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.”“Yes, Emil, we have.” She smiled up at him, then turned and left him standing in the waning lamplight next to his sleeping son.≈The entry grotto stood open, only a single sentry swimming guard to confront Tailwalker as he arrived, gills pumping with exhaustion.Looking past, into the main grotto, he could see few lights; even for this late at night, the place was unduly quiet.The guard recognized him and moved aside, his lance dipping out of the way.*Welcome, Tailwalker.**Thank you, Blackscales,* he signed to the guard, gesturing curiosity with a cock of his head.*The grotto is quiet.What has happened?**The grotto is empty, or very near so,* the other signed, his own posture showing a hint of irritation.*The Voice spoke and we are at war with the landwalkers.Eelback takes our school to the grotto of the seamage where warships have anchored.Only a few remain here, those who have young broods and those who must guard.**Eelback leads them?* he signed, realizing what must have happened: while he, Quickfin and Chaser were absent, Eelback had taken the opportunity to martial the school to his cause.At the guard’s nod, he signed, *My father, the Trident Holder?* he asked.*Broadtail is in his grotto, Tailwalker.The Voice allowed him to stay with his new brood.The warships are strong, and we would not risk our Trident Holder in the fight.**Thank you, Blackscales.I regret that I was not here for The Voice.**And I regret that I was chosen to stay and guard,* he signed with a nod and a tail-flick of irritation.Tailwalker nodded his understanding and darted off to his father’s grotto.The channels and tunnels of the mer city were eerily quiet, and he wondered how large a force had been sent to confront the landwalker warships.He knew how persuasive Eelback could be.Outside Broadtail’s grotto he made the deep thrum of announcement and waited.He fidgeted nervously, wondering if his father had decided to go to battle after all.He made the call again, and almost instantly the draping curtain of woven weeds was swept aside and his father swam there, his colors flushed with irritation.*Tailwalker!* The Trident Holder’s colorations swept through the spectrum, from irritation to joy to anger, then back to a more subdued displeasure.*Your jaunt to follow the seamage to the burning island went well, I hope?**Father, much has happened, both here and at the burning island.* He ducked his head in respectful submission.*I regret not informing you that I was going with Chaser, but let us put that in our wake and discuss matters.The firemage that Seamage Flaxal’s Heir has befriended has gained Odea’s blessing as well!**Odea’s blessing!* Broadtail backpaddled his fins, retreating into his grotto and motioning for Tailwalker to follow.*How could Odea give her blessings to a firemage?**I do not know, Father,* he signed as he entered, noting immediately the disarray of a home with a new brood of finlings.Items that were usually carefully stored in nooks and crevices of the coral walls were strewn all over the floor, or floated about on the eddies of current.The tiny faces of a dozen or so of the finlings, almost as long as his hand now, peeked out from behind some of the items, and from the nooks where the items belonged.The sight lightened his heart — his sisters and brothers were growing quickly — but the matters at hand still weighed heavily on him.*I felt Odea’s power come with that of the fire god, Father.I do not know why it happened, but when the sun was but a crescent, their power came together and the mountain’s fire rose up on the winds.**This is news indeed!* Broadtail signed, swishing his tail in thought.*This could mean…**That Seamage Flaxal’s Heir was right!* Tailwalker finished for him, flipping his tail excitedly.*Odea has befriended the burning god, as she has befriended the firemage!**Perhaps.We will see when they return, I suppose, if the seamage will even sign to us after our attack of the landwalker warships.* He swished his tail in irritation.*If only the landwalkers had not brought warships while she was away! By the time she returns, it will be too late!**When will we attack?**That is Eelback’s decision, but I do not think he will wait long before the sun rises.**I must go, then,* Tailwalker signed, making the gesture of taking his leave.*You cannot dissuade him, my son [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]