This is very odd.
John curved his body in an arc, bringing himself to a halt. His futile pursuit had brought him close to the surface. Hovering in the water like a hawk in the sky, he surveyed the battle below.
He was the only knight not engaged in bitter combat. Every other sea dragon was mobbed by sharks, wheeling and darting around them. So far, the sea dragons’ superior discipline was holding the sharks at bay, but more were arriving by the minute.
Now’s our chance! his inner human urged. Go, while everyone else is busy! Run to our mate!
John hesitated, torn. Honor demanded that he fight alongside his brother-knights until the foe was vanquished…but his inner human had a point. What if this attack was but a diversionary tactic? What if even now, another force of sharks was hunting down the Empress-in-Waiting?
Below, the vast shape of the Master Shark loomed out of the depths. Jaws agape, he hurtled straight up toward the Knight-Commander, who was preoccupied fighting a pack of great whites.
Without thought, John dove down to defend his superior. There was no time for subtlety or poetry now. Claws extended, he flashed past the Knight-Commander, ready to meet the Master Shark head-on.
The megalodon saw him coming…and the great maw snapped closed. The shark turned, aborting its attack. John was so startled, he aborted his as well, fanning out his webbed feet to halt his dive.
The megalodon circled away, one cold eye fixed on him. With a sharp movement of its tail, it sought to rush past him, but John blocked its path to the Knight-Commander with his own body.
“Brethren!” he sang, keeping his claws raised and ready. “Defend the Knight-Commander!”
Three knights sang back in answer, flashing through the water towards them. The Master Shark turned to meet their charge, jaws opening once again. The megalodon seemed to have no hesitation about attacking these challengers.
John gathered himself to join the assault—but found his own way blocked by a green-and-gold finned tail.
“Wait,” the Knight-Commander said, eyes narrowing. Thin ribbons of blood spiraled around his reddened claws, slowly dispersing. “Did the Master Shark just flee from you?”
“I cannot explain it, sir. No shark seems willing to face me. A brother-knight suggested that perhaps they fear that I might part the sea again.”
“Perhaps,” the Knight-Commander said slowly, harmonies of doubt clear in his tone. His assessing gaze flicked from John to the battling Master Shark, and back again. His song turned more thoughtful. “Or perhaps they have been ordered to turn aside from you…”
John rippled his length in a shrug, dismissing the mystery. There were more urgent matters at hand now. “Sir, we must not lose sight of our greater purpose here. Where is the Empress-in-Waiting? Is she too in danger of ambush?”
The Knight-Commander hesitated, turning his head to stare into an empty patch of water. The green glow of his eyes turned to pure, brilliant gold. John knew that he was using his powers as a Seer to scry out Neridia’s location.
The Knight-Commander blinked, his eyes returning to their normal hue. “I can still see your sister, although her rider is hidden from my sight. There are no sharks near them. You need not fear for your mate, Knight-Poet.”
“Nonetheless, sir, I must go to her,” John said, in a stern melody that bordered on being an outright command. “I must stop her from this inexplicable, disastrous flight. I swear that I will do whatever it takes to bring her home.”
The Knight-Commander stared at him for a long moment, a still point in the maelstrom of battle raging all around. John had the distinct impression that his superior was engaged in furious mental calculation.
“You are quite correct, Knight-Poet,” he said, his tone still thoughtful. “We must not lose sight of our true purpose.”
John let out his breath in relief, bubbles trickling from his nostrils. “Then I have your permission to quit the field of battle, sir?”
“We shall both go.” The Knight-Commander swirled, heading for the open sea. “Come, Knight-Poet. And stay close by my side.”
Chapter 31
*They are right behind us!* Jane’s mental voice came in panting gasps, matching her labored breathing. *Neridia, it’s the Knight-Commander and my brother! They’ll be within sight of us any second now!*
“Just a little further!” Neridia shouted back. “Look! There’s land!”
The south coast of England was a dark smudge on the horizon. Despite Jane’s obvious exhaustion, the sight seemed to hearten the sea dragon. She redoubled her efforts, fairly flying over the sea.
Neridia could make out the lights of Brighton now, glittering through the twilight like stars that had fallen to earth. Neridia fixed her eyes on the rapidly-approaching city, her heart rising. They were so close now…they were going to make it…
Jane shrieked like a hundred off-key flutes, recoiling from the sea as if the water was suddenly burning hot. Or, as Neridia discovered as spray dashed against her legs, burn
ing cold. Between one breath and the next, the sea had turned icy.