Enemy of Oceans (9 page)

IN THE INDI SHIVER HOMEWATERS ON THE
other side of the world, Tydal cringed as Xander shouted, “That Johanna fin was overheard plotting to kill you!”

“Please, calm yourself,” Tydal said. “The princess explained that it was idle talk, a joke.”

The furrows on the scalloped hammerhead's brow deepened in disbelief. “My mariners say it wasn't and I believe them. Besides, she's old enough to know better. No one gets to have a laugh about sending their leader to the Sparkle Blue, savvy?”

Tydal wished there was more room to swim so he could think, but the cavern was too small. The Indi homewaters were huge, but he and Xander were in a series of interconnected and defensible caverns in the royal area of the Indi homewaters. Xander had insisted on this after the latest assassination attempt. Now, even the few Indi mariners Tydal had kept around for public relations had been dismissed. All his guards were the AuzyAuzy commander's sharks. They were the only ones who could be trusted.

“Are you thinking or sleeping?” asked Xander, who knew well that Tydal wasn't sleeping at all these days. When Tydal was First Court Shark, he prided himself on being able to remain stock still, at the hover, for so long that he would fade from everyone's view. But that wasn't possible as minister prime. Everyone looked to you for answers and there was never a day with fewer than a hundred decisions to make.

“I cannot execute a Punjaw princess for mere words!” Tydal answered. “The family would revolt. In fact, all five of the royal clans might join together and then revolt!”

“Finnivus killed a bunch of them,” Xander said. “Those same families offered to kiss his tail after each death.”

“Because he was a maniac!” Tydal yelled, bumping Xander with his snout. Not too hard, as the hammerhead was far larger, but Tydal was angry. “Finnivus would have ordered Johanna's entire family wiped out!”

“Which is why they obeyed!” Xander answered forcefully, slapping Tydal in the belly with his tail. “They were scared of him. That's a lesson you should learn.”

“You cannot be serious,” Tydal said, shaking his head in disbelief. “You think I should put someone's head on a feeding platter to make a point? I will never do that. I won't be anything like Finnivus!”

“If you let her go without a fitting punishment, you're as good as dead,” Xander said. “You know what? I'm done. The fate of the ocean is balanced on an urchin spine, and I have to play nurse shark with you. No more! You dying doesn't bother me.”

Tydal used his tail to angrily sweep the seabed at Xander. “That's so great to hear! It inspires me with so much confidence!”

“Don't mistake me for your mum! I'm not here to stroke your flank.” Xander calmed himself. “Hear me out. Yesterday, you were almost killed. Again.” That was true. This last attempt, by three spinner sharks with fake Indi Shiver markings, had almost succeeded.

The evidence pointed strongly to the Punjaw family as they were in charge of the royal urchins who created the Indi Shiver tattoos. Unfortunately, there was no proof because all three assassins were sent to the Sparkle Blue before they could be questioned. Punjaw had loudly denied any involvement, but their princess Johanna had been heard laughing about how Tydal's rule was about to be “thankfully and finally put to an end” a day before the attack.

The hammerhead flicked his fins and said, “This attempt on your life could have been random extremists, as your royals say . . .”

“Xander,” Tydal said. “I'm not an idiot.”

“Then why are you acting like one?” Xander asked. “I lost another mariner saving your yellow-and-brown hide yesterday.”

“I'm terribly sorry about that,” Tydal said, suddenly conscious of his epaulette skin.

“Sorry gets nothing for his family,” the shark told him. “He's gone and the royals don't respect you.”

Tydal was hurt by Xander's words but he burst out laughing anyway. “Respect?” he gasped. “Who cares about respect? I care about doing what's best for the shiver!”

“The two are inseparable,” Xander said. “You won't be able to lead, to help your shiver, if the royals don't respect you.”

Tydal fell silent.

Xander was totally right. Tydal had been trying to govern by compassion and logic because he didn't think he was worthy, because he wasn't born into a royal family. But the truth was that the royals would never accept him no matter what he did—because they all wanted to rule. If Tydal was going to set a new course for the shiver he had to lead. He needed everyone to respect him and the position of minister prime.

“Are ya thinking or sleeping?” asked Xander.

“I'm awake, thank you very much,” Tydal told the hammerhead. “Maybe for the first time as leader of this shiver. I need to make a royal proclamation, so everyone must be there. Will you gather the royal families?”

“What if they don't want to come?” asked Xander.

“Then escort them there,” replied Tydal.

“With pleasure,” Xander told him. “And I thought today was going to be boring.”

“Xander,” Tydal said, stopping the AuzyAuzy shark from swimming away. “Perhaps you should bring a few more sharkkind than usual. I don't think the royal clans are going to like what I say very much.”

Xander dipped his snout to Tydal. “Now you're talking. I'll get it done.”

The hammerhead swam out of the cavern yelling for his mariners.

Two hours later Tydal swam out to the coral throne at the heart of the Indi Shiver homewaters. Sunlight cut through the water and made everything around him sparkle. Tydal saw that in addition to tripling the guard in front and above the throne, Xander had also brought the rest of the AuzyAuzy mariner force. They were at a respectful attention hover and not talking and fin-slapping as they did from time to time when he held a royal audience.

Tydal aimed to set a regal tone from the start. He glided straight to the coral throne of Indi and plopped himself on it. A chorus of grumbles rippled through the royal court.

“Johanna Punjaw, come forward,” Tydal said. The throne was the Indi homewaters' Speakers Rock. It was located in the place where the currents were the absolute best for carrying even a whisper out to the assembled royal court.

The noise from the court turned into indignant shouts: “What's the meaning of this?” “You dare order a princess around?” “He's not royalty!” And Johanna did not move. Tydal saw her, smirking, with the rest of the Punjaw clan hovering protectively around her.

Tydal gave a double fin flick to Xander, a signal they had worked out. The hammerhead bellowed, “QUIET! YOUR LEADER IS SPEAKING!” His commanding shout was so loud it silenced everyone.

Tydal edged forward. “Johanna Punjaw, come before me!” he announced, a bit harder this time.

The leading member of the clan swam out, a cunning old coot named Rash. He dripped disdain whenever he dealt with anyone but Finnivus himself. “The princess is too frightened to come before your imposing presence, Tydal,” Rash said, words soaked in sarcasm. “I speak for clan Punjaw. Tell me what's bothering you. Now.” The last was an order and caused a ripple of laughter from the royals.

“What I want you to do is produce the princess so she may defend herself,” Tydal said. “She was overhead joking about my swimming the Sparkle Blue right before an assassination attempt that your clan are the main suspects in.”

“We've been through that, Tydal,” Rash said, not using his title of minister prime. “They were foolish words to say . . . out loud.” More laughter from the royals because of the insulting pause in front of
out loud
.

“Your sarcasm and disrespect have been noted,” Tydal told Rash. Anger flickered in the shark's eyes. He didn't like being called out. Suddenly the other royals went quiet. They became interested as Tydal continued. “Since your clan refuses to bring the princess forward to defend herself, I shall pass judgment on her, and your entire clan, solely from what I have heard from the other witnesses.”

Rash's eyes blazed. “You pass judgment! You do not judge your betters, Tydal!”

“Silence him!” The words leapt from Tydal's mouth and he couldn't pull them back. Xander's mariners speared Rash in the flank and drove him nose first into the soft seabed, but thankfully didn't send him to the Sparkle Blue.

“How—how—dare you?” the old shark rasped.

Tydal propped himself up on the rose coral Indi throne and announced to the court, “The answer is simple enough that even a dumbo jelly like yourself should understand, but I will explain anyway. I dare because I am the minister prime and ruler of Indi Shiver!” Tydal paused. “Some of this misunderstanding is my fault. I haven't acted like a leader. I allowed petty sharkkind like yourself, who think they are better than the others because of a family name, to dictate terms. But no longer!” Tydal swam off the throne and directed his words at the Indi Shiver sharks. At least a thousand of them had gathered, hovering outside the royal court.

“From this day forward, being born into a certain family guarantees you nothing! You'll need to earn your position by demonstrating your loyalty to Indi Shiver. Not to a certain family, but to our noble and great shiver!”

“This is treasonous!” cried one of the sharks from clan Charavyuh.

There was grumbling and shouting. Again Xander swam forward and bellowed, “SHUT YER COD HOLES!” He then added in a quieter voice, “The minister prime isn't done speaking.”

“There is treason here, that much is true, committed by Princess Johanna and the entire Punjaw clan!” Tydal said. “That is why I am banishing the Punjaw family. If any of their fifty-five clan members are seen in the Indi Ocean, they will be sent to the Sparkle Blue. Consider that your final warning! Captain of the guard, proceed with their banishment. Kill any who resist!”

Xander moved in with a hundred mariners, overwhelming the smaller royal family. This took several minutes. They screamed and cried but were pushed and bumped from the area.

There was a shocked silence in the court. Everyone stared at Tydal, who settled onto the rose coral throne. “Punjaw clan no longer exists as far as Indi Shiver is concerned. Their family name will be stricken from our history, any rights they have are voided, and their quarters are now the property of the office of minister prime. Any who think this is too harsh a punishment are welcome to swim forward and defend Punjaw. If you can convince me that I was mistaken then they can return.” Tydal leaned forward and stared at the four remaining royal families. “But if you fail to make your case then you and your families will be judged allies of the traitorous Punjaw clan and banished also!”

Suddenly no one in the Razor Tooth, Charavyuh, Korak, or Taj clans felt like defending Johanna or any Punjaw.

“I take your silence as a sign that you all completely agree that every shark in the Punjaw clan is a traitor and deserved my just punishment. Good, excellent. It is done.” Tydal looked down at the assembled royals. Those in the front were edging away and not meeting his eyes.

“Also, if any of you comes forward with information about traitorous activity anywhere in Indi Shiver, you will be rewarded. If you are accused by someone else, you must defend yourself to my satisfaction or you and your family will be banished. Failure to defend yourself will be taken as a sign of guilt and you will be banished also.”

Tydal stared at the royal families. “So, is there any other business? Are there complaints about the way I'm handling things? Everyone was so chatty a minute ago and I'm all ears. Anyone? Anything at all?” He waited, allowing the silence to stretch out. “I didn't think so. You're dismissed.”

And that night Tydal had his first restful sleep since he had been appointed leader of Indi Shiver.

BARKLEY TOOK HIS TIME WORKING THROUGH
the coral and greenie so no one would see him as he tracked Drinnok. Even so, he had rushed a little when going through the fire waters. He didn't like staying so close to the shifting seabed with all its seaquake tremors. One time, a gout of lava breached the surface fifty tail strokes to his left and exploded with a rumbling
BOOOOOM!

It was pure luck he hadn't been right on top of it.

Barkley found Drinnok and the rest of the prehistores less than a day's swim from the AuzyAuzy homewaters. It wasn't hard picking up their trail. Drinnok and his mariners were all massive. They didn't need to hide from anyone, or even an armada of anyones. Most of them were around thirty-five feet and thicker and more muscular than Gray. And each of them had a tremendous appetite.

That was what gave them away. In every direction, large fins and dwellers were swimming for their lives, terrified. All you had to do was go in the opposite direction of the screaming survivors.

No, the problem wasn't finding Drinnok. The problem would be getting past his guards, who ate anyone that came too near. Barkley jammed himself into a crevice that was overgrown with greenie and watched. It didn't take him long to figure out the gaps in the patrol pattern. He waited until the sun was low and caused the most shadows before beginning his creep forward to the Fifth Shiver leader. If Barkley was spotted, there would be no time to explain himself or plead for his life. He would be gobbled up in one bite.

Well, you think you're the best at sneaking around, he thought. So prove it.

Drinnok rested himself between two coral reefs in the center of a ring of prehistore guards. The greenie in the area wasn't tall or as thick as Barkley would have liked, which was probably why they had chosen it. This kelp was more ropy than the leafy kind that would have hidden him better. Barkley positioned himself so the medium-strong current that pushed the green-greenie in Drinnok's direction was at his tail. This allowed him to move from one clump to another whenever heavier currents washed through the area. Slowly, he got closer and closer.

Barkley passed a giant thresher, who dozed after having eaten an entire bowhead whale. The current pushed again and he darted to another clump of greenie. A prehistore bull shark turned. He had probably noticed something moving in the corner of his eye. The immense shark wasn't sure though. He poked at the greenie next to Barkley with his snout but then left.

Barkley moved once more, this time to a clump of greenie just ten yards from Drinnok's right flank. Two giant hammerheads crossed overhead, keeping a watch on their leader's dorsal fin. Barkley stared at the over forty-foot megalodon. His gills were as long as Barkley was from snout to tail.

Speaking with Drinnok now seemed like the stupidest idea in the world. Barkley could probably creep away if he was careful, but he shook the thought from his mind. Gray had seen something in the prehistore king and Barkley trusted his friend's judgment. If there was any way to avert a war, he had to try, even if it meant his own life.

That brave thought did not, however, stop his voice from squeaking when he said, “Drinnok, King of Fifth Shiver, I seek an audience.”

The king's ears were sharp. With a swish of his giant tail, he spun himself. Drinnok stared at Barkley, who repeated, “Drinnok, King of Fifth Shiver, I seek an audience.”

“I heard you the first time,” he replied. “I'm trying to figure out what you are, and how in the name of Tyro you could sneak up less than a tail stroke from my gills.”

Barkley dipped his snout low. “It's more like three tail strokes for me, your majesty.”

“Yes,” Drinnok agreed. “You are very small.”

The bull shark that Barkley had evaded earlier rushed over. “My king! Are you all right? Shall I eat the intruder?”

Drinnok flicked his fin at the prehistore bull. “No, Rastor. Now that this puny dweller has evaded every layer of your defenses, I will question him myself.”

“But, but King Drinnok—” the bull sputtered.

“Why don't you change the patrol patterns, Rastor?” Drinnok said. “Or should I choose a more competent captain for my guard?”

Rastor dipped his head. Before swimming away, he eyed Barkley in a way that told the dogfish his life was over if Drinnok dismissed him. The megalodon king swung his head, with its giant mouth and dagger teeth, toward Barkley once more. “Your audience is granted. You have two minutes.”

“First, is Hokuu here?” Barkley asked, looking around. He didn't see the frilled shark. “If he is, I request that he not be allowed to listen.”

“One minute and fifty seconds,” Drinnok said.

Better make it good, Barkley thought. “My name is Barkley and I'm here as a representative for Gray, who you know as Graynoldus. He wants you—”

“The pretender who fancies himself the Seazarein?” interrupted Drinnok. “He wants me to do what, exactly?”

Barkley dipped his snout to the gigantic megalodon. “Gray specifically told me not to use the title of Seazarein in front of you. He wants you to know he never desired to be the Seazarein but it was forced upon him when Hokuu sent Kaleth to the Sparkle Blue.”

Drinnok grunted. “Another pretender, but a worthier one. Continue.”

“Gray doesn't want to go to war with Fifth Shiver,” Barkley told the king.

Drinnok interrupted him. “Because he fears me.”

Barkley dipped his snout again. “With respect, King Drinnok, Gray isn't afraid of anything. He doesn't want war because he believes that there's room enough in the ocean for all of us.”

“Is this another trick?” Drinnok demanded. “The last time your pup wanted to talk, his allies attacked us.”

Barkley shook his head from side to side and gave Drinnok an emphatic tail swipe. “Gray was after Hokuu, who has said that you want to send every shark here to the Sparkle Blue. He had to try to stop that, as you would if the situation was reversed. But when Gray saw you, he felt you weren't that type of shark. He even went to the Underwaters to check. He agrees that it's dangerous there and wants everyone who wants to come up to be able to. He knows it was Hokuu behind King Bollagan's death.” Barkley gave Drinnok a smile. “If he's wrong, I suppose I'll be eaten right about now, as it's been two minutes. But if he's right, maybe we could speak some more?”

Drinnok nosed Barkley out of the greenie. “What type of fish are you?” he asked.

“I'm a dog shark, your majesty,” Barkley answered. “Some call me a dogfish.”

“You are entirely tiny. Your teeth are so small you couldn't have sent me to the Sparkle Blue if you had a day to chew on my gills as I slept.”

Barkley clicked his mouth shut. He wasn't about to give a smart-alecky answer here. Too many lives were at stake.

“I'm not insulting you, dogfish, but in my home you wouldn't survive a day.”

“Are you done not insulting me, your highness?” Barkley asked. “There are pressing matters to discuss.”

The big megalodon laughed. “What I mean is that you're a smart and cunning shark, even though you are small. You were able to evade my royal guard. None of my enemies in the Underwaters has ever gotten this close, and many have tried. And what about Takiza? He's even tinier than you, but powerful as a seaquake. Who knows how many seemingly weak sharkkind were sent to the Sparkle Blue because the Underwaters are so dangerous? Perhaps some of them would have had the chance to grow up like you, or Takiza, and discovered skills that would make all of Fifth Shiver stronger.”

Barkley was dumbfounded and couldn't answer for a few seconds. “King Drinnok, that's one of the nicest things that anyone has ever said to me. And smart. I can't believe a shark as big as you would realize something like that.”

Drinnok cocked his head. “Is that because you think large sharkkind are stupid?”

“No, no,” Barkley said. “That's not it.”

Drinnok poked Barkley with his immense snout, sending him skidding a good ten feet. “You should laugh when a king makes a joke.”

Barkley was petrified. “Ha, ha, ha . . . funny.”

“I would speak with young Graynoldus,” Drinnok said. “But if this is another trap . . .”

“It's not, your majesty,” Barkley said. “He does ask one thing, though.”

Drinnok became wary. “And what would that be?”

“Can you keep this a secret from Hokuu?” Barkley asked. “Graynoldus doesn't trust him.”

“Hokuu is a powerful ally if there were to be a fight,” Drinnok said. “To not bring him might be considered foolish.”

Barkley nodded. “True. But Gray is waiting with only a few sharks, not an armada. If your scouts see more, you can always leave. And if it's like I say, you can bring all your mariners to the meeting. That's how badly Gray would like to avoid war.”

Drinnok studied him. “You are an interesting shark, Barkley. Very interesting, indeed.”