Page 4 of Call of the Fathoms

Fortis had been raised in a time when the sea was revered. The gods of their people had come out of the depths more often, although these days they did not leave their home at all. So few of the younger depthstriders had trembled in the presence of the ancients deep in the abyss. His son would benefit from doing so, because Aulax was far too likely to deny that the sea was a god.

Soon enough, he would learn. The sea always contacted depthstriders in one way or another. His son would be faced with the reality that there were massive creatures somewhere in this ocean that controlled them all. And that if he closed his eyes, he could feel the connection with the same beasts that breathed with every single one of their kind.

Aulax let out a huffing breath. “I do not believe that you are meant to die this year, Father. It is foolish to seek death simply because your wife saw it long before I was even here.”

And therein lay the problem.

He should have guessed that his son was struggling with the truth of what was to come. Fortis himself had seen his father die before him when he was very young. It was a hard part of life, one that everyone had to deal with eventually. It was a unique situation for the two of them, because they both knew when and how he was going to die.

“Yourmotherwas gifted a prophecy by the gods. It was both a warning and a detailed message so that we could all stay safe,” he replied. “I have known my place in this sea since I was a very young man. Your mother was the best vision seeker of the depthstriders. She saw many peoples’ deaths, including her own.”

And not a single one of those prophecies had been wrong. He had seen every one of those people die, exactly as she had described it. So he knew he was going to die the same way she’d claimed.

Aulax’s gills flared, and a few of his colors burst to life before he calmed them. “I do not wish for your death as you seem to.”

He should soften himself for his son. Fortis often disappeared into the connection with their gods, but right now, his son needed him.

He wasn’t always the best father. Still, he tried.

Flexing his fluke, he propelled himself toward Aulax and caught the young man in his arms. Wrestling for a moment, he managed to get his son to still so that he could actually hold on to him in a grip that was as punishing as it was comforting. “I forget you are grown sometimes. I still see you as the boy who used to tug on my tail and beg me to swim with him.”

“I fail to see how that is helpful on the topic of killing yourself.”

“I am not killing myself. I have had many years to come to terms with the fact that I will not live as long as the rest of you. I also know that my sacrifice will bring about a new age of peoplewho will guide our own kind into a future with less fighting. It is a sacrifice I will gladly make so thatyourlife will be easier.” He leaned back, releasing his son so that he could look him in the eyes. “Not everyone is given the chance to become a martyr. My death is the answer to all our suffering.”

“And so that means you can be reckless?”

“It means I cannot die before my time, because I already know my end.” He flicked his fin, moving back again to his post against a jutting rock, and looked toward the city. “My fate has been decided. I will not die before that time comes, and the sea will protect me to ensure that is so.”

“I still think this is a fucking stupid idea,” his son muttered.

“Fucking?” Fortis repeated dryly. “You have been spending too much time with Ace’s sister.”

It wasn’t the first time he’d heard one of the People of Water using achromo vernacular. Many of their people were adopting phrases as they spent more and more time with the other kind. He found it to be a disgusting practice, unfortunately they were all more than welcome to waste their time on foolish words if they wished to do so.

Another ship blasted past them, sending dust scattering up from the sea floor and obscuring his vision. This was the moment when he would antagonize them. The sea had already told him that he needed to get inside of Tau. That was where his opportunity would present itself.

He wasn’t sure what that opportunity was, though. Apparently, there were many options for him to discover. The sea was helpful, though not very clear at the best of times.

Perhaps that was what his son found so disagreeable. Aulax liked things to be black and white. He wanted to know everything and anything about a plan long before he would indulge himself in pursuing it. It was a good trait that would make him an even better warrior in his later years.

Fortis had learned long ago that opportunities always presented themselves to those who had their eyes open. His son had yet to learn that, and it would take many years still for him to learn such things.

“I am proud of you,” he said, looking back at his son one more time. It wasn’t the last time he would see Aulax, even though his son feared that it would be. Perhaps it was a good idea to give his boy something to remember him by. Even though he would return soon enough. “I always have been, you know.”

“Father—”

Leaving no more time for discussion, Fortis darted out into the sea. He took a deep breath through all four of his gills and illuminated his entire body. Every tendril that hung from his sides turned bright yellow, so vivid that it would be impossible for the achromo ships to miss him. If any did, they were a worse predator than he thought they were.

And then he stayed there. Floating in the water, and waited for the next ship to come by. When the strange, oblong shape came close, he illuminated his lights even more. He was a blinding, ethereal creature from the depths and the achromos would surely feel terror the moment they saw him.

It did not take long. The achromos in Tau were smarter than the other cities, and they were far more used to dealing with his kind. They knew how to attack his people. They knew exactly what would harm him, but that wasn’t what Fortis knew he would see happen today.

“Don’t make it easy for them, father!” Aulax called out with a haunting, whale call. “Make them hunt!”

That was exactly what he had planned on doing.

He turned at the last moment and sped through the water. His tail was larger than most of his kind, and so was his body. It took longer for him to get up to speed, and that was likely notwhat the achromos were expecting. Soon enough, they would realize that he was difficult to catch.

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