Tides of Ambition

In the wake of the War of the Inquisition, the river city of Braemere struggles to rebuild from its scars. For Jack Rowe, a forty-year-old dockworker and former adventurer, survival is a daily battle. Trapped in a cycle of hard labor and heartbreak, his dreams of a better life for his wife and children seem as distant as the elegant riverboats gliding down the waters. But Jack isn't ready to give up. Driven by grit, cunning, and sheer force of will, he sets out to reclaim his dreams—this time, not with a sword, but with cards, dice, and high-stakes ambition. From smoky taverns to his own modest skiff, The Lady Luck, Jack claws his way toward a riverboat casino empire, facing ruthless rivals, dangerous gambles, and the ever-looming question of whether he can truly rise above his failures. Tides of Ambition offers bite-sized glimpses into Jack's journey, each flash fiction story capturing a pivotal moment in his pursuit of success. Set in the same richly imagined world as The Innkeeper's Journey, this tale trades cozy camaraderie for the rough-and-tumble grit of high-stakes gambling and relentless determination. Can Jack Rowe outwit the odds and create a legacy for his family—or will the river's tides pull him under? The gamble begins here.