“Oh, the sea will sing of this day!” The Knight-Commander was a blaze of green and gold in the water, his eyes alight with battle-rage. “Destroy the traitors utterly, my knights! Let this be the hour that the sharks are finally hurled back into the abyss, outcast from the Empire for once and for all!”

The Knights of the First Water roared back their approval, the entire ocean trembling with their gathered wrath. Sea dragons met sharks, upraised claws matched against tearing teeth. Scales of every hue flashed in brilliant contrast to the sharks’ dull greys.

Amidst the sea-shaking thunder of battle-song, John was the only silent voice. Though his fellow knights were filled with the righteous delight of testing their strength against worthy opponents, he could not join in their chorus of joy. He had no heart for it.

His heart was gone, fled across the sea.

Why, my mate, my Empress, why? He called out for her down the mate bond, but only silence met his anguished plea. Why do you run? What do you fear? Why do you not trust me to help you?

He had told her that he would face any danger for her, confront any challenge. He had thought that she had believed him. And yet still she had fled. She had thought his little sister a more worthy protector than him.

Oh my mate, my heart, have I failed you so badly?

There was only one thing he could do. He would follow her, and find her, and win back her trust. Whatever it was that she feared, he would show her that he was strong enough to face it with her.

John extended his claws, his markings glowing with new resolve. He dove at the nearest swirl of combat. He would fight his way to his mate’s side, even if it meant swimming through an ocean of blood.

A dozen sharks scattered at his charge, abandoning the knight that they had been harassing. John was surprised by the pack’s cowardice. A single shark was no match for a sea dragon, but in numbers the sharks’ superior speed and maneuverability made them deadly foes. It was not like them to retreat from confrontation so readily.

“My thanks, Knight-Poet,” his fellow knight sang. Despite his wounds, he laughed, bloodlust lighting his eyes. “It seems even the sharks have heard of your great poem! See how they fear your power!”

John left him to pursue the fleeing sharks, turning instead to help another knight who was beset by foes. As before, the sharks immediately broke off at his approach. No matter how he chased them, they refused to turn and give fight.

This is very odd.

John curved his body in an arc, bringing himself to a halt. His futile pursuit had brought him close to the surface. Hovering in the water like a hawk in the sky, he surveyed the battle below.

He was the only knight not engaged in bitter combat. Every other sea dragon was mobbed by sharks, wheeling and darting around them. So far, the sea dragons’ superior discipline was holding the sharks at bay, but more were arriving by the minute.

Now’s our chance! his inner human urged. Go, while everyone else is busy! Run to our mate!

John hesitated, torn. Honor demanded that he fight alongside his brother-knights until the foe was vanquished…but his inner human had a point. What if this attack was but a diversionary tactic? What if even now, another force of sharks was hunting down the Empress-in-Waiting?

Below, the vast shape of the Master Shark loomed out of the depths. Jaws agape, he hurtled straight up toward the Knight-Commander, who was preoccupied fighting a pack of great whites.

Without thought, John dove down to defend his superior. There was no time for subtlety or poetry now. Claws extended, he flashed past the Knight-Commander, ready to meet the Master Shark head-on.

The megalodon saw him coming…and the great maw snapped closed. The shark turned, aborting its attack. John was so startled, he aborted his as well, fanning out his webbed feet to halt his dive.

The megalodon circled away, one cold eye fixed on him. With a sharp movement of its tail, it sought to rush past him, but John blocked its path to the Knight-Commander with his own body.

“Brethren!” he sang, keeping his claws raised and ready. “Defend the Knight-Commander!”

Three knights sang back in answer, flashing through the water towards them. The Master Shark turned to meet their charge, jaws opening once again. The megalodon seemed to have no hesitation about attacking these challengers.

John gathered himself to join the assault—but found his own way blocked by a green-and-gold finned tail.

“Wait,” the Knight-Commander said, eyes narrowing. Thin ribbons of blood spiraled around his reddened claws, slowly dispersing. “Did the Master Shark just flee from you?”

“I cannot explain it, sir. No shark seems willing to face me. A brother-knight suggested that perhaps they fear that I might part the sea again.”

“Perhaps,” the Knight-Commander said slowly, harmonies of doubt clear in his tone. His assessing gaze flicked from John to the battling Master Shark, and back again. His song turned more thoughtful. “Or perhaps they have been ordered to turn aside from you…”

John rippled his length in a shrug, dismissing the mystery. There were more urgent matters at hand now. “Sir, we must not lose sight of our greater purpose here. Where is the Empress-in-Waiting? Is she too in danger of ambush?”

The Knight-Commander hesitated, turning his head to stare into an empty patch of water. The green glow of his eyes turned to pure, brilliant gold. John knew that he was using his powers as a Seer to scry out Neridia’s location.

The Knight-Commander blinked, his eyes returning to their normal hue. “I can still see your sister, although her rider is hidden from my sight. There are no sharks near them. You need not fear for your mate, Knight-Poet.”

“Nonetheless, sir, I must go to her,” John said, in a stern melody that bordered on being an outright command. “I must stop her from this inexplicable, disastrous flight. I swear that I will do whatever it takes to bring her home.”

The Knight-Commander stared at him for a long moment, a still point in the maelstrom of battle raging all around. John had the distinct impression that his superior was engaged in furious mental calculation.

“You are quite correct, Knight-Poet,” he said, his tone still thoughtful. “We must not lose sight of our true purpose.”

John let out his breath in relief, bubbles trickling from his nostrils. “Then I have your permission to quit the field of battle, sir?”

“We shall both go.” The Knight-Commander swirled, heading for the open sea. “Come, Knight-Poet. And stay close by my side.”