The Last Emprex (11 page)

CHAPTER 16

“DON'T LET EVEN ONE INSIDE!” YELLED
Striiker as he fought snout-to-snout with the frilled sharks pushing themselves into the cavern. The frills were a seething mass of death trying to jam their way inside. They ripped with their tri-tipped teeth and stabbed with their tails. If the armada hadn't been in a strong defensive position, Fathomir would have surely fallen.

It was their fourth attack of the day and the enemy showed no sign of giving up. But neither did Fathomir's brave defenders. There was only one main way in and out of the throne cavern for any dweller larger than a mackerel. It was suicide to do a frontal assault, but still Grimkahn's horde came. The mosasaur king knew that taking Fathomir was his path to winning the war.

One frilled shark writhed entirely inside the cavern so he could move fully. The high-pitched whine of his tail spike whizzing through the water ended in a sickening
thwap!
as it pierced a mariner through the head. Thick blood bloomed in the water, clouding the cavern and making it difficult to see. Combined with the lumo light shining from the walls and pillars, it was an eerie and grisly sight.

Gray streaked forward and bit the frill's head off.

The horde was turned away once more.

Gray sighed, relieved. But he was taken completely by surprise when Grimkahn shot his jaws into the cavern. He scraped the rock walls on both sides of the twisty opening brutally but got far enough in to snap at Gray, who was bumped aside by Striiker.

Takiza released a bolt of energy, which may have stung Grimkahn, but as before did no real damage. It had become clear that his armored hide protected him and every other mosasaur against shar-kata attacks, and even the powerful burning vomit attack that Hokuu had tried. Grimkahn roared and pulled his snout out. Thankfully he and the other mosasaurs were too gigantic to get inside.

“You should be more careful!” Striiker said to Gray, irritated. “What are you even doing here? We got this!”

Gray was about to answer when Grimkahn roared from outside. “I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE, PUP!” He went on in a somewhat quieter voice, “You're a cowardly little turtle, aren't you? Why don't you come out and face me? You did it once.”

“Are these brilliant taunts working?” Takiza asked. The betta was in good spirits but looked paler than usual. His brilliant rainbow colors had dimmed. Or it might have been the light in the throne cavern. Gray hoped that was the case.

He gave Takiza a negative flick of his fins. “Even I'm not that chowderheaded.”

Striiker yelled back, “Gray's busy, Yer Royal Ugliness. But me and my mariners are still hungry! Could ya send a few more frills this way? Because them's good eatin'!”

There was a cheer from the mariners after Striiker's remark. He really was a fine leader.

Riprap and Ebbie darted over. They thought the siege was a big adventure. They hadn't seen war from the front lines and didn't understand.

“What are you two doing here?” asked Gray. “Move back!”

“When you beat up Grimkahn, can Ebbie and I watch?” asked Riprap as he circled the group.

“Yeah, it'll be great to see you snout bang him good!” said Ebbie.

Gray shook his head. “No one is snout banging anyone for a while so you two calm down.”

“Aww, come on, Gray, be cool. We know there's going to be a big battle!” insisted Riprap.

Ebbie nodded. “We may be smaller than the mariners but we can fight! We've been practicing on each other. I beat Riprap with Orca Bears Down today.”

“Did not!” sulked Riprap. “Besides, I wasn't looking. And you promised you wouldn't tell!”

“If we need any help I'll come and get you,” Striiker told the pair.

“Really?” said Riprap with his eyes wide.

“So cool!” added Ebbie.

Gray motioned for Judijoan, and also Leilani and Barkley behind her. “I need to have a strategy meeting and need some room.” He looked at the packed throne cavern. With all their forces inside Fathomir, clear space was valuable indeed.

“I'll move a few fins around,” Judijoan said, pausing to grace Riprap and Ebbie with a stern nod. “And you two stop bothering the Seazarein and go play.” Gray's brother and sister went off as the oarfish continued, “Give me a minute and the space behind the throne will be clear.” Judijoan moved off, rippling her long body and smacking sharks and dwellers that were too slow to swim out of her way. Even with a thousand sharks in the cave, her voice cut through the noise like a shard of volcanic glass. “Make way! Official business of the Seazarein Emprex! Clear the throne area or I'll have you thrown to the horde!”

A few minutes later there was space for Gray and his council to gather. Onyx, Striiker, Takiza, Barkley, Leilani, Xander, and Tydal were there, as well as Gray's mother, Sandy. He looked at his gathered friends and family.

“There's no way to put seasoning on this rotten fish to make it taste better,” Gray began. “We're trapped. So first off, how much food do we have?”

Onyx flicked his tail. “Not as much as we'd like, that's for bloody sure.”

“We sent hunting parties out before we were trapped, but there are so many of us,” Sandy told him. “We have enough to last us about two or three days.”

“Make it three, then,” Gray said. This wasn't good news. The mariners had been fighting. They used a tremendous amount of energy during battle and needed to eat. The longer a shark went without food the weaker he got. He looked at Striiker. “Are we really eating the frills?”

“Nah,” the great white said, shaking his head. “I was only talking big. It's been tried, though. They taste terrible and made some of our fins sick. They might be poisonous.”

“You got that right, mate,” Xander said.

Striiker slashed his tail through the water. “Let them keep trying to get in. We'll take 'em out one by one until there are none left. Then we swim out and eat to our heart's content.”

“That is not a solution,” Takiza commented.

Gray nodded. “Takiza's right. And the longer we stay in here, the more it feels like we're losing. If that feeling spreads to our sharkkind, it's over.”

“But Gray,” Leilani began. “Even if we could get out, how would you set the mariners in formation before the horde attacks? We swam inside here in a thin line. If we go out that way . . . ”

“We'd be gobbled up one by one,” Onyx said, finishing Leilani's thought.

“One problem at a time,” Gray said. “We've have three days of food, so three days to find allies. I want the odds to be more in our favor. The only shiver large enough to help is Hideg Shiver in the Arktik and maybe the orcas at Icingholme. But to make it there and back before we starve? I don't know.”

Everyone glanced at Takiza but Gray shook his head. “I need Takiza here in case Hokuu shows up. He and Grimkahn may have fought, but that doesn't mean they won't make up. And adding to our problems is the fact that shar-kata doesn't seem to damage Grimkahn.”

“A definite drawback, I'd say,” Xander commented.

“You didn't know this, Takiza?” Barkley asked. “You were in the Underwaters.”

The betta ruffled his fins. “Yes, I was. But I was not attacking mosasaurs while there.”

“Maybe you should have,” Striiker said. Everyone looked at the great white. “I'm just saying.”

“I hate to say this but what about asking Trank for help again?” Shear asked. “What if we made it worth his while? Gave him territory or something?”

Gray thought about this. But the risk to the messenger was unacceptable. He wouldn't send anyone on a suicide mission.

Barkley gave him a tap to the flank. “I'll do it.”

“
You?
” Striiker asked. “You hate him. And he doesn't like you much either.”

“Yeah, but we have to try,” Barkley answered. “And I can bring along someone who speaks his language.”

Gray was shocked. His friend could mean only one shark. “You want to sneak past Grimkahn's frills and mosasaurs with Velenka in tow?”

“Velenka's very sneaky,” Barkley said. “And she did want something more important to do.”

Gray shook his head. “I know I've sent you into dangerous situations before, but that was when there was a chance. Trank already said he didn't want to help. It would be a wasted trip.”

“Gray,” Barkley pressed. “There's no choice. Unless you know where Yappy's secret, giant cousins are, we need to try.” Gray let out an involuntary chuckle at this memory from their youth.

“He's right,” Leilani told him.

Gray reluctantly nodded. They needed more allies.

Palink, the leader of Hideg Shiver, would come if he knew they were in trouble. So would Tik-Tun, who was king of the orcas. But how could they get word to them in time? Without shar-kata speed it was almost impossible to imagine.

Gray motioned for Judijoan and she glided over. “Do we have any quickfins?”

The oarfish paused, a sour look on her face. “Only one remained after the attack came.” She motioned with the red plumes on her head. “Eugene!”

Eugene Speedmeister zipped in front of Gray, flicking his four wings downward. “Eugene Speedmeister reporting for duty, your lordship! What can I do for you, Seazarein Graynoldus?

Gray nodded. “How fast do you think you could make it to the Arktik, Speedmeister?”

Eugene flicked off another salute. “Faster than anyone, sir. And I like a challenge.”

CHAPTER 17

SNORK WATCHED THE SCENE FROM THE
greenie near Fathomir with a sick feeling. The frilled sharks were so thick they darkened the area in front of the main entrance of the throne cavern. They twisted and squirmed, constantly attacking, trying to force their way inside. A haze of blood obscured the entire area despite the current. And waiting behind the frills were the gigantic mosasaurs with their fearsome leader, Grimkahn, roaring orders.

Salamanca and the narwhal Aleeyoot looked at each other in dismay before signaling for Snork and the others to swim deeper into the cover of the golden greenie fields.

“Salamanca thinks we have a problem,” said the huge marlin.

“Salamanca shouldn't speak in the third person because it's annoying,” said Aleeyoot. The narwhal was rewarded with a “harrumph” from the marlin.

Snork knew he shouldn't say anything with all the higher-ranking bladefish around but couldn't help it. His stomach was an ice ball of worry. “How are we going to help them? Did you see how many jurassics there are? And they're huge!”

Salamanca tapped Snork gently with his bill. “The size of your body is nothing, oh mighty Snork. It is the size of your heart that matters, and yours is very large indeed.”

Aleeyoot moved his long tusk in short, agitated strokes. “But oh mighty Snork is right. There
are
too many for us. The Seazarein's mariners may all be in there. Safe for now, but how will they get out?”

“Obviously we bladefish will occupy the monsters so they can swim forth and fight with us,” Salamanca said, irritated.

“Now's not the time for your particular brand of heroic stupidity,” Aleeyoot said, making to poke the marlin in the flank. Salamanca blocked him, as Aleeyoot continued. “The only way we can occupy that force is to be sent to the Sparkle Blue by them. That still wouldn't give those good fins inside time enough to get out.”

“Unlike my apprentice you obviously lack heart,” Salamanca said as he tried to slap the narwhal on the head with his bill. He was deflected by Aleeyoot's ivory tusk.

“Guys, please!” Snork said, exasperated. “Can you save it for the jurassics?”

Both Salamanca and Aleeyoot backed off. “He's right,” the narwhal said.

Salamanca saluted Snork with his bill. “It is not every day when Salamanca takes orders from a trainee.”

Snork stared through the greenie at Fathomir. “We need to figure out a way to help.”

“Maybe we can be a part of that,” said a voice from below them.

It was Jaunt!

The small, muscular tiger shark gave them a knowing flick of her fins. “G'day. How're ya doing, Snork? Who are your mates?”

Salamanca grew irritated. “
Who
are
we
? Surely you jest. I am Salamanca and my slightly less skilled compatriot is Aleeyoot. We are bladefish extraordinaire.”

Jaunt nodded. “Me mum used to tell stories 'bout you fins. Bladefish, eh? Good on ya.”

Aleeyoot bobbed his long tusk gracefully. “Excuse my sometimes capable but puffed up friend. I hear from your accent you hail from AuzyAuzy Shiver. Did you by any chance travel here with friends?”

Jaunt nodded. “I did. Reckon there's about six hundred of us left. We split from the main force led by Kendra. She's gone.” The tiger saddened for a moment but then stiffened her resolve. “Woulda been more of us but we were hit pretty hard by these krill-faced drongos twice on the way. We aim to get us some payback.”

“Where are these friends of yours?” asked Salamanca. “They would be of more use a bit closer.”

“Only if we want to be spotted,” Jaunt said. “How many of you bladefish are here? Couple hundred?”

“There are about two hundred bladefish in all the oceans but only sixty-five are here,” Aleeyoot said. “We lost five earlier. As it is, this is our largest gathering in many years. We do know that the Seazarein was able to join with Indi Shiver, so they are also inside.”

Jaunt nodded. “Figured that. Then Xander's there, too.”

“Let us attack!” said Salamanca, whipping his bill through the water. “We go now, correct?” Jaunt and Aleeyoot shook their heads. The blue marlin's tail dropped. “Salamanca's strength has never been in the planning stage.”

Aleeyoot gave the marlin a playful shove. “Luckily we can put our heads together and think up something where you can be the big hero.”

“Really?” the marlin asked. “Salamanca would very much enjoy that. I would also save your life twice more before this is over.”

“Keep dreaming,” said the narwhal.

”Maybe we don't have to come up with a plan,” Snork said. “Maybe there already is one!”

“And why would that be?” asked Jaunt.

“Because Gray always has a plan!” Snork answered. “He's really good at that. Gray along with Barkley, Takiza, and others like Onyx, Leilani, Striiker, and Tydal. I'll bet they thought of some way of dealing with those monsters.”

The group hovered in silence as they thought this over. “I have heard about Seazarein Graynoldus's great victories and I agree this is probably true. But how can our group be helpful if we don't know what they're doing?”

Suddenly there was a commotion.

It was different from the sounds of the frills attacking Fathomir. The group moved forward in the greenie so they could get a better look. Grimkahn's forces were swimming in every direction, shouting and smashing into each other.

“Are they . . . fighting?” asked Salamanca.

Jaunt moved forward to get a better view. “Well I'll be a squiddely kelpie. They're not fightin'. They're chasin'.”

Snork saw a multicolored flash. “It's Eugene Speedmeister! He's a quickfin!”

The flying fish zoomed closer as he broke from the area by the Fathomir entrance. The group hid in the greenie until the fastest frilled sharks—in hot pursuit—angled off.

“We should help the brave messenger,” Salamanca said.

“Got about as much a chance of catching that finner as swimming through a whorl current,” said Jaunt.

Aleeyoot watched as the frilled sharks resumed attacking the main entrance. “If Graynoldus is smart, and it seems he is, he used that distraction to do something else. But what would that be?”

Snork thought about it. “There is one place we could check. One place he might send someone to make contact with us. It's called the Stingeroo Supper Club. It may be dangerous, though.”

Salamanca nodded. “Then, we go to that place. Right? We bladefish live for danger!”

This time everyone nodded with the big marlin.

Jaunt took a last look in the direction where Speedmeister had vanished into the distance. “Sure do hope that messenger is a clever fin, or he's set to be lunch.”