Black Warrior

by Jolie Jaquinta

  Chapter 29 – Currents

  Cindarina swam rapidly through the subsurface layer of the ocean, lit by the morning sun. On her flanks two more Tritons swam, taking advantage of her upwash vortices. Unlike her, they had on shagreen armor and tridents strapped to their backs. Comparatively unburdened she could set a brisk pace without fatiguing them.

  Ahead was the tail of the ridge that the copious Triton ruins resided on. A specific arrangement of secretly potted kelp let Cindarina know Makaira waited there for her. She had observed, silently, much intrigue and subterfuge in her lifetime. She never had cause to use it, herself. Just being facile in language and understanding personalities had been enough. But now that she had moved from being an observer to an actor, she was glad of the education.

  Their direction and composition was easily observed. That wasn't so important to her. She was not entirely used to it yet, but she knew she was now somewhat of a celebrity. And with the departure of all those closest to Atlantica, the Tritons made up the single largest grouping in the seas. They were not nearly a majority, but having been on the low end of things for so long, they had a unity the other groups did not. So, although it would be common knowledge that she was 'up to something', all the gossip would be about what good it would bring.

  They passed the outlying kelp sentinels, and then crested the ridge and moved into the forest itself. In a small dell waited Makaira and six other Tritons.

  “Greetings Cindarina”, said Makaira, bowing deeply. He, too, wore shagreen armor and weapons of war. He was powerfully built and stared directly at Cindarina.

  “Greetings to you, Makaira”, said Cindarina, returning the bow, just as deeply. “I thank you for your service.” She waved at the surrounding kelp. “And your discretion. Do you have any news?”

  Makaira shook his head. “We have swum the length of the blighted area, from the Selkies, along the coast to where the great eels breed. We have sounded our horns, but none answer.”

  Cindarina nodded. “I will be asking you to seek again”, she said.

  Makaira nodded. “And you know I cannot refuse you.” He sighed deeply and leaned on his trident. “But I do question the point. I hope, as you do, that no ill has befallen our liege. But I think that he will come in his own time. And all of our seeking will not rouse him until he is ready.”

  “The situation has grown more dire”, said Cindarina, somberly. “If he is fated to come in his own time, I would that you were there, waiting for him, to render aid and bring him news, even if it only hastens his knowledge of things by a few days or even a few hours.”

  “I have talked to the Romitu soldiers”, said Makaira. “I know they make war again. But it is far away. Yes, I understand that, diplomatically, that which aggrieves the faction that supports us is important, but I do not see the direct relevance.”

  “The direct relevance is this”, said Cindarina. “We, the Tritons, and all of the Undersea, have always been a second thought to whoever has been on the throne. They are not really our gods. We can have no gods, since we are no use to gods. They are the gods of those of the shore. Distant and irrelevant in court, but they are all important as the source of power. We” and she gestured around her to the whole of the ocean, “are just props. Stage dressing. We only matter for theater.”

  “Yes”, said Makaira. “This I know. Winter is important because he has grown up god-blind. He thinks the stage play is real. We need to support and promote him, to curry our favor and build fond memories within him so that when he does realize where his true power is, he will still be mostly kind to us anyway, out of nostalgia.”

  “Winter is a good man”, said Cindarina. “He will always treat us fairly. It will pain him, as he tries to be a good god, to keep the balance between what is right and the natural dynamics of things. It has been important to make it easier for him to choose what is right over what is natural.”

  “We say the same thing”, said Makaira, with a small smile. “You have just said it much more diplomatically.”

  Cindarina nodded in acknowledgement. “That being said, then, there is an aspect to this 'far off' war that puts pressure on that balance.”

  Makaira looked intrigued. “Then please educate me. Tell me what I do not know.”

  “A faction of the warriors they fight has been cut off for several thousand years. Before then, they worshiped the gods of the blighted area you have skirted, where Winter quests.” She watched Makaira's face become very sober. “Winter has inherited the throne of the Northern Seas from his foster-father, Atlantica. I tremble with uncertainty to find out what birthright he has inherited from his other father.”

  “The situation has, indeed, grown dire”, said Makaira. “We may lose him before our task is complete. If this new power claims his heart, we will be condemned to being props again, on an irrelevant stage.” He looked past her, into the distance. “All this would have been for vain.”

  “No”, said Cindarina, forcefully. “Look at you.” She gestured up and down him. “Are you blind to have far we have come? You bear weapons and armor of war. Would that not have been unthinkable, not even a year ago? We are unmolested in our life. We can provide for our loved ones. We have gained so much.”

  “Yes”, said Makaira. “I spoke in haste. Forgive me. We owe much to Winter.”

  “That is right”, said Cindarina. “And we owe him this: to stand by him. To bear him this news. Even if it heralds our demise. He has many difficulties pressing in upon him. We have to be there to make them easier for him. It will be remembered when it comes time for him to choose.”

  Makaira laughed quietly. “So we make it easier for him, and thus, make it hard for him in the end.”

  “If it comes to that end”, said Cindarina.

  “It will”, said Makaira. “But you have the right perspective.” He pulled his trident from the sand and shook it. “He has given me the right to use this for more than hunting. It is right for me to use it to his ends.” He thrust it into the ground again. “I will search, once more, for our liege. I will give him this dire news. And I will willingly do as he commands. If I am fated to be a prop, then I will make he who wears me as glorious as possible.”

  Cindarina nodded. “I thank you for this.” She gestured over her shoulders. “I also bring more forces. These handmaidens are my swiftest and strongest swimmers. And we had much sport in our youth spear fishing.”

  “They are welcome”, said Makaira, bowing to each of them. “Your credentials are nearly as good as mine. We make do with what we have in this merry band of ours.” The two who had been following Cindarina bowed back.

  “In another year's time”, said Cindarina, “who knows where we will be.”

  “If are not willing to start from a small beginning”, said Makaira, “then you will never start at all.”

  “I have arranged for there to be provisions marked for you with the Selkies”, said Cindarina. “That should speed your passage.”

  “You are a favorable current”, said Makaira.