by EJ Altbacker
With dread in her stomach Velenka asked, “What is it? My reward?”
Hokuu waved his tail with a flourish. “You get to watch all of this happen before you’re eaten!”
“Before . . . I’m eaten? How—how’s that a reward?” Velenka asked in a shaky whisper.
“The reward is that you’ll be eaten last!” Velenka could only stare as Hokuu sent ripples of excitement down the length of his body. “Think of it, you get to see the new watery world order become a reality! And then when you swim the Sparkle Blue after a bite to the gills from Drinnok himself—what an honor—you get to bring the news that Fifth Shiver has been fully restored . . . to Tyro himself! I’m almost jealous of you.”
“I—I never thought of it that way,” Velenka told him as her stomach heaved. By telling her this, it was as if Hokuu wanted her to swim away as fast as she could. Or betray him. That couldn’t be true? Could it? “And to be clear, you won’t send Gray to the Sparkle Blue. Am I right about that?”
“I’d like to have Gray as an option for later, of course. But it does depend on his actions not forcing me to kill him when I open the new passageway.” Hokuu flicked his tail back and forth in glee and looked up toward the chop-chop. “You see? It’s almost full. We’re so near the appointed time. So near.” He gestured at the glimmering moon far above the surface of the water. Hokuu then whispered. “And to think he was so close. If Gray stayed where he was, he could have been a real problem.”
“What does that mean?” Velenka asked.
Hokuu went back to his meal. “Never mind that. Concentrate on turning Gray to my side. You should practice what you’re going to say right at the beginning since he and his friends might eat you before you can get too many words out.”
Oh, right, Velenka remembered. I totally forgot I’m an escaped prisoner and they probably want to bite me in the gills. Great.
CHAPTER 20
“HALT AND APPEAR!” SHEAR CRIED, STARTLING Gray and the fins behind them. Twenty guardian finja that were hiding at the edges of the Riptide formation materialized in the water.
To the tired Riptide mariners, it seemed as if these ferocious sharkkind basically appeared out of nowhere. The advanced scouts screeched to a halt, bumping and jostling each other as they did. Even though the scouts were battle tested mariners, everyone in the armada was jumpy. And the mass of frightened shiver sharks, their pups, and other dwellers in the center were thrown into total confusion.
“Why are we stopping?” bellowed Striiker from the diamondhead position of his battle formation. “We’re almost there!”
Gray was puzzled for a moment until the leader of the finja guardians dipped his snout. “Apologies, Aquasidor Graynoldus. The Seazarein will not permit anyone but yourself to swim into Fathomir.”
Barkley gave Shear his most wounded look. “What? No welcome feast? Are you sure?”
“I received word an hour ago as we were swimming in, so I am quite sure,” the huge tiger shark finja replied.
“If you’re not, I could go ask,” said Snork, missing the sarcasm that floated thick in the water between Shear and Barkley.
The guardian leader ignored the sawfish and waited for Gray’s reaction.
“I don’t much care,” Gray told him.
Shear signaled with a flick of his tail and fifty massive finja appeared in the water behind him. These prehistore sharks were from Fathomir, the Seazarein’s personal guard. “I’m ordered to not let any others pass.”
Mari swished her tail. “Gray, maybe you shouldn’t push this.”
“No!” he yelled. “We’re moving ahead and that’s that!”
Shear didn’t budge as Gray moved forward and the two sharks bumped snouts.
“You want a piece of me, Shear? It didn’t work out so well for you on the training field.”
The guardian captain gave Gray a pleading look. He was between sharp coral and a rough current. “Aquasidor Graynoldus, please do not do this.” The big tiger didn’t want to fight, but he would.
Barkley tapped him on the flank, distracting Gray as he was going to Bull Shark Rush the finja. “Are you really going to waste time brawling like a jelly-headed bully? Get in there and see what she has to say.”
“Yeah,” Snork said. “Let’s save the fighting for that giant snake and his friends.”
Mari agreed. “We’re tired and hungry, anyway. And there are lots of fish here.”
“With all these finja around I think we’re pretty safe,” Striiker added. “Go.”
Gray gave Shear a cold stare. “When this is over, you and I are going to dance. But if you’re still captain of the Aquasidor’s guardians, stay and protect these sharkkind. That’s an order.”
The finja leader snapped into attention hover and dipped his snout. “Yes sir, Aquasidor Graynoldus!”
Gray turned to Barkley. “You coming?”
His friend shook his head. “That would not go over well.” The dogfish motioned for Gray to go on alone. “Beside, I’m hungry, too.”
Gray frowned in mock seriousness. “Turtle.”
“A smart turtle,” Barkley replied. “Call me Shelley, because I’m staying put.”
Gray smiled to himself. His friend had so much more confidence now that he was a subcommander and leader of the ghostfins. At least Gray had gotten that right. He swam toward the Seazarein’s homewaters, and her fifty guardians fell into position around him. Shear was good as his word, though. He and his twenty guardians stayed, melting into the waters, unseen once more.
Soon Gray was deep in the Fathomir homewaters and inside the even more heavily fortified throne cavern in front of the Seazarein, Judijoan the oarfish, and Takiza.
Of course, everyone was displeased with him. What else is new? he thought.
“In case you were all wondering, there’s peace between Icingholme and Hideg Shivers in the Arktik,” Gray announced.
Judijoan shook her head at his terribly rude act. This was one of the first, and easiest, of lessons. Always let the leader of the place you were visiting, in this case the Seazarein, speak first. It was a simple rule and a very common courtesy.
Well, too bad!
Gray wasn’t about to let Kaleth stare haughtily from her throne while making him cool his fins in silence. Not when Riptide Shiver was exposed to danger outside of the Fathomir homewaters. No way! Gray set his jaw and waited for the explosion that he was sure would follow.
But there wasn’t one.
The Seazarein replied in an even tone, “That’s good news, Aquasidor Graynoldus. I’ll want those details later. The question I’d like answered this moment, however, is why you’ve returned with a few more fins than when you left. Can you explain this?”
Gary switched his tail right and left. He wasn’t expecting Kaleth to say anything below a shouting voice. And certainly not ask a question calmly.
“Well, yes, um—on our way here, the guardians and I detected blood in the water. When we investigated—in your name, of course—we found that it was Riptide Shiver and they were under attack by Hokuu and his renegade makos.” Gray decided to make some effort to make up for his rudeness. “Knowing how much you, the Seazarein, love peace in the Big Blue, and how, um, large and good your heart is, I decided we should help them. In your name.”
“So by bringing them here, you think you saved them?” she asked. Kaleth was as calm as a summer lagoon and it unnerved Gray.
“You’re the most powerful shark in the Big Blue, the Seazarein Emprex of the ocean,” Gray said. “I think you’ll help them because why wouldn’t you help them?”
“You forget yourself!” shouted Judijoan as she rose perpendicular to the seafloor.
Kaleth waved off her advisor and locked eyes on Gray. “By bringing these sharkkind and dwellers, you deplete our food supplies. That makes us vulner
able to attack. As you said, we are the only force that’s a match for Hokuu. Maybe. And only if the conditions are perfect. Your mariners are nothing to the mako finja, and certainly not to Hokuu. If my guardians show themselves by protecting your untrained masses, the renegades can pick them off one by one until there are none left. Then what? Who will protect your friends? By bringing these sharks to Fathomir, you have made us all less safe.”
Gray swept at the sandy cavern floor with his tail. “I didn’t think of that.”
“No, you didn’t!” Judijoan huffed.
Kaleth sighed. “But even if he did, he would have done the same thing.”
Gray didn’t answer. Everyone knew it was true.
“I think it is a credit to the boy,” said Takiza. “Kindness and caring are never a mistake.”
Gray was grateful for that. Could someone who said that actually leave his father to die? He drove the thought from his mind. This wasn’t the time for that conversation.
“And if this kindness is the reason that Hokuu prevails? Will it be worth it then?” asked Judijoan. The oarfish swirled her tail through the water.
“Silence!” yelled Kaleth, slamming her tail on the ground. “I have decided.”
Gray waited. He could feel that even Takiza was on edge, although the betta seemed his usual calm self.
“Your friends can stay to rest and heal.” Judijoan gasped like a steam vent in the ocean floor. Kaleth gave her a baleful look and she quieted. “They stay on the far edge of Fathomir and can hunt all they want. But your mariners will be responsible for the safety of the Riptide sharks.”
It was more than Gray could have hoped for. He nodded, his tail sagging as a cool wave of relief rolled down his spine. “Yes, they will.”
“And one more thing,” Kaleth added. “I don’t want you as my Aquasidor.”
Gray blurted, “What?” Takiza looked shocked, too.
“I believe you heard me,” she said. “You cannot serve me and Riptide Shiver. Your heart is with your friends. So you are relieved of your duties until this crisis is at an end.” She glanced over at Takiza. “You may also go.”
The betta dipped his snout. “Please reconsider this.”
“I don’t believe I will,” Kaleth shot back, swishing her tail side to side. “My decision is final. Do not test me.”
Takiza jerked his fins through the water and swam out of the throne room. Gray was so shocked he hovered, motionless, until Judijoan said, “That is also your signal to leave.”
And so Gray swam out of Kaleth’s throne room a free shark, Aquasidor no longer.
Strangely, this really bothered him.
CHAPTER 21
GRAY SWAM IN SILENCE WITH TAKIZA. NO guardians flanked them now. Gray even reached out with his senses to check if the finja were there but hidden. He felt nothing. They truly were gone.
Kaleth really meant it, thought Gray. She had Hokuu to deal with, so maybe this was the best plan. Her guardians were the best-trained sharkkind in the Big Blue. Even Finnivus’s squaline wouldn’t have stood a chance against them. Maybe Kaleth would succeed in stopping the frilled shark where Riptide had failed. Gray hoped so.
Takiza swam by his side, deep in thought. Gray waggled a fin to get his attention. “Yes? What is it now?” the betta grumped, irritated at the interruption.
“I have to talk to you about something,” Gray said, taking a deep breath. “I want you to tell me the truth.”
Takiza nodded. “You have earned the right. Ask what you will.”
Gray decided he would start with what he knew had to be a lie. “Did you send one of your apprentices to the Sparkle Blue?”
Takiza became more interested and turned. “You have spoken with Hokuu. When?”
Gray shook his snout side to side. “I’m asking the questions.” He went on in a softer voice, afraid of what Takiza’s might say. “So . . . did you?”
“No,” Takiza began.
“Yes! I knew he was lying! I knew it!” The betta sighed in an odd way that Gray found unsettling. “You didn’t, right? You didn’t do that. Did you?”
“I did not send my Nulo to the Sparkle Blue . . . because I failed to best him in single combat.”
“You what?” Gray gasped.
“It was earlier in my life,” Takiza said. “I did not have the skills I possess today, so he was able to fend me off.”
“That’s not what I mean!” Gray said, his voice rising.
Takiza shook his thin fins. “I said I would tell you the truth. That apprentice—” The betta paused, opening and closing his mouth but saying nothing for a moment. Then, for one of the few times since Gray knew him, Takiza stumbled over his words. “That apprentice—it was . . . a . . . mistake to choose him. He was—not the fin I believed. I did not want him to use my training for . . . for . . . ”
“Evil?” offered Gray.
Takiza considered. “No, not evil. More like unpredictable havoc. I could not allow that.”
“So you didn’t snap his neck? You didn’t kill him.”
Takiza nodded, but then added, “It was not for lack of effort, though. He was very gifted. But I believe I injured him enough to make my point. He has not been seen since and probably swims the Sparkle Blue. Now, when did you meet Hokuu?”
“I’m not done with my questions,” Gray said.
“I answered one of yours,” Takiza told him. “I will answer your second—and last—question after you respond to mine. When did you see Hokuu?”
“On the way back from the Arktik after we found the Riptide sharks. I went in with Shear and the rest of the Aquasidor guardians to chase off the mako finjas and got separated. That’s when I met him. My turn.”
Takiza gave him a flat stare and swished his fins once for the second question. Gray stopped swimming and turned to hover. The betta did the same. “Ask,” he said.
“Did you kill my father?”
Takiza didn’t say anything for a moment. “That is a complex question.”
Gray cut him off, whipping his tail through the water. “No, it’s simple. Did you kill my father?”
“I must explain.”
“Answer the question!” Gray yelled.
Takiza sighed and in a quiet voice said, “Yes. Through my actions, yes.”
Gray thought he would feel rage at this answer. He had been going over this result in his mind since he was captured by Hokuu. But he didn’t feel anger. He felt a deep sadness and found himself whispering, “No, no, no.” Gray gathered himself. “Did you know he was there?”
“I did not,” Takiza told him gently, emphasizing the word with a furious swipe of his tail. “I swear by everything I believe, Gray. As I did not know you were with him. I only learned that he must have been there when you came to the aid of those turtle hatchlings.”
Gray’s mind went to his time with Goblin Shiver. He had gone out after patrol with a rough shark named Thrash who wanted to scare a turtle mother and her hatchlings. Gray helped the hatchlings but couldn’t save the mother from Thrash. Takiza did that, giving the mean tiger a comical beating in the process.
Gray nodded. The betta swam closer. “How did you fare against Hokuu? I assume you attempted to fight him?”
“Oh, I tried. And he played with me,” Gray answered. “He played with me like Thrash would with a turtle hatchling. I hope you have a few tricks I’ve never seen, because you’re going to need them.”
“This is most unsettling,” Takiza commented. “I was hoping his abilities had faded. Sometimes that happens with extreme age. I know this to be true.”
“Shiro, I have to ask one more question.”
The betta sliced his fins through the water, meaning no. “There have been enough questions for today.”
“Please,” Gray persisted.
The betta didn’t like it but flicked a fin.
“Would you have still closed the passage if you knew we were there?”
“Yes,” Takiza answered. “I would have.”
“Then I guess you’re no different from Kaleth.” And with that Gray swam away.
He didn’t see Takiza’s wounded look.
CHAPTER 22
TAKIZA WOULD HAVE LET MY FATHER DIE TO SEAL the passage between the two oceans, Gray thought. Even if he knew my father was there.
The idea boggled Gray’s mind. It wasn’t as if he knew his father, so his anger was muted. But he was sure Takiza would have done the same thing if it had been his mother, and that did bother him greatly. To sacrifice anyone’s mother seemed monstrous.
When did that kind of thinking stop? What about a hundred mothers? Or a thousand pups? How about ten thousand innocent sharkkind?
But there was one thought that nagged Gray. If you didn’t sacrifice one fin to save everyone, weren’t you sacrificing everyone anyway? It was easy for him to fume at the idea of someone sending his mother to swim the Sparkle Blue for any reason. But Takiza had to actually make the decision. He had to make that unimaginable choice. There was no good answer, was there?
Was there?
These thoughts were interrupted by shouts and the sounds of battle. On the outskirts of Fathomir, Riptide Shiver was being attacked!
Never was Gray so glad for a chance to fight someone—anyone—in his life. He would stop these confusing thoughts by ramming Hokuu right in his snaky head!
Gray saw Striiker fighting like a crazyfish in the center of a half drove of Riptide mariners. The great white leader had split his forces into groups of fifty and arranged them around the shiver sharks in a moving defensive screen. Gray liked the idea. It was more important to guard the weaker sharkkind, the pups and older fins, inside the perimeter. If Riptide’s mariners were in one massed formation, the sneaky finja could evade them. This way a half drove of mariners were always within twenty tail strokes of an attack.
