Chapter 30
Instigation
A great inverse fountain of air plunged through the surface of Lake Larius sending a wave of turbulence rocking through the water. Balanoptera dived to one side, rode the initial tumble, then righted himself and swum on. Several of the bubbles detached themselves and pursued him, one pair converging on him, leaving him stranded for a moment in air. Unsupported he fell suddenly and hit the new surface hard and painfully. But, again, he righted himself quickly and swum on, angling lower.
He was unharassed for a minute or so and grinned widely as he skimmed the bottom. Then, to his surprise, the sand and silt stirred up before him, clouding the water. He was blinded for a moment, and odd echoes and chirps came through the water to his ears. A rough and gritty force pummeled him in his stomach. He grunted and lashed back reflexively, but mostly beat water to get away. Another force whacked him from the other side and then more and more. He grit his teeth and swam upwards, trying to get away from whatever it was.
With powerful strokes Balanoptera cleared the clouds and was, once more, in clear water. He steered a middle course, away from where he felt either the surface or the depths could pursue him. Ahead he saw the grooved columns of the underwater portico. He redoubled his efforts and accelerated towards it. And shadow passed above him, but he ignored it. The ground beneath seemed to ripple, but he just strove forward. At full speed he dived to pass through the arch into the interior and slammed headlong into some sort of magical force.
Shaking his head to clear it, he looked around in panic. There was no obvious pursuit, but the light was reflecting in odd parallax through the nearby water and he did not trust it. The spaces between the columns appeared open, but some force stopped him. He reared back and slammed his body against it, hoping to break it with brute force. He did so again, and again, and a third time, nearly knocking himself senseless.
Then he felt a tendril wrap around him. He thrashed quickly away and looked back, but didn't see anything. He did feel a disturbance in the water and dodged immediately away, around the side of the portico. Scanning the water he noted some swirls in the debris of the bottom and guessed it was some sort of invisible cephalopod. However he was taken by surprise when another several tentacles latched on to him.
Thrashing and rolling he spindled up the arms until he felt a heavy body against his. He then pushed off to bash it against the side of a column. He felt a satisfying thud as it connected, and a slight loosening of its grip. Balanoptera arched his back and battered it several more times against the column, knocking bits of masonry loose. On the third time he slipped to one side and with astonishment fell right through the two columns to the floor inside the portico.
The feel of the squid vanished and Balanoptera caught his breath. Looking down upon him was Waterbearer, who stood in the middle of the columns.
“Well,” she said, hesitantly. “That was a novel approach.”
Balanoptera righted himself with a bit of a swagger. He grinned, pulled a pearl from his mouth, bowed, and proffered the pearl to her. “My father praises my ingenuity!” he said.
Waterbearer indicated to an attendant who came forward to retrieve the pearl. “Indeed,” she commented. “Based on the reports I've heard while you have been attending my court, I am glad I sought to test you myself.” She began to swim back towards the main palace, and motioned him to come along.
“I have won the Crown Pearl Sprint every year since I have come of age,” Balanoptera boasted.
“What was your sister's record?” asked Waterbearer.
“I... I am not sure,” said Balanoptera, hesitantly. “She was much older than me. But I'm sure it was impressive. That is until those foul humans killed her!”
“Such a tragedy,” said Waterbearer. “Is your foster brother not the child of she who killed Sel de Mar?”
Balanoptera started to make a spitting motion, and then thought better of it. “He is no brother of mine. My father keeps him around for amusement. He is quite dull and slow witted. Like all of the humans.”
“But, still. They do have a base cunning, do they not?” she asked.
“Maybe, like an eel. But it is no match for the brilliance of Balanoptera, the King's most favored son!” he said, triumphantly. “I'll break their spines and pull out their ribs.”
“Have you fought many from the surface, then?” she asked.
“No,” he said, crestfallen. “Father forbids it. He says the time is not yet right.”
“But if the time is right, you would do so, without hesitation?”
“Of course!” he said. She paused. His eyes wandered over the following escort. He then stopped, and looked up at her. “Is the time nearly right?” he asked, eagerly.
She smiled a fixed smile. “I can see your intelligence is all you claim it to be. I can keep nothing from you!”
His chest puffed up and his swagger increased. “Whatever you need, I can do it! I'll break any of their spines and pull out their ribs.”
“What I really need is someone to lead an advanced assault force. Deep into their territory.”
“I'm the one you want!” he crowed. “I know every ocean, every current. All my friends will follow me anywhere!”
“Well, that's what is special about this,” said Waterbearer. “Deep into their territory means onto the surface. To their Magical Academy.”
Balanoptera hesitated. “I'm not sure how...”
“Magic, my dear boy, magic,” said Waterbearer. “After all, do they not come to Atlantica's court, clothed in magic with no impediment?”
“Yes,” he said forcefully. “They have started visiting. It amusing the Tritons and it's funny to watch them play with their sand castles.”
“Did you think our magic is any weaker?”
“Oh no!” said Balanoptera, shaking his head forcefully. “I'm sure your magic is a thousand times more powerful than theirs.”
“Well, as they visit you, it only seems a reasonably hospitable request for some of Atlantica's court to visit them. I will provide you with the magic. You and your... friends... will go. On the scheduled date you will attack.” She looked him up and down. “Can you do that?”
“I can do anything!” he said quickly. Then, after a pause, “What shall we attack?”
“Why don't you start with the one who killed your sister?”
Balanoptera looked surprised, then pleased. “Yes. That would be great.” His eyes narrowed. “That will put Winter in his place. I shall break the spine of his mother before him.”
“Very good,” said Waterbearer. “I'll be providing you with some very special weapons. Very magical weapons.”
“Excellent!” said Balanoptera, excited.
“They shall make you nearly invulnerable, and give you fearsome abilities to cause great damage,” she explained. “You shall be almost like a god yourself.”
“I am no stranger to that,” he said. “I am Atlantica's son. I am already almost a god!”
“I have no doubt!” said Waterbearer. “But, please, go with my armorer. She will take you to be fitted. These are... most powerful. You have a few days to train, and then everything begins.”
“I am ready, my goddess! I will happily do your bidding! You can count on me!”
“I expect I know exactly how you will do,” she said.