by EJ Altbacker
In Gray’s short time as Seazarein, he had grown to dislike whenever one of these messengers came to Fathomir. It seemed every single quickfin brought a new and unexpected problem that needed his immediate attention. And that distracted Gray from his biggest problem—finding Hokuu. The frill wanted nothing more than to plunge the Big Blue into chaos and make the oceans flow red with blood.
And I have no idea where he is, thought Gray as he ground his teeth.
“Silence!” yelled Judijoan by his left side. The long and skinny oarfish hovered straight up and down, towering over everyone else. She glared through the red spines of her dorsal fin, which grew out of her forehead, giving the old teacher a stern dignity. “Swim forward one at a time in the order that you arrived. After your message has been delivered, leave the cavern and wait outside as there may be a return message. No one else should be speaking but the quickfin ordered to do so. So the rest of you, be quiet!”
Barkley, hovering to Gray’s right, whispered, “And we thought Miss Lamprey was bad.” Miss Lamprey had been their teacher when they were growing up in the Caribbi Sea. Judijoan had been Kaleth’s advisor and knew everything about protocol and history, so Gray kept her in that position. He had also made Barkley an advisor, much to Judijoan’s shock, as he was to her only a dogfish. But Barkley was Gray’s oldest and best friend. Plus, he was smart and many times saw things that no one else did.
The first quickfin, a wahoo shaped like a silvery urchin spine, came forward so only Gray, Barkley, and Judijoan could hear. “I come with greetings from Minister Prime of Indi Shiver, Tydal. Code word: Starfish.”
With any true quickfin message, there was always a code word known only to the Seazarein’s advisors. This month the code words all began with the letter S.
“Minister Prime?” Gray asked, as he had never heard of the title before.
“He did not want to take the title of king, and since there was already a mariner prime leading the armada he decided to call himself Minister Prime.”
“I see. And what does the minister prime say?”
“Only that things are going well and he wishes you a long reign in your new role as Seazarein.” The wahoo dipped his snout and left.
Indi Shiver used to be led by a madfish named Finnivus who wanted to conquer the entire Big Blue. Gray had to swim out and lead Riptide United, consisting of AuzyAuzy, Hammer, Vortex, and many other shivers, along with the orcas, and with them had finally defeated Finnivus and his Black Wave armada. After they were defeated Gray had tried to appoint a shark from a ruling family of Indi but every time he did, all the other ruling families had objected.
Finally, in absolute exasperation, Gray chose the First Court Shark. The princes and princesses said yes, thinking they would assassinate the poor fin later after they were done bickering among themselves. But Gray liked the idea of a non-royal leading so he didn’t let that happen. He left five hundred mariners under the command of Xander del Hav’aii—third in the AuzyAuzy Line—to keep the peace and protect Tydal. He also didn’t let the princes and princesses return, keeping them as his guests.
Barkley gave Gray a thoughtful look. “It seems the currents are joyfully smooth at Indi Shiver.” Gray could tell that his friend didn’t believe this. Neither did he, for another Indi messenger was waiting.
“I come from Indi Shiver with a message from Xander del Hav’aii,” this quickfin told them.
“Oh boy,” Gray let slip. Judijoan gave him a critical shake of her long tail. Seazarein were not supposed to say things like oh boy for everyone to hear.
“The message is as follows. ‘There have been two attempts on Tydal’s life, the last by a squaline. I am useless here. Request to be sent back to AuzyAuzy homewaters.’ That is the end of the message. Code word: Starfish.”
Judijoan waved her tail to make the next quickfin wait as the last left the cavern. She swam closer to Gray so no one else would hear. “If Tydal was attacked by his personal guard then one of the royal families is behind it.”
“Probably more than one,” Barkley added. “And Xander doesn’t seem too happy.”
Gray nodded. The squaline were the personal guard to the throne and supposed to be above the petty power plays between the royal families. For one of them to betray this duty was unheard of. If Tydal was killed, there would most likely be a civil war in the Indi Ocean between the royal families.
Just what I need, Gray thought.
Judijoan waved the next quickfin messenger over when Gray nodded. This one was a swordfish and dipped her bill to Gray. “I come from AuzyAuzy Shiver, sent by Eyes and Ears Leilani. Code word: Sunfish.”
“Code’s right, but what’s ‘eyes and ears’?” Barkley asked Judijoan.
“They are information gatherers. They are known as spyfish, although most of them don’t go skulking about,” Judijoan answered. “Leilani is one of the youngest ever to attain the rank of Eyes and Ears, from what I understand. They listen to reports from around the ocean to uncover plots and intrigue. Most ancient shivers have them.”
“How come I’ve never heard of these Eyes and Ears spyfish?” asked Barkley. “Are they like ghostfins?” Ghostfins were a small force of super scouts created by Barkley. These were fish that could swim unseen inside an enemy’s camp.
“They wouldn’t be very good spyfish if everyone knew of them, now would they?” Judijoan answered. “But no, they try to see the big picture. They are thinkers.”
Gray flicked a fin for the swordfish to continue.
“One patrol is missing in the fire waters. Another was driven away by a freak whorl current before it could finish its patrol. That is all.” The swordfish left.
“I don’t get that message,” Barkley said. “The fire waters are a dangerous place. Things like that happen. Why tell us at all if there’s no point?”
Judijoan sent a ripple through her long oarfish body, calling the next messenger. “Sometimes information is sent with no conclusion because it seems odd and you might notice a pattern. But most of the time nothing is exactly that. Nothing.”
The last fish waiting moved forward. It was a four-winged flying fish. Apparently, these fish could leap from the water and glide above the ocean using their long tails to force themselves into the air time and time again, literally skipping across the surface. Some could stay out of the water for half a mile!
This young flying fish flicked its upper and lower fins, angling them downward in a smart salute that displayed their blue highlights nicely. “Quickfin Speedmeister with a message from Grinder, leader of Hammer Shiver. Code word: Seaweed. The message is as follows—”
“Hold it, hold it,” Barkley said, waving his tail for the messenger to stop. “Your name is Speedmeister?”
“Well, that’s what it should be, ’cause I’m so fast. Faster than a wahoo, even,” the flying fish answered. “My real name is Eugene, though, your lordships.”
Gray laughed along with Barkley. Judijoan scowled. “What is your message, Eugene?”
Eugene did another smart salute, flicking his four fin wings down and up. “The message is as follows. ‘Hope everything is going well, friend and battle brother Gray. Would love to see you and everyone else at the Tuna Run. I’ll be there with Hammer Shiver and we will be catching the most bluefin because we are, of course, the best.’ End of message.”
Gray and Barkley laughed some more. Grinder’s personality really came through in the message.
“Oh, I’d love to go,” Barkley said with a grin. The Tuna Run was where big, fat bluefin whipped across the undersea mountain range called the Atlantis Spine. Many shivers would be there, and it was a fine place to stuff yourself on the most delicious fish in the sea.
“Wouldn’t that be great?” Gray remarked. “But there’s no way.”
Judijoan shook her head, causing the red plume overhanging her head to m
ove back and forth briskly. “That is correct, Graynoldus. Only after you solve all the ocean’s problems can you waste your time at the Tuna Run.”
“I thought the Seazarein could do whatever he wanted,” Barkley said, teasing.
“That’s true,” Judijoan answered with another scowl. “As long as he maintains the schedule I set for him. And on my schedule there’s no time for foolishness.”
“She’s right, Bark,” Gray agreed. He noticed that the flying fish was still there. “Speedmeister? Is there something else?”
“Yes,” the flying fish said. “I carry a second message. Code word: Blue Coral.”
“That’s an old code,” Judijoan said.
“From the North Atlantis, near Riptide Shiver, which doesn’t exist anymore,” added Barkley.
Hokuu had been responsible for that also, and that brought the frilled shark back into Gray’s mind. Where was he? They would have to find him. They couldn’t leave him to do whatever he was planning, that was for sure.
The quickfin bobbed his snout. “Yes, that’s true. Which is why I didn’t want to give the message, but the code word was good so maybe it’s just old. But also, a stonefish gave this message to me.”
“A stonefish?” Judijoan gasped. “Kaleth didn’t know any of those poisonous criminals.”
“Yeah, but we do,” Gray said as Barkley gave him a look. “It has to be Trank. What’s the message, Speedmeister?”
“Don’t call him that,” Judijoan said. “You’ll only encourage him.”
Barkley nodded for Eugene to continue.
“The message is as follows. ‘From Trank, the owner and operator of Slaggernacks, home of the Big Blue’s tastiest seasoned fish, comes a new experience, the Stingeroo Supper Club, now open for business and conveniently located outside the Fathomir homewaters. Come for the fish; stay for the good times. All Seazareins eat free.’ End of message. Nice to meet you, your lordships.” Eugene flitted out of the cavern in a flash.
“What does that mean?” asked the confused Judijoan.
“With Trank you never know,” Barkley told her with a frown. The stonefish had his fins in many dark and mysterious things.
“If he’s inviting us over, there’s a definite reason.” Gray said. “We need to go. Besides, couldn’t you go for some seasoned fish?”
Barkley grumbled and shook his head.
VELENKA PROWLED THE GOLD-GREENIE OF THE Fathomir homewaters. Her black hide would normally be an advantage for concealing herself, but today was bright and sunny. Thankfully, the towering kelp field went on for miles, so Velenka could remain hidden if she swam with caution. She needed to be both silent and focused to catch something to eat. But her unwanted companion was neither of those things, which made hunting difficult.
“It’s so beautiful here,” Mari said.
“Would you please be quiet?” Velenka hissed. “Some of us are trying to find lunch.”
“It kind of reminds me of the Riptide homewaters.” The thresher sniffled.
“Other than the fact they look nothing alike?” Velenka said. “Now, shhh!”
The Riptide homewaters had been destroyed by Hokuu. Velenka had been used as a decoy in the frilled shark’s intricate plan, which ended when he sent Gray’s predecessor Kaleth and most of her finja guardians to the Sparkle Blue. Right now, Velenka was technically still a prisoner and so guarded at all times. More often than not, Mari was given this duty. The thresher didn’t have anything to worry about, though. Velenka wasn’t about to escape.
She had nowhere to go.
For weeks now Velenka had to listen to everyone’s sad stories of where they were when Kaleth was killed, or this friend, or that one, or what they’d been doing when Riptide was destroyed. None of those things bothered her. No, what bothered Velenka was that she had been used as a part of Hokuu’s plan and hadn’t figured that out until it was far too late.
Velenka had a mind that could see the layers of action needed to get her to a seemingly impossible goal. She was smart. At least that was what her teachers had said when she was younger. They had filled her full of knowledge of tactics and deception, tricks and ploys, and all manner of ruses. But Hokuu had played on her vanities and Velenka swam along like a jelly-headed fool. Not that Gray, Barkley, or any of the rest believed her. They thought she was somehow turning a plot within a plot.
If only . . .
I was used like a stupid pup! she yelled inside her mind.
How she would love to revenge herself on Hokuu. But she feared the frill. He was too strong. There was no way she could get back at him. That was the worst part. Velenka was helpless when it came to him and she hated that.
Mari sniffled again. She was a harmless shark who had even shown kindness to Velenka on a few occasions. Since the destruction of Riptide, where she’d watched hundreds of mariners be roasted alive by Hokuu’s deadly shar-kata powers, Mari hadn’t been the same. The thresher couldn’t forget. Velenka had noticed this same thing in mariners who had fought too many battles. Even if they escaped with no visible injuries, they were damaged. It was as if they were scarred on the inside by their experiences. But in the Big Blue, every day was a day when you could have lunch, or be lunch. Velenka couldn’t allow herself to be infected by Mari’s weakness.
Especially when Hokuu was still out there.
“Are you going to start crying again?” she asked the thresher. “Don’t. It scares the fish.”
Mari swam off a little ways. Velenka glided forward, following a haddock as it hunted shrimp. It would be the distracted haddock’s last mistake. She moved forward, gaining speed, and then struck. Victory! She gnashed her teeth together, enjoying the fish as she drifted between the stalks of golden greenie.
Mari came over, shaking her head. “I don’t see how you can stuff yourself like it’s the Tuna Run after all that’s happened.”
“It’s not a matter of sympathy, which is useless,” Velenka told her. “It’s a matter of you not being able to leave the past in your wake.”
“Unbelievable! Do you have any feelings at all?”
“Shhh!” Velenka hissed. “What was that?”
Mari listened for a moment. “It’s just the water pushing the greenie.”
“No, I heard something over there.” Velenka gestured with a fin. “Something big. Let’s swim back to the throne cavern.”
“You heard nothing and I’ll prove it,” the thresher said.
Velenka bumped Mari before she could go too far. “Don’t be stupid,” she whispered. She knew something was lurking. “The ocean is a dangerous place.”
Mari went forward anyway. She didn’t take two tail strokes before a mako finja materialized and rushed toward her. It was one of the renegades!
Mari was unprepared for the attack, but the mako roared past her—and straight at Velenka!
Velenka cut a sharp turn and used a giant kelp formation as an obstacle so the shark couldn’t strike her tail as Mari watched. “Help me!” Velenka yelled at the other shark.
But Mari was paralyzed with fear, her long-lobed tail flicking but not moving her body through the water. A second mako appeared, accelerating to attack speed toward her, and still Mari did nothing. She waited for death.
Velenka had no time to help the thresher, as if she’d ever do something so stupid. She cut and dodged, passing by Mari while evading her pursuer.
The mako formed a two-shark formation: switching places and weaving through the water with deadly grace. Just as both Velenka and Mari were about to become chowder, a few stalks of ropy kelp shot upward, blocking their attackers. The makos were going too fast to stop and swam right into the gold-greenie. It fouled their tail strokes for a moment.
“Swim for your life!” Velenka yelled to Mari.
It took the mako only a few seconds to get free and close the d
istance to strike. Velenka was sure they wouldn’t get lucky again, so she faced the renegades. If she was to swim the Sparkle Blue today, she would go down fighting.
But suddenly Takiza was there. The tiny betta fish zipped out of nowhere and snapped one of his colorful, gauzy fins into the lead shark’s side. Though the force of a tail flick by a dweller so small shouldn’t have done anything, the mako was blasted into its partner and both ended up a hundred feet away.
“You were lucky today, Velenka,” the larger mako growled. “You’re a traitor and Hokuu always keeps his promises about sending traitors to the Sparkle Blue.”
Takiza hovered in the warm current, his fins billowing majestically. “You are mistaken,” the Siamese fighting fish announced. “Hokuu never keeps his promises. If he’s made one to you, I would advise you to grow eyes on your tail so you may watch it.”
The second mako spat and ground his needle teeth together. “He’ll deal with you, too, Takiza! You’ll see!”
“Hokuu knows where to find me,” the betta replied. “Now swim along to your master. Or do you prefer to try your clumsy attack against me once more?”
The makos glowered but left, fading into the waters.
A familiar voice asked, “Are they gone?”
Velenka and Mari looked down, surprised to see Snork swimming to them from the seabed.
The sawfish wagged his long bill. “I wanted to help but wasn’t fast enough, so I cut through some greenie as a distraction. Did it help?”
So that was how the greenie entangled the charging makos. Velenka was impressed despite herself.
“You saved us, Snork,” Mari told him. “I mean, until Takiza saved us.”
The betta swam around Snork, eyeing his bill. “Tell me, Snork, is it? That kelp was almost as thick as Velenka’s body—”
“Hey, that’s not fair!” exclaimed Velenka, insulted. “I was locked up and couldn’t exercise for a long time!”
