Free The Storm's Own Son (Book 1) by Anthony Gillis

found the familiar hidden mechanism, and opened the big trap door in the floor. There was a very large, sturdy ladder going down about fifteen feet. They descended and found the dry, dusty stone passageway. It had been carved tall and wide enough to fit Cratus, and was thus fairly roomy for them.
    It went on a long way in the dark. One of his friends lit a small, dim lamp, and they advanced. At the far end were stairs up, then a landing and a door. Talaos crept quietly up and listened. On the other side there were multiple voices. There was a storeroom there, and Cratus had generally used it for mundane items.  The voices were likely guards, posted in case someone came through, and Cratus being Cratus, they likely had no idea what they were guarding.
    He knew on the other side, this door looked like just another section of cheap wood paneling. It had a lock that was operated by a little hidden mechanism on the other side, and so far as he knew, couldn't be operated on this side.
    With those guards in place, the time for stealth was about to end anyway. 
    He had his long blade in his right hand, and a dagger in his left.
    He stepped back, whirled, and aimed a flying kick at the door. It jarred forward in its frame, and there were roars of surprise in the room beyond.  He cursed under his breath and gave it another kick. The door went flinging aside on its hidden hinges. It cracked into the face of a guard standing nearby. He threw his dagger into the throat of the next closest guard and leapt through, drawing his short blade in his left hand as he went.
    There were ten more guards on the other side,  largely unarmored and carrying a variety of weapons.  Talaos spun low and ran his long blade through the stomach of a guard with a club. Behind him, Katara charged through with a roar. The man directly in front of her stared in momentary surprise, with eyes foolishly on her chest and her flying golden braids. It cost the man his life as she brought her heavy sword down through his shoulder and ribs. Then the rest poured through, fighting the outnumbered guards. The man who'd had the door cracked in his face wiped blood away and raised his axe to fight. Sorya interrupted his plans with a dagger to the kidney. Katara kicked a man and sent him toppling, then cleaved another's head in half.
    As they fought, Talaos could hear sounds of alarm. He ducked a blow from a mace, twisted, and slashed the wielder along the arm with his long blade. More of Cratus's men would be charging their way, he thought grimly. The mace wielder spun, trying to shatter Talaos's arm. Talaos dodged and brought his short blade between the man's ribs. Then, as the other fell, he realized more alarms were being shouted all around Cratus's compound.
    Palaeon must have the main assault under way.
    A round him, the guards were dead. Several of his were hurt, but thankfully none dead.
    He'd always guessed that i n this room there should be another hidden panel, with a short passage to Cratus's main office. However, Talaos had not been shown that particular secret.
    It was possible that Cratus would be out in the compound leading the defense, but he had never been quiet in fights, and his massive bellowing voice carried a long way. Talaos couldn't hear him. Then he had a suspicion where Cratus would be.
    They'd have to take a chance.
    He motioned for the others to follow him, and raced out into the hall. He could hear sounds of fighting and many voices.  They turned left. Two men, Cratus's, came racing their way. One had an axe, the other, bigger, a heavy club. They came to a skittering stop on seeing the large group before them. The man with the axe ran, and then fell with one of Sorya's daggers in his back. The bigger man charged. Talaos dodged the club, turned, and ran his short blade into the man's ribs. Katara, close behind, finished the enemy with a sword thrust through the collar.
    Ahead on the left was the brass-paneled door to Cratus's office. There was