I curled my fingers over the bottommost loop of rope on my right hand.
“W-we have summoned the nearest army, Your Majesty, and they will be coming from the Ice Channel—”
“Obviously! What about the south?”
Before the merman could answer, someone shouted in the distance. Then, several things happened at once. The merman turned to look. Adaro whirled back to me. A high-pitched squeaking filled the water—and I tugged loose my right hand.
My heart gave an enormous leap, pumping adrenaline through my veins. Adaro’s crimson eyes widened. In his moment of surprise, I untangled my left wrist with shaking hands.
Adaro roared. He swung the iron rod at me, slicing the water so close that I felt a sting across my waist.
I tore free and lunged for the longblade on the floor. My fingers closed around the hilt and I flipped over, swinging with all the strength I had. Adaro sucked back—and then the current churned. The serpent was coming to help her master.
This was not the time to try and fight. Without a thought, I shot away as fast as I could.
The high-pitched chorus became louder—squealing, chirping, whistling, like a flock of birds.
Someone in its midst shouted again.
I had no time to think. I kept swimming, lungs aching for breath. I hadn’t had enough of a head start on the serpent, and she was much too close. I would never be able to outstrip her. I dove and slid into a groove in the coral, sharing the space with a rockfish.
The current pulsed as the jaws snapped at my tail.
“Blubberforce!” shouted the voice. At least, that was what it sounded like.
I swung the longblade at the serpent. It ricocheted off her snout. She grabbed it, snapping it in two, and tossed the pieces aside.
“Blubberforce, attack!”
I finally placed the voice. But it couldn’t be. Was I going mad?
The squealing and chattering grew so loud I had the urge to cover my ears.
The serpent snapped both heads around with a deep huff.
A rush of something blindingly white came towards us. They had long, lumpy, rotund bodies, squishy foreheads, tiny eyes, and mouths that seemed to curve in a smirk.
“Spio?!” I said, my voice a pitch to match the belugas.
The pod split, going wide around the serpent. Adaro, Nestor, and the messenger merman raised arms to fight but seemed unsure of where to swing.
Another voice rose over the din, familiar, feminine, blissful in my ears. “Mee, where are you?”
My heart swelled. Was this really happening? Pain and happiness and numb shock swamped me at once.
She pelted towards me, golden hair flowing among at least fifty white belugas. They engulfed the serpent like a large-scale swarm of bees. While not particularly quick swimmers, they were significantly smaller than the serpent and made tight turns and easy double-backs.
“Attack!” shouted Spio, raising his bag overhead.
Lysi found me in the coral and extended a hand. I seized it. She pulled me out.
“Lysi.” Her name came as a sob.
She shoved me towards the open water. “Go!”
“Lysi, how—? Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine! Go.”
