The Book of Shane

by Nick Eliopulos

  She turned to address the raiders and Maddox’s guards, who stood upon the beach in two separate groups. “Conquerors!” she cried. “Deposed King Shane has been sentenced to die for abandoning his people in their hour of need and siding with Stetriol’s enemies.”

  Shane turned toward the beach too. “Listen to me!” he shouted. “The war is over — and that is a good thing! I can offer you new purpose, but —”

  “Shut it!” Maddox barked, punching Shane in the stomach. The rest of his speech left his lungs in a rushed and choking wheeze.

  “The method of his execution?” continued Tahlia. “Irony!”

  “Irony?” Shane rasped.

  “You set the girl with the water-producing toad on fire, you idiot,” she hissed. “It’s only fair that you end up food for the crocodiles.” She lifted up her booted foot. “Devourer devoured.” With one powerful kick, she sent him soaring off the edge of the pier.

  Before he hit the water, Shane saw a long, dark shape looming below.

  It was the punch to the stomach that saved his life.

  Shane’s first instinct on hitting the water was to gasp in a breath, but his lungs had seized up. He was spared pulling in two lungfuls of water…. But he still needed to breathe.

  His hands were bound, tied with thick rope, but his legs were free. He kicked, kicked for all he was worth, and breached the surface, pulling in air before his wet clothes dragged him down again.

  A dark shape darted toward him. Shane saw it in his peripheral vision and rolled away as it shot past. He broke the surface once more and struggled to stay afloat.

  Maddox held his blade out at the edge of the pier. No escape that way.

  “Shane!” Karmo cried. Shane couldn’t make out what was happening on the shore, though Karmo’s voice carried over the water. “I can’t get wet, I — Look out!”

  Shane rolled again, and a massive crocodile snapped its jaws shut where he’d just been. Its lunge carried it past him, the length of its scaled body fully three times Shane’s height. It swam off, but it would be back.

  He knew a thing or two about crocodiles. The one that had just tried to snatch him was obviously of the saltwater variety — and crocs didn’t come any bigger or meaner.

  But they had a weakness. And Maddox had unknowingly given Shane just the tool he needed to exploit it.

  Shane took a deep breath and dropped beneath the surface. The water was clear, and he was more likely to see the beast coming from down here. He twirled, kicking his feet so that he moved in a constant circle while he brought his hands to his mouth and pulled at the tight knot of rope with his teeth.

  It started to give just as he saw the long, dark form of the croc come into view. It wasn’t coming straight at him this time, but circling, closing the distance while attempting to get behind him.

  As the rope pulled free in his teeth, he released a little bit of the air in his lungs. He would need to breathe soon, but if he kicked to the surface now, he’d be making himself too tempting a target.

  Then he realized that was exactly what he needed to do.

  Shane had to time this perfectly.

  He kicked toward the surface, keeping the monster croc in his peripheral vision all the while. He saw the moment it decided to make its move, turning its snout in his direction and slashing its long and jagged tail through the water like a whip. It shot forward at tremendous speed, and as it neared him it opened its jaw to reveal uneven rows of vicious teeth.

  The jaw of a crocodile was its most formidable weapon, and it was a thing to be feared. The force of a crocodile’s bite could shatter bone, and there was no escaping its grip as it pulled its prey down, down into the depths to be drowned and eaten.

  But there was a curious flaw in the system. The muscles of a crocodile’s jaw were perfect for clamping down … but quite weak when it came to opening again.

  Shane could use that.

  He rolled once more to avoid the crocodile’s bite, but this time he reached out as it passed. Even while terrified for his fingers, he wrapped his hands around the crocodile’s open jaw and squeezed it shut.

  The croc abandoned its lunge and began to thrash in protest, but Shane held on. He held on — and he slipped the rope that had bound his hands around the creature’s snout.

  The crocodile was far from harmless. As it thrashed about, Shane had to be careful to avoid its tail, which would strike with more impact than even Maddox could manage with a morning star.

  But Shane effectively had the animal at his mercy now. He tightened his grip on the snout and pulled, kicking away from the pier and toward shore. Breaking the surface, he drew in a breath and let out a triumphant shout. As his feet found sand and he emerged from the depths with a conquered crocodile in his hands, he had never felt more deserving of the title of Reptile King.

  But there were no cheers awaiting him on the beach, only the sounds of fighting. Karmo had turned on the raiders. He was pummeling Fito with his bare fists, dodging and weaving skillfully out of the way of the teen’s ax. One of the tattooed islanders lay unconscious at their feet, while the second one stood at the edge of the tree line, pleading with a huge emu, apparently trying to convince his reluctant spirit animal to enter the fray. The sight was at once laughable and pitiful, as the emu stepped back from the young man, regal and defiant.

  Yeffa kept her eyes on Karmo. She held her great sword aloft and circled, looking for an opening. Her movements reminded Shane instantly of the way the killer croc had circled him in the water.

  The militiamen who had escorted Shane and Maddox to the cove stood to the side, watching the battle with awe, clearly out of their depth.

  Maddox had expected Shane to try climbing the pier, but reacted quickly when Shane emerged on the beach instead. He bore down on him, swinging his weapon. But Shane had taken his measure in their previous match, and he dodged easily, then thrust the crocodile’s snout into Maddox’s face … and let go.

  Maddox screamed, dropping his weapon to wrap his hands around the animal’s jaws before it could slip free of the loosening rope.

  “Hold that for me, would you?” Shane said, and he ran past Maddox just as Karmo took Fito out with a blow to the chest that sent the young raider flying back. The hit was so impressive, Shane could almost swear he saw sparks fly from the impact.

  “I’ve got this!” Karmo said as he ducked beneath Yeffa’s swing. “Get Tahlia!”

  Shane turned toward the pier, where Tahlia stood trembling with rage. She took a step back, then seemed to realize she had backed herself into a corner. She drew two knives from her sleeves and charged.

  Shane met her halfway up the pier, grabbing her wrists and holding her back. The crown slipped from her head and clattered loudly at their feet.

  “Give up, Tahlia!” he yelled in her face. “Your raiders are done, and the rest of these people won’t fight for you.”

  “They’ll fight to the death!” she screamed. “War is all we know!”

  “You can know something better,” Shane pleaded. He felt the heaviness of the wet bandages wrapped around his torso. “We all have scars, Tahlia. We have to try to heal as best we can.”

  Tahlia shrieked, and she slammed her forehead into Shane’s. He fell back, releasing his grip on her wrists, and she lunged, slashing at his stomach.

  Shane pivoted away, and she missed, swooping past him and over the edge of the pier.

  His head throbbed. He heard someone calling his name from the beach, and turned to see that Karmo had vanquished the last of the raiders.

  “Shane!” he cried. “Maddox took off.”

  Shane looked at where he’d left Maddox at the shoreline. The crocodile was gone, nowhere to be seen.

  He whirled around to see Tahlia splashing on the surface of the water, gasping for breath.

  “Tahlia,” he said gravely. “Give me your hand.”

  He reached for her, but she still held a dagger in each hand, and she slashed at his open palm, forcing him to pull
back.

  “Tahlia!” he said more urgently. “The crocodile. Give me your hand!”

  He reached for her again, and again she slashed. She wouldn’t let go of the knives any more than she would let go of her hate.

  He didn’t see any regret in her eyes when the crocodile clamped down on her leg. She held on to that hate, glaring at him as she was pulled down beneath the surface, spurning the open hand he held out to her until he could no longer see any sign of her.

  He stepped away from the edge of the pier and took up the mask and crown she’d left behind. He considered them sadly for a moment, then walked to the safety of the shore.

  Karmo clapped him on the shoulder, and together they turned to face the militia. They all held their weapons up, but in their mismatched armor, expressions of shock and horror on their faces, they had never looked less ready for combat.

  Shane swept his gaze across them, looking each of them in the eye, one at a time.

  “Will you fight me?” he asked them. “Can you think of any good reason to keep fighting?”

  “I can’t,” called a voice, and Viktor emerged from the tree line. With him was Abhay, the Zhongese youth who had betrayed his people, and a half dozen others from the camp. “We came to help you, King Shane. These people don’t need any more blood on their hands.” He took in the sight of the unconscious raiders, the crown in Shane’s grip, and the sodden green cloak hanging from his shoulders. “Is it safe to assume you’re in charge now?”

  Shane slicked his wet bangs back. “No, Viktor. I’d suggest you put it to a vote, but … I think you might be in charge here.”

  Viktor startled. “Me? I’m no leader.”

  “You don’t have a crown. Or a fancy title like general. But that doesn’t mean you aren’t a leader.” Shane put his hand upon Victor’s shoulder, and he raised his voice to ensure he’d be heard over the wind and waves. “I came here looking for an army. But I found something much more impressive. I found a community. A community that listens to you when you speak. So what do you have to say?”

  “I say …” Viktor hesitated. He licked his lips. “I say put your weapons down.” He turned to the soldiers. “No more weapons.”

  A man dropped his long sword into the sand. A woman tossed aside her mace. Then all together, the rest of them followed suit, and metal hit sand with a series of soft thumps.

  “You have everything you need to build a home here, Viktor,” Shane said.

  The healer nodded. “A new home for those who need it. Sounds like the purpose we’ve been looking for all along.” He turned back to the crowd. “The war is over!” he cried.

  A great cheer went up, and the assembled men and women swarmed Viktor, shaking his hand and slapping his back as his spirit animal, Josie, appeared in a flash of light. The fairy possum leaped excitedly through the crowd from shoulder to shoulder.

  “The war is over for them,” Karmo said in Shane’s ear. “What about us?”

  “We’re just getting started.” Shane smiled. “But this time, we’ll be fighting on the right side.”

  Nick Eliopulos is an editor of books for kids and teenagers. His short stories have appeared in Spirit Animals: Tales of the Great Beasts and Stuck in the Middle: Seventeen Comics from an Unpleasant Age. An avid fan of comics, games, and monster movies, he lives in Brooklyn with two fish named after characters from a soap opera.

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  A sneak peek of the next

  Book One

  Immortal Guardians

  By Eliot Schrefer

  IF ONLY SHE COULD TURN RIGHT AROUND AND GO HOME.

  Normally Kaiina lived with her tribe, day in and day out—she hadn’t been around this many unknown people for years, not since she had once come with her mother to this very marketplace as a little girl. But she was twelve now, which meant she’d have to start taking her turn trekking to the jungle market to buy supplies for her tribe.

  Everyone had requests. Oranges for her father. A new hunting blade for her mother. Sugarfruit for her brother.

  Thinking of how happy her family would be with their presents gave Kaiina the courage she needed. Holding her head high, she stepped into the clearing.

  She picked her way between the woven mats, perusing the goods carefully laid out on each. Fragrant herbs, wild pineapple and celery, grouse eggs—her stomach growled as she passed among the vendors. To prevent herself from wasting her tribe’s money, she recited her short list in her mind, like a mantra. Oranges. A hunting blade. Sugarfruit.

  Vendors beckoned to Kaiina as she passed, but she timidly avoided their eyes. She’d never bartered before and was worried they’d take advantage of her the moment she showed interest in what they were selling.

  “Kaiina!”

  She looked up, startled, and was relieved to see a familiar old woman scamper agilely through the crowded vendor mats and come to Kaiina’s side, warmly taking the girl’s hands in her own. Kaiina relaxed: Prana was an elderly woman who traveled between the tribes, bartering her pottery. Kaiina had known her for years, and had never seen Prana without a smile on her old, cracked face.

  Prana’s spirit animal, a brilliant brass kingfisher, was perched on the woman’s long gray braid, its delicate feet hooked into the folds of silvered hair. The bird hopped to Kaiina’s shoulder, warbling a cheerful, tuneless song.

  I wish I had a spirit animal, Kaiina thought. Then I’d always have company, and wouldn’t have to come to market day alone. But some people bonded with spirit animals and some didn’t—there was no predicting it. And Kaiina hadn’t summoned one.

  “He is not usually this excited to see anyone—he really likes you!” Prana said.

  Kaiina took a moment to run her hand over the bird’s smooth and glossy plumage. He raised his chin, inviting her to preen his underfeathers. Kaiina smiled and obliged.

  Just then, Prana’s kingfisher took to the air and began to shriek. From all around, the trees shook. Monkeys screamed. Cicadas droned. Songbirds chattered.

  Kaiina felt a strange dizzy sensation wash over her, and the market fell into silence.

  The ground seemed to tilt beneath Kaiina’s bare feet. “What is happening?” she cried out.

  Though only moments before she’d been so hot she was sweating, Kaiina shivered with a sudden chill. The sky went dark, and the clouds turned rageful and knitted together. She heard a boom and a crack, and her eyes filled with light.

  The explosion knocked Kaiina and Prana to the ground. Ears ringing, Kaiina’s first thought was to help the elderly woman up. But Prana was already back on her feet, tears in her rheumy eyes. Blinking her own eyes rapidly to clear the purple flash, Kaiina raised herself onto her elbows.

  As quickly as they’d formed, the clouds scattered. The clearing was once again full of radiant sunshine, its brilliance frosting the silhouette of a giant creature where just moments before there had been nothing.

  “It is not possible,” Prana whispered. But it was. An elephant had appeared.

  The massive beast bowed its head, trunk slung low and snuffling along the ground. Kaiina had seen plenty of forest elephants in the jungle, but none as big as this one. Its broad ears swayed as it made its way toward Kaiina and Prana. Vendors and tribespeople alike fled to the edges of the market, watching with fearful curiosity.

  Kaiina’s legs were rooted to the ground.

  “D-do you know this elephant?” she stammered to Prana. “Where did it come from? And why is it coming toward you?”

  “Not toward me, child,” Prana said, wonder in her voice. “It’s coming toward you.”

  “I don’t understand!” Kaiina cried, tears blurring her vision.

  “You’ve summoned a spirit animal,” Prana said. She had placed a
wizened hand over her mouth, making her words almost inaudible. “But an elephant, the eyes … it’s impossible! Kaiina, you’ve summoned Dinesh.”

  Dinesh? A creature of legend, one of the Great Beasts of Erdas? It felt as if the earth went soft beneath Kaiina, as if she’d stepped into slipmud.

  The elephant slowed as it came near, and Kaiina was shocked to see it lower its great head. Brilliant aqua eyes met hers, and they flashed with intelligence and something almost like amusement as they took in the cowering marketgoers. Could this animal truly be the great Dinesh?

  “Say hello,” Prana encouraged. “He’s waiting to meet you.”

  The creature’s expression softened, and Kaiina found her legs were able to move again. Despite the dozens of eyes she could feel on her back, despite the ruckus of the upturned earth and the bizarre sight of an enormous elephant standing on the woven mats, Kaiina didn’t shrink away. She wanted to touch him. A charge was building up inside her, setting her skin tingling, and she knew instinctively that only one thing would settle it.

  Hands trembling, she strode to the elephant and leaned in close so their faces were mere inches apart. As she ran the back of her hand along his leathery ear and closed her eyes, a serene warmth filled her.

  Kaiina felt a moist touch on her neck. Opening her eyes, she smiled as she saw that Dinesh’s large trunk was nuzzling her. Comforting her. Suddenly she felt as large as the elephant, somehow—too large to be intimidated by a crowded marketplace. It seemed ridiculous that she’d ever been.

  Kaiina hesitantly laid a hand against the elephant’s flank. His flesh was rough and thick, his giant torso rising and falling beneath her fingers. She looked into the elephant’s eyes and saw a vast intelligence gazing back.

  “How could I have summoned Dinesh?” Kaiina asked in wonder. “And why to me?”

  Before Prana could answer, a man in a black tunic stepped forward. “This is indeed an auspicious morning!” the stranger called. “The Great Beasts are returning, and I have been sent to shepherd them to safety.”