Page 90 of Prince of Tides
Up ahead, the enemy vanguard was in full pursuit of the retreating dragons, though they were unable to catch up. However, I wasn’t concerned with that because more beasts from the depths approached from either side, coming on in overwhelming numbers.
Enshalla and I came to a stop directly in between the two pincers. With a roar, I turned the Trident sideways and sent twin whirlpools of water sailing out in either direction, expanding in size as they increased their distance.
The enemy forces were swept up in this attack, spun around, and stalled as the rear ranks ran into a wall of water and bodies. Some escaped, but Enshalla made quick work of the few who made it to us.
The outer defenders arrived and raced past while I guarded their rear, striking down stragglers. It was a race between Enshalla’s snout and the Trident to see which one got there first.
“Sir!” Suh said as I surfaced at the opening of the Bastions’ arms, where dragons and dragon-men waited in ranks for the enemy.
“They’re coming,” I said while Enshalla floated beneath me, most of his body underwater. “You must hold. Bunch them up as tight as you can, Suh. But youmust hold.”
“We will,” Suh said solemnly. “On our lives, my prince.”
“I’m afraid it might come to that,” I said, turning to look. “Here they come.”
Suh nodded, and we dove. I longed to stay at the front of the wall of dragons, but that was not my part in the battle; I knew that. While my people fought the individual tentacles of the ancient enemy, it was my job to deal with the beast as a whole.
The forces collided with a tremendous roar that was felt more than heard underwater. Suh, at their front, wielded the spear. Black ink from fallen bodies quickly colored the water, blinding the Tidal Clan troops.
I reached out, and the water swirled, pushing the inkiness away until it dissipated, ensuring my men could always see. The wall of creatures thickened as the enemy forces bunched up at the entrance to the Bastion. The pressure grew on my men and women, and dragons began to fall.
Gritting my teeth, I refrained from acting. Now was not the time. I hated myself for it, but I knew I was risking more death if I moved too soon. It had to be just right.
“Sir!” Suh said via sonar as he dove back for a moment. “We can’t hold much longer.”
“Hold!”I pulsed back.
Enshalla shifted uncomfortably underneath me.
Suh didn’t argue. He turned and raced back into the thick of it, leaving a wall of dead, dissipating bodies in his wake.
I knew I may have just sentenced my friend to death. But I had to do what was best. Such was the price of being the prince.
The dragon lines were pushed back. And back. The enemy nearly had control of the tiny channel between the arms of the Bastion.
Under me, Enshalla whinnied, the sonar ping an angry, impatient thing.
“Yes,” I said to him. “I think you’re right.”
Angling forward, Enshalla didn’t wait for another signal. He shot us forward at incredible speed. Water swirled around me, twisting into a violent maelstrom as I shot through an opening in the lines. The edges grew white as they twisted sharply around me, digging into the black around me.
The bodies of the enemy were packed so tightly it looked like I was moving through black water. Hundreds died every second as the water itself tore their bodies to shreds from moving so fast. I reached the center of the mass of their position and dove for the ocean floor. The maelstrom around me grew more violent by the moment, swirling around and around.
Glowing bright blue-green, I held the spear aloft and pumped it at the belly of the enemy with a cry, unleashing the full power of the weapon.
Water spun upward as the entireoceangroaned and began to shift. The enemy, sensing what was about to happen, altered course and began to retreat in all directions. But it was too late.
The arms of the spinning water reached out and grabbed more and more in their grip, spinning wider and wider. I floated on Enshalla’s back in less than ten feet of water while above me, the ocean parted, revealing the night sky.
Such was the pull of the maelstrom that hundreds and thousands of our enemies were swimming away, only to find themselves moving backward. The waters spun and twisted, shredding them as I held the Trident high, my arm shaking as power flowed through it, decimating the enemy ranks.
At some point, I started screaming, though I had no idea what I was saying. I was too caught up in the power streaming through my body and the Trident.
Eventually, the waters closed in above me, and the sea calmed. The bodies of the enemy dissipated into inky nothingness and were carried away on the currents until it was calm.
I slipped from Enshalla’s back and patted him on the side.
Thank you.
