Kingdom of the Deep Read Free Page B

And for that service you will be rewarded like no other shark in this Big Blue.”
    The part about reward was appealing, but Velenka found herself thinking that she’d never work for anyone again unless it suited her goals. Hokuu seemed to know this and smiled. “These sharks will question you about the deaths that happened tonight,” the frilled shark hissed. “When they do, find out what you can about the Seazarein.”
    â€œI will. I promise. But—”
    Hokuu cut her off with a rippling shake of his long tail. “You don’t even know what a Seazarein is, do you?”
    â€œOnly the legend. They haven’t swum the Big Blue for millions of years.”
    Hokuu smiled. “You’re not up on current events. The Seazarein is back. She’s real and wants to keep the oceans for herself. But they’re not hers! Or any of the puny shivers here that claim pieces of them as their own. Anyway, when the time is right, I’ll give you your freedom.”
    â€œYes!” Velenka said. “I’ll do what you want. Thank you.”
    Hokuu smirked but said nothing. Then he was gone as if he had never been there. Velenka let out a ragged sigh, more nervous than the situation called for. Sure, she didn’t know anything about Hokuu or his plans for her, but it was a chance to better her situation. How could that be a bad thing?

CHAPTER 3
    IN A RARE BREAK BETWEEN HIS NEW LESSONS, Gray hovered in the towering gold-greenie, which floated more than two hundred feet off the ocean floor. The field was immense, larger than he had ever seen. Gold-greenie was rare, and to see so much of it, and growing so big, was an amazing sight. This was part of the Seazarein’s homewaters, which Gray now knew were called Fathomir after a great leader of Second Shiver. It also hid the strong point of Kaleth’s territory, the cavern where her throne was. Outside the entrance to this cavern lay the ruins of a landshark city with columns of granite, some of which were still standing. The throne cavern itself was well protected, and just twenty finja could hold off an armada from inside.
    But her
guardians
, as the Seazarein called the finja, were always hyper-alert and on the lookout for Hokuu. Gray would have liked to know more about the dangerous frilled shark, but neither Takiza nor Kaleth would tell him anything.
    Gray and Barkley had caught their lunch in the incredibly fish-filled gold-greenie of Fathomir. Barkley, with his ghostfin training, was a much better hunter than even a year ago, and both had fed well. Afterward, their lunch break had turned into a game. Gray supposed it could be called a drill—especially if they were caught—but it was more fun than anything. And he needed some fun. Mari, along with the others that had come with him, had already left for Riptide to tell Striiker what was happening and that he would need to lead. Gray hoped the big great white would do a good job. As it was, he was kept far too busy to even consider swimming home.
    There were so many lessons Gray thought his head would explode: lessons on how to speak, lessons about protocol, lessons on previous Aquasidors and their missions along with the mistakes they made, lessons on history, lessons on how to greet kings, queens, princes, and princesses, lessons on how to react when you received a compliment or a gift—lessons about everything. Gray wouldn’t be surprised if there was a lesson about the correct way to clear his throat. It was a relief to clear his mind, even for a little while.
    Barkley had challenged him to a best-of-five match in one-on-one combat after they ate. Of course, he did issue the challenge when they were deep in the gold kelp field. Barkley wasn’t dumb. Even with his ghostfin skills, a dogfish didn’t stand a sardine’s chance against Gray in open water. Gray was much larger and stronger.
    In the greenie, though, Barkley was as sneaky as a sea spider,