Enemy of Oceans by EJ Altbacker Read Free Book Online Page B

“I mean, how come my dad never told me?”
    â€œAs to the latter, you were too young. As to the former, I did say it was a secret society. Bladefish do not reveal themselves as bladefish. They do not seek glory.” Takiza paused, thinking for a moment. “I must correct myself. Most do not seek glory. Most simply solve whatever problem needs solving and continue on their way.”
    â€œThat sounds . . . awesome!” Snork said, whipping his bill back and forth in the water. He stopped and turned to Takiza. “But it can’t be true, about my dad, I mean. My dad never went on adventures. He never went anywhere. He stayed with me and my mom.”
    â€œYes, he would have,” Takiza said, nodding. “Bladefish are loyal and true. I suspect your father met your mother, promised himself to her, and then you came along.”
    Snork liked the story. And his father had loved his mother. That was definitely true. He thought back to the last time he had seen his father. Their shiver was being attacked. Even though his dad wasn’t in the Line, he was right at the front of the fighting. Then it was all chaos . . . Snork swam and swam. He didn’t know how long he was alone before meeting the first of his friends. He had been very young.
    â€œAre you going to train me to be a bladefish?” Snork asked in wonder.
    â€œI cannot,” Takiza said. “A bladefish must be trained by another bladefish. Oh, it pains me, but there is only one fin for this job.”
    â€œWho’s that?” Snork asked.
    Takiza was about to answer when a flying fish darted to a stop in front of the betta. The flying fish flicked his glittering fins in a downward salute. “Quickfin Speedmeister with a message for Takiza Jaelynn Betta vam Delacrest Waveland ka Boom Boom from the Seazarein, Graynoldus Emprex, lord of the seven seas, master of the five oceans—”
    Takiza slashed his tail through the water. “Can’t you see that I am ages old? Please get to the message while I am still alive to hear it.”
    Snork watched as Speedmeister—what a cool name!—continued.“Yes, honored Takiza! Code word: Orange Roughy. The message is as follows—”
    The betta shook his fins once more. “I assume this is a private message.” Takiza pointed with his tail at Snork.
    â€œOh my, yes! Sorry!” the quickfin messenger responded. “I just get so excited. I love this job!”
    Snork couldn’t hear anything after that. He could see Takiza nod, frown, and then frown some more. He told Speedmeister something and the flying fish sped off in a blur.
    â€œBad news?” he asked.
    Takiza sighed. “It seems your training will be continued at a different location.”

THE FIRE WATERS BLAZED TO HOKUU’S LEFT AS a gout of lava blasted from the seabed before being snuffed out in a sizzling hiss. He reached out with his senses. The ground below trembled with seaquakes, causing some of the giant rock spires nearby to crumble and fall. The barrier between the Underwaters and the Big Blue was weak here.
    This would be the spot.
    Here is where a new watery world order will begin, Hokuu thought.
    His thoughts were interrupted by one of his captains, Freya, a mako finja. “This place gives me the creeps,” she said.
    Hokuu gazed at the prehistore mako. Freya was an excellent predator, one of his most reliable mariners. She had betrayed the former Seazarein, Kaleth, at the flick of his tail. Her loyalty was unquestioned. Freya had vowed to lay down her life for his cause along with each and every one of the fifty or so mako finja who were left from the original group. Just like frilled sharks, makos had been mistrusted since the time of Machiakelpi, who had swum with Tyro and First Shiver. Hokuu had promised an end to that. He had promised that they would never be looked down upon again, that they would be important.
    Hokuu would keep his