the stones, and the royal guard watched them. The king did not move.
“As the barracuda swam, the outer guard noticed something strange. They could see the barracuda making their circles, but they couldn’t see the inner guard. For that matter they couldn’t see Star Shadow at all. They grew nervous and restless, but the king stayed still and they kept watch. The rocks grew through the rise of the sun and were taller than the length of the king as the sun began to set from above. The hum from the rocks was immense and the king began to glow. The barracuda started to growl and they snapped at the dolphins as they swam. Two of the outer guard started swimming with the barracuda, round and round in circles. The king urged them to keep their peace, but they were nervous and anxious. The magic was getting to them.
“Twilight was coming and the rocks were nearly as tall as they are now. The humming was coming to a crescendo and the king could feel the Morning Star in his heart urging him to stay to the end. The king began moving his tail back and forth, for he had been there with no food and no air for the whole day. The boulders became small mountains and they glowed orange with the setting sun. As the last rays were being filtered by the water, the Star spoke again to the king. The king spoke again to his guards, for he could see all ten. He told the seven outer guards to swim under him to the other side, where the inner guards were waiting, but the two who were swimming with the barracuda didn’t want to.
“The barracuda’s eyes were bright red with hunger and bloodlust. The magic made them want to fight and they too were hungry from a day at the stones. The dolphins followed and kept swimming. The king tried again and again to get the last two guards to swim under him, but they couldn’t see into Star Shadow and couldn’t see that the others were waiting for them. Finally the last rays of light left the sea and the king swam into the gate and up to the surface. The Morning Star sealed the gate and none could pass through until it was opened again by His rays at dawn.”
“What happened to the dolphins?” Lilliana asked.
“They were stranded outside the gate. Nobody was able to help them from the gate that evening because the magic couldn’t be touched for a day. The castle guards swam the long way through Merhill to try to find the lost dukes.”
“What did they find?” she asked.
“The barracuda were trying to go through the gate, but the rocks kept them back. There was no sign of the dolphins. They have never been found.”
“But that’s awful. They were trying to protect the others and they lost their lives,” Lilliana said.
“There are times when you have to trust the king,” Lance said, “even when it doesn’t make sense.”
“Like when you think he’s going to call your friend a poison goddess?” Spike asked.
“Especially then, puffball,” Lance said.
“You don’t think there are still barracudas around here do you?” Spike looked nervously around.
“Most of them moved on…except…behind you!” Lance said.
Spectrum nosed the little fish from behind and Spike let out a yell. He puffed up like a melon.
“Nice one horse fish!” Lance said as he patted Spectrum on the side.
“That’s not nice!” Spike said, bobbing on one side.
“And the barracudas, Sir Lance? Are they still here?” Lilliana asked with a smile.
“They really have moved on. Once the gate was in place they could only hunt from one side. Besides, they didn’t appreciate the humming or the fact we could watch them without being seen. Now the trench is home to those animals who like a breath of fresh water now and then. Most of us get bloated and sick from the lack of salt, but the food’s good.”
“Look! The trench! The trench!” Spike squealed and he bobbed ahead. There were many colors of kelp and sea grass along the sides of a deep, dark trough. Spectrum nickered as he noticed the food.
There was fresh water going through their gills now and Lilliana enjoyed the change. Lance began to swim further above the ocean floor.
“Should I follow you up there?” the princess asked.
“Too much fresh water makes me nauseous. I prefer the salt up here, and I can see a little farther too. Look there, purple urchins! Do you think I should take some to my brother?” Lance laughed at his own joke.
Along the kelp there were many smaller sea creatures. The urchins seemed fond of the brown kelp that grew tall and high. Strewn across the rocks the barnacles changed color as they approached the fresher water. Eels darted in and out and an occasional crab skittered from one clump of sea grass to another. Lilliana shivered. Crabs reminded her of the spiders back home. They had entirely too many legs.
Spectrum slowed as they went down the hill closer to the clumps of grass. He came to a stop and perked his ears forward. His nostrils flared. He was looking intently at one spot in the ditch ahead. Lilliana looked above and noticed that Lance’s color had darkened. His scales were no longer the pale dappled blue of the throne room, but were changing to an ever darker grey. He was swimming in place and turning his sword slowly from side to side.
Lilliana knew her friends sensed danger, and she strained all of her senses. She didn’t see or hear anything unusual. She opened her mouth to taste the water. It was fresh and there was no strange taste. She could feel Spectrum’s muscles tense, and he stomped his hooves. Spike bobbed ahead and turned back to smile at her. He had a small oyster in his mouth and he looked as if he had found the biggest treasure in the sea. Behind Spike there was a large dark shape rising in the water. This was no ordinary fish. The shape grew in size until Lilliana could see the large shark and it was rising slowly from the depths.
Spike saw the look on Lilliana’s face. “No way. You can’t fool me. There aren’t any barracudas in this part of the sea.”
“You’re a treat like the one my brother ate,” the shark said from behind the little fish. Spike’s eyes grew wide; he dropped his meal and turned around.
The shark’s voice was oily and deep. “He never did recover from that stomach ache. Perhaps instead of eating you I’ll just chop you up and feed you to the crabs. I’m sure they won’t mind.” The shark laughed and other voices laughed with him. Spike puffed up to his fullest size and backed towards Lance and Spectrum.
Lilliana watched in shock as more sharks began to rise from the end of the long deep trench. Their laughter seemed to surround her on all sides.
Lance’s skin was dark grey now, as dark as the sharks. “You need to swim back past the gate,” he whispered. “If you can’t get through, stay close to the boulders and someone will come to find you. Then he turned to face the sharks. “This isn’t your normal hunting grounds. What are you doing at the trench?”
“Let’s just say I’m in the mood for beastie tonight,” the shark said. The others laughed again.
A chill ran down Lilliana’s back. Nobody called her beastie except for Lance. How did this shark come up with that name? Was Spike right? Was Lance a spy pretending to be loyal?
“Well as you can see there is only a human, a horse and me here. And not one of us will feed you tonight,” Lance replied, “unless of course we feed you to our king and his court.” His sail was completely full now and he was turned sideways to block the shark’s view of Lilliana. Spike was swimming protectively on her other side with his body fully inflated and his fins moving as fast as a bee’s wings.
The shark opened his mouth and grinned. Lilliana peered around Lance and saw rows of long white teeth, more than she could count. The other sharks were swimming beside the head one now. They all had their eyes on Lance and his sword. All of them but the biggest one. He was looking right at Lilliana.
“What makes you think I want to eat her long nose? I just want the pleasure of the beastie’s company for a bit.” The shark moved closer.
“That’s not an option. She’s with me,” Lance said.
“And me too!” Spike said.
&nbs
p; Spectrum was tense and ready to swim. Lilliana could see him looking from side to side at the line of sharks. There had to be at least eight of them now, and they were all bigger than the princess, but only one was as big as her horse.
“She won’t be with you much longer. Now boys, now!” the shark bellowed.
The big shark batted Spike out of the way and Lance charged him with his sword. Three of the sharks rammed into Lance’s side sending him somersaulting head over tail through the water. Spectrum reared up and kicked two sharks in the head with his front hooves. They careened away towards the trench and the fresh water carried them downstream. Another shark came at Spectrum’s side and wrapped its teeth around his hind leg.
“No!” screamed Lilliana and she hit the big fish hard in the eye. It swam in circles stunned. Blood was pouring out of Spectrum’s leg, the tendons were visibly shredded and her horse was falling to the ground beneath her. Lilliana pulled on his head. He just had to get up, he had to. She turned and looked back at the gate. She had to get help if she could just swim fast enough.
“Not you Beastie,” came the shark’s voice again. He pulled her backwards by her hair and the others laughed. Spectrum was in a pool of blood at her feet and Lance was stunned and floating in front of her. Spike was nowhere to be seen. It was all over so quickly.
The remaining sharks looked at Spectrum with
The Prophecy of Atlantis Page 20
