Inharmonic (The Music Maker Series Book 1) Read online

  Nadja blinked back tears as the rain moved in, peppering the boat with taps and pings. Somewhere in the early hours of the morning she finally succumbed to the soothing sound of the rain and slipped into a deep sleep.

  She spent most of the next day alternately sipping from her canteen and lying down to ward off the nausea which had overtaken her when she’d awoken. The gentle pitter-patter she’d fallen asleep to the night before turned into a powerful rainstorm, pelting the barge with an infinite number of tiny, gravel-like droplets. Once or twice she crawled out of her corner and peeked towards the door. The dark skies beyond refused the sun its due and painted a gray outline around the door, never giving a clue as to what time of day it was.

  Even though the hold had no windows, Nadja knew the river was swollen. The boat dropped and rolled beneath her, traveling much more swiftly than it had at the beginning of their journey. Occasionally it dipped sharply to one side, causing the contents of the crates to shift and jingle. Nadja’s stomach rolled with the boat, and she squeezed her eyes shut in a poor attempt to manage the dizziness which clouded her head. The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on her. How was it someone so at home in the water could be almost useless riding on it?

  It was during one particularly large dip that Nadja noticed a change in the commotion going on above deck. The voices of the deckhands, though muffled by the rain and walls, were raised and urgent. Footsteps pounded overhead in a mad dash towards the back of the barge.

  Suddenly, the boat lurched to the left. Nadja’s eyes flew open in time to see a crate slide off the stack near her feet. She rolled to the left just as the crate crashed down, cracking open and sending silver sliding across the floor. The high-pitched noise rang in her ears, briefly masking the sound of the rain overhead. There was no way the crash had gone unnoticed by the men topside.

  A few minutes later, Nadja felt the boat slow, then stop. It still bobbed up and down in the river’s swift current, but all forward progress ceased. She slunk back into her corner as far as she could as footsteps approached the hold door.

  Chapter 32

  The door to the hold swung open and Nadja listened, heart in her throat, as the footsteps drew closer to her hiding place. She slipped her pack over her shoulder and across her chest in case she needed to make a run for it.

  “By the sound of it, I thought it would be a lot worse,” said a gruff voice.

  A boot scraped across the wooden floor, colliding with silver. Apparently, the crate next to Nadja wasn’t the only casualty of the rainstorm.

  “Blast that tree,” came another voice. “If it hadna been uprooted like that, the captain wouldna had to pull so hard to port, and we’d be docking in Chansey by now.”

  “There’s no use whining about it,” replied gruff-voice. “You get to work repairing this crate and I’ll take a look at the one back there.”

  Nadja pressed herself into the shadows of the wall as the gruff-voiced man came into view. As he reached down to recover the splintered bits of the crate, he caught her cowering form out of the corner of his eye. Shocked, he jumped back and nearly tripped over the spilled cargo. After regaining his balance, he cocked his head to the side and eyed Nadja. “Well, well. What do we have here?”

  Nadja was afraid to answer. The boat continued to dip and sway, though it was going nowhere, and her seasickness was no better. Saliva filled her mouth. She swallowed it tentatively, willing her stomach to keep its contents contained. Opening her mouth was sure to bring what little was in her stomach back into the light.

  “Whadja find?” asked the second man, coming to investigate.

  Gruff-Voice lifted an eyebrow. “Looks like we have ourselves a stowaway.”

  Moments later, Nadja was hauled up on deck by the same guard who had overseen the loading of the vessel. His grasp around her bicep was firm, but he wasn’t hostile. After a day and a half cooped up in the hold, the rain splattering against her face and body was refreshing and helped assuage her nausea.

  The barge was anchored along the eastern bank of the river. Cliffs rose on the opposite side taller than any building Nadja had ever seen. It was one of the most distinct features of the Nostirivin. The river ran like a great partition separating the sandy shores of the east from the craggy cliffs of the west, which grew taller as they approached the Shadow Sea. Cliffs this tall meant they must be close to Chansey. But with the foggy rainstorm limiting visibility to sixty paces, there was no way to be sure.

  “What’s this?” barked a commanding voice.

  The guard spun Nadja around to face the captain. Water soaked the slick deck, and the abrupt motion made her lose her footing. The guard righted her. She lifted her head, and raindrops slid down her forehead and into her eyes, clouding her vision. The wizened captain stood, hands on hips, glaring at her through the storm. Just over his shoulder she saw Pax. His eyes widened, and he clenched his teeth, unable to do anything but watch the scene unfold.

  “We caught this woman down in the hold,” yelled Gruff-Voice above the rain. “Looks like she’s been hiding there ever since we left Cantio.”

  The captain strode towards Nadja. “Explain yourself.”

  The boat dipped again. Nadja, unlike the boatmen who spent the majority of the trip on their feet, pitched forward. If it hadn’t been for the guard at her elbow, she would have fallen headfirst onto the soggy deck. Nausea welled up inside her once more. She reached out her free arm and grasped the side of the boat to steady herself, swallowing twice before attempting an answer.

  “I . . . I need to . . . need to get to . . . Chansey,” she managed between swallows.

  “Don’t we all?” The captain glared at her. “It appears you mistook my barge for one of the passenger boats.” He huffed, then seemed to have another thought. “Well, no harm there. Just show me your ticket and we can get you transferred to the right vessel.”

  The guard next to her grunted.

  “Well?” bellowed the captain.

  Nadja squeezed her eyes and tried to keep her head as still as possible. What was this about a ticket? With her head swimming and stomach spasming, she couldn’t make sense of what the captain had said.

  “Oh, no ticket?” he said in a mocking tone. “Well then, that makes you a stowaway.” The captain sneered, drawing snickers from the rest of the crew. All but one. Pax stood motionless, his forehead creased with worry.

  “Come here,” demanded the captain, pointing to the deck in front of him.

  The guard released her arm, and she shuffled towards the captain, focusing her eyes on the wood beneath her feet. She heard the captain yelling about all the ways they handle people who stow away aboard his ship, but Nadja couldn’t make out what he was saying. She was so focused on staying upright and not vomiting that the laughter of the crew was almost lost on her as well.

  Without warning, the boat dropped sharply to the right. The force of the motion coupled with the slippery deck and her dizzy head sent Nadja careening over the edge of the barge and into the rushing waters below.

  The churning, chilly waters enveloped her in a violent bear hug. The suddenness of the plunge shocked her body, dispelling her nausea almost immediately. As she broke the surface of the water, she thought she heard another splash, but wasn’t sure. The roaring of the river filled her ears. Instinct kicked in, and she rolled over onto her back, filling her lungs with air and pointing her feet downriver. Her pack, the strap still wrapped across her chest, floated to the surface next to her. She silently thanked Morris for crafting a blowpipe which was so lightweight.

  A hand clamped down on her shoulder like a vise. Surprised, she twisted her neck to look behind her and saw Pax’s face. His head bobbed up and down along the surface. He gasped and sputtered, spewing mouthfuls of water each time he surfaced. With a gritty look of determination, he got his other arm under her shoulder and tried to stand.

  Nadja shook her head furiously. “No!” she cried, water filling her mouth. She spat. “Don’t stand up!”
/>   But he couldn’t hear her over the thundering river. Clearly he wasn’t thinking straight. Even this close to the bank, the river had risen well above his head. The well-meaning oaf would wind up getting pulled to the bottom, and he would take Nadja along with him. No sooner had he dropped his feet than the undercurrent whipped his legs out from under him. His arm wrenched away from Nadja’s body and his head disappeared below the surface.

  “Pax!” she screamed.

  A wave washed over her head. As soon as the water cleared, she filled her lungs with air once more. She could hold her breath for several minutes, but she doubted Pax could hold his for more than one.

  The river pulled her towards the middle. Rain and river water splattered her face obscuring her vision. Blinking the moisture from her eyes, she desperately scanned the rapids for any sign of him. She counted the seconds as they passed.

  At twenty seconds, the fear gripping her chest became painful.

  Come on Pax, where are you?

  At forty seconds, the corners of her eyes pricked with the threat of tears. There were other dangers besides the rushing water which lurked within the depths of the river. Fallen trees and large rocks littered the bottom of the Nostirivin like components in a giant sieve, capturing debris while allowing the water to flow past.

  At sixty seconds, a sob escaped Nadja’s throat as her last shred of hope dissolved. The threatening tears sprang forth, mingling with the raindrops on her damp cheeks.

  No . . . no, nooo!

  Another wave washed over her face, bringing her back to attention. She had to get ahold of her emotions, or she would end up just like Pax. Taking another huge gulp of air, she squeezed her eyes shut. Her throat burned against grief withheld.

  Nadja opened her eyes and focused on her current situation. The middle of the river appeared to be the least treacherous place to ride out the rapids. She peered through the wet, gray fog which hung like a thick curtain among the driving rain. A shadow emerged to her left. She could make out a silhouette of buildings looming ahead. Chansey. She needed to get to shore before the Nostirivin swept her out to sea.

  She started to position her body towards the eastern shore when an arm shot up from the water to her right. A soggy mop of brown hair followed the arm before once more ducking beneath the surface.

  It was Pax!

  Nadja’s heart leapt at the sight of him, and the pain she’d been holding back forced its way out of her mouth in a cry of relief. She angled towards him.

  A short distance ahead, he surfaced again, flailing his arms as if searching for something to hold on to. He was much too close to the western bank. The waters which ran parallel to the cliffs were overflowing with jagged rocks. They stuck up out of the river like the teeth of a great sea monster hungering to crush the bones of men.

  As if the thought was made manifest, Nadja watched in horror as Pax’s body dashed against the side of one of those rocks. He bounced off like a child’s dolly flung at a tree before he slipped under the water once more.

  Nadja’s muscles burned as she fought the rapids in a desperate attempt to reach him. She made progress, but not nearly fast enough.

  Pax resurfaced one more, still ahead of her. Another rock lay directly in his path. Nadja winced as he slammed into the second one. But this time, his hands found purchase, and he clung to it with unbelievable determination.

  Nadja struggled to get close enough to him without getting sucked into the rocks herself. She was almost there when the current shifted and sent her barreling into his back. His hands slipped with the unexpected impact, and she latched onto his shoulders. Pax scrambled to regain his grip, then turned his head to look behind him. The hard lines of his features softened slightly, and the corners of his mouth lifted.

  “Fancy meeting you here,” he yelled above the din, his chest heaving from the exertion.

  Nadja wanted to kiss him and punch him at the same time. How could he joke at a time like this?

  “Are you insane?” she yelled back, bringing her mouth close to his ear. “Why did you jump in the river?”

  “To rescue you,” he shouted.

  “And how is that working out?”

  “I’ve been in better situations.”

  Nadja tightened her back muscles, pushing against the current and dropping her feet straight down. Keeping a firm grip on his shoulders, she maneuvered directly behind him. The force of the river pressed her body into Pax’s back.

  “This is hardly the time for a piggyback ride,” he shouted.

  “Very funny,” replied Nadja. “We need to get away from these rocks or we’re going to get crushed.” She scanned the surface of the river. “There,” she said, pointing over Pax’s shoulder to a twisting pattern of water not far from them. “If we can make it to that little run, it should carry us back towards the middle.”

  “Sounds easy enough,” said Pax. Nadja caught a glimpse of his profile when he turned to look at the current. The muscles in his face were taught, belying his carefree tone.

  “When I count to three, we need to push off of this rock towards that current. Together.” she shouted.

  Pax’s eye twitched. Then, he tossed her a grin over his shoulder. “Aye aye, Captain.”

  Nadja turned her hips to the side and pulled up her knees, planting her feet on the giant stone. Pax shifted in front of her, getting into position.

  “Ready?” she called.

  Pax nodded.

  On three, they kicked off from the rock. Pax let out a rough growl as the rock fell away from them and they headed towards the little current. They became separated for a moment, but Nadja managed to grasp a handful of Pax’s shirt. Within moments they were pulled back to the center of the river.

  Pax slapped at the water, struggling to keep his head above the surface. Nadja pulled herself towards him, getting into position behind his head. In one swift movement, she released her hold on his shirt and linked her forearms under his armpits, keeping him from going under. “Stop fighting!” she yelled.

  Pax flailed, sending them both under the water, but Nadja maintained her hold on him. When they surfaced again, she brought her mouth to his ear. “Relax,” she said in a soothing tone. “I’ve got you.”

  Pax stopped thrashing, but his muscles were strung tighter than a bow.

  Nadja filled her lungs and slid her body underneath Pax, easing him onto his back. He acquiesced, alternately holding his breath and panting as they bobbed along.

  At that moment, Nadja felt the water shift. She was so focused on keeping them afloat she didn’t notice the city pass them by. The cliffs fell away, and the Nostirivin emptied into the Shadow Sea.

  Their chance to make it to the eastern bank was gone, and fatigue was setting in. As they were pushed further out to sea, Nadja felt for the first time she wouldn’t make it back to shore. If she only had herself to worry about, getting back to land wouldn’t be a problem. But getting herself and Pax both out was looking like less of a possibility.

  Nadja tilted her head back and closed her eyes, sensing the water around her. The tide was coming in. That was a good thing. If they could get away from the mouth of the river, at least they wouldn’t be fighting against the tide.

  Abruptly, the water shifted again. This time it pulled them in the opposite direction. Nadja looked over her shoulder. They were headed right for the cliffs. As they got closer, a large black hole appeared in its face. It emerged through the rainstorm like the mouth of a giant whale, swallowing everything in its path.

  Nadja’s heart raced. Her lungs and muscles burned as she vainly tried to kick out of the current. She cursed herself for not paying attention as she tried to free them from the water’s pull. But the current was too strong. With Pax weighing her down, there was no way to break its hold.

  The water picked up speed as they approached the mouth of the cave. Nadja was glad Pax hadn’t looked back. The last thing she needed was him pulling her under again.

  The sun chose that exact moment to
break through the clouds. Nadja lifted her chin towards it, relishing the warmth shining down on them. She took a deep breath and looked back over her shoulder again.

  With the cliffs at their back, Nadja relaxed her legs and tucked her chin, resting her cheek against Pax’s hair.

  “Hold on,” she said, as darkness engulfed them.

  Chapter 33

  Nadja rolled onto her side, panting. The small cobblestones, made smooth by centuries of changing tides, were hard beneath her. Water lapped around her thighs. The sea deposited her and Pax within the cave, still pushing her forward with the incoming tide.

  “Pax!” she called, pushing herself up and squinting into the darkness.

  “That’s what they call me,” came a throaty reply.

  Nadja blinked, waiting for her eyes to adjust. The thin beam of light which squeezed into the space between the water and the top of the cave’s mouth lit the surrounding area. She spotted Pax lying on his back just out of reach. His chest heaved up and down as he struggled to catch his breath.

  “Are you all right?” he asked between breaths.

  Nadja ran her hands down her body. There was a scrape along her forearm where she had hit the railing when she fell overboard. Her muscles were aching and her strength was spent, but she found no other injury.

  “Yes,” she replied. She climbed to her feet, wobbling on her weakened knees, and walked over to Pax.

  By this time, he was sitting up.

  “How are you?” she asked.

  “Alive, thank you,” he replied rubbing his face with his hands. “What was that?”

  Nadja glanced towards the entrance. “Some kind of rogue current.” She shook her head. “I should’ve seen it coming.”

  “It’s not like you had anything else to worry about,” said Pax.

  Nadja turned back to him. He was standing now, leaning heavily on his right leg.

  “You’re hurt,” she said, taking a step back and looking down at his left leg.