Enemy of Oceans Read Free

which grew out of her forehead, giving the old teacher a stern dignity. “Swim forward one at a time in the order that you arrived. After your message has been delivered, leave the cavern and wait outside as there may be a return message. No one else should be speaking but the quickfin ordered to do so. So the rest of you, be quiet!”
    Barkley, hovering to Gray’s right, whispered, “And we thought Miss Lamprey was bad.” Miss Lamprey had been their teacher when they were growing up in the Caribbi Sea. Judijoan had been Kaleth’s advisor and knew everything about protocol and history, so Gray kept her in that position. He had also made Barkley an advisor, much to Judijoan’s shock, as he was to her only a dogfish. But Barkley was Gray’s oldest and best friend. Plus, he was smart and many times saw things that no one else did.
    The first quickfin, a wahoo shaped like a silvery urchin spine, came forward so only Gray, Barkley, and Judijoan could hear. “I come with greetings from Minister Prime of Indi Shiver, Tydal. Code word: Starfish.”
    With any true quickfin message, there was always a code word known only to the Seazarein’s advisors. This month the code words all began with the letter S.
    â€œMinister Prime?” Gray asked, as he had never heard of the title before.
    â€œHe did not want to take the title of king, and since there was already a mariner prime leading the armada he decided to call himself Minister Prime.”
    â€œI see. And what does the minister prime say?”
    â€œOnly that things are going well and he wishes you a long reign in your new role as Seazarein.” The wahoo dipped his snout and left.
    Indi Shiver used to be led by a madfish named Finnivus who wanted to conquer the entire Big Blue. Gray had to swim out and lead Riptide United, consisting of AuzyAuzy, Hammer, Vortex, and many other shivers, along with the orcas, and with them had finally defeated Finnivus and his Black Wave armada. After they were defeated Gray had tried to appoint a shark from a ruling family of Indi but every time he did, all the other ruling families had objected.
    Finally, in absolute exasperation, Gray chose the First Court Shark. The princes and princesses said yes, thinking they would assassinate the poor fin later after they were done bickering among themselves. But Gray liked the idea of a non-royal leading so he didn’t let that happen. He left five hundred mariners under the command of Xander del Hav’aii—third in the AuzyAuzy Line—to keep the peace and protect Tydal. He also didn’t let the princes and princesses return, keeping them as his guests.
    Barkley gave Gray a thoughtful look. “It seems the currents are joyfully smooth at Indi Shiver.” Gray could tell that his friend didn’t believe this. Neither did he, for another Indi messenger was waiting.
    â€œI come from Indi Shiver with a message from Xander del Hav’aii,” this quickfin told them.
    â€œOh boy,” Gray let slip. Judijoan gave him a critical shake of her long tail. Seazarein were not supposed to say things like oh boy for everyone to hear.
    â€œThe message is as follows. ‘There have been two attempts on Tydal’s life, the last by a squaline. I am useless here. Request to be sent back to AuzyAuzy homewaters.’ That is the end of the message. Code word: Starfish.”
    Judijoan waved her tail to make the next quickfin wait as the last left the cavern. She swam closer to Gray so no one else would hear. “If Tydal was attacked by his personal guard then one of the royal families is behind it.”
    â€œProbably more than one,” Barkley added. “And Xander doesn’t seem too happy.”
    Gray nodded. The squaline were the personal guard to the throne and supposed to be above the petty power plays between the royal families. For one of them to betray this duty was unheard of. If Tydal was killed, there would most