from being seen. Ahead of them, the rooftops of Rom stretched away into the distance, a road that would hopefully take them to safety. It was difficult going at first. Large spaces between buildings had to be jumped. In a handful of instances, the companions had to find a way around a gap that was too large to jump. At least once, they had to descend to the cobbles because there was no way around. Still, it was safer than going by ground, and when there were no obstructions, progress was swift.
Gorm lagged behind often. His size meant that he had to take more care to stay out of sight. He was also not as nimble as the two youths. Matti and Kye took advantage of the time to race ahead and scout out the way, planning alternate routes and investigating potential bottlenecks or areas where they might have to descend from the rooftops for a time. During one such period, Kye decided it was time to ask her friend a few of the questions that had been troubling her since their meeting in the catacombs below the city.
They crouched in a sheltered spot between two eaves while they waited for Gorm to catch up with them. Leaves and twigs blown in by the wind offered a comfortable place to sit. Silence held for several minutes, both content to say nothing. Then Kye spoke.
“Matti, how did you know I was traveling with the Talon?”
“I didn’t. You told me about them,” he replied. It was a lie, and Kye knew it. She replayed the scene in her head. No, she had not told him anything of the sort. “I told you I didn’t belong with the Faceless any longer. You asked if I was really going to choose a crew of mercenaries over the guild.”
Matti’s cheeks flushed red. He had never been much good at lying. It was one of the things that had endeared him to her back in the Black City.
“Fine,” he admitted. “I knew you were traveling with them.” He glanced at her, eyes imploring her, begging her to understand. “You were seen in Scylline’s Cross in the company of the Talon. When their ship sailed north and you weren’t to be found on the island, they knew. From there, it was only a matter of putting enough people in the field. Only so many places you might have gone on that heading, and not many ships like Sparrowhawk on the water.”
Kye’s stomach dropped. They had known where she was and whom she was with.
“Who really sent you?” she asked, dreading the answer.
“That part was the truth. Your mother wants you back in Rakka. She’s turning the guild upside down to get you back.”
Kye raised an eyebrow. That did not sound like the mother she remembered. It was always about the Faceless, about what was good for the guild. Anything good for her daughter came second, or not at all, more like.
“You don’t believe me,” Matti said. It wasn’t a question.
Kye shook her head. “It’s just a lot to take in, you know? Seems pretty far-fetched.”
Matti nodded, his eyes growing distant, troubled. “It’s a different place now. The Faceless, I mean.” He picked up a small twig, turning it over and over between his fingers. “Your mother, she’s changed. Some of those changes seem to be for the better.” He glanced at her. “Her concern for you, for one.” Matti looked down at the roof tiles, using the twig to scrape designs into the mold growing there. “Some haven’t been all that well received. The guild’s faltering. She’s turned her hand from the tiller to focus on finding you, and things are starting to fray at the edges.”
Kye said nothing, but her wide eyes spoke volumes. It was unthinkable for her mother to shirk her duties for any reason, least of all for concern for Kye. “The guild has been through worse,” she said. “It will endure.”
Matti gave a bitter laugh. “Oh, the guild will endure, sure enough. It’s your mother I’m worried about.” He glanced at Kye, looking her directly in the eye. “There’s seditious talk, Kye. Some of the family are less than happy about the current course and whisper that a new hand at the helm might do the guild some good.”
Kye’s brows drew down. This was serious. Dissent in the ranks of the Faceless was nothing new, but few plotted to overthrow the guild’s leadership and lived to tell the tale. That such rumors had reached the ears of someone of Matti’s rank said a great deal. Little was being done to quash them, and that spoke more loudly of how things had changed than anything else the boy had told her. No, it’s no longer my place, she admonished herself.
She shrugged. “She’ll find a way. She always does.” For a brief moment, Kye thought of the few good times with her mother. Learning to throw daggers or pick locks. The stories she would tell at night, The Salt Wife, or tales about the ancient mages before the days of the empire. She pushed those away. Her mother had made her own decisions. Now it was Kye’s turn. She wouldn’t be bound by someone else’s arbitrary ideas about what was good for her, particularly when those ideas led directly to her being in danger.
Thanks for reading! I’m grateful that you’re here.
All caught up on ADTR? Why not explore something else?
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Mid chapter, eyebrow heightening reveal! The drama!