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us?”
    â€œHow come the mariners train so often?” asked a tiger from Taj. “Are you taking us to war without our approval?”
    Oopret tried to regain control. That was the First Court Shark’s job, but he was new to it. Tydal nodded to Xander, who bellowed, “IF YOU’D SHUT YER COD HOLES, MAYBE YOU’D GET SOME ANSWERS!”
    This was highly ill-mannered, but it did get results. Xander and his mariners sometimes enforced a call for silence with a ram to the gills to quiet any who didn’t stop speaking. It was remarkably persuasive. This time, no such action was needed, and the court grew quiet. The Indi throne was built so that the current would carry Tydal’s words without his having to shout. Thank goodness for that because Tydal didn’t think he
could
shout. His mouth felt dry, although he didn’t know how that could be possible.
    â€œYou’re all asking about the same thing: Grimkahn and his jurassic horde. They are the reason the mariners have been training. They are heading this way to destroy us.” Silence. Tydal had expected an uproar but everyone in the court was stunned. The leader of the Charavyuh, a more thoughtful shark than the others, waggled a fin to speak.
    Tydal nodded to Oopret, who said, “The minister prime recognizes Sawtooth of clan Charavyuh.” Sawtooth, who had been a battle fin leader for the Indi armada in his youth, asked, “Do you have a plan so that won’t happen?”
    Tydal leaned forward. “We can’t guard the shiver sharks and fight Grimkahn at the same time. In fact, Seazarein Graynoldus tells me that alone we don’t have a chance at all.” This did get a reaction and there were panicked cries from some. Tydal raised his voice to settle everyone. “But there is a way. I’ve been in quickfin communication with Graynoldus and other shiver leaders. We will unite with the Seazarein’s force. Everyone who can fight, no matter how old, is asked to rejoin the armada. We cannot leave a large group of defenseless sharkkind and dwellers without protection, so all shiver sharks must disperse from the Indi homewaters. The reason for this is that Grimkahn and Hokuu have been eating everyone they find.” The rumbles grew louder and Tydal raised his voice to an undignified level. He didn’t care.
    â€œI understand that abandoning our homewaters and going to war is not a great course of action,” he shouted. “But it is the only option that I can see. I ask that the royal families support my decision wholeheartedly. If we do not swim together, we will surely be sent to the Sparkle Blue separately.” The royals hovered silently, thinking about this. Tydal went on, “As a bonus, I will be leaving with the mariner force. Who knows, one of you might be king or queen within the week. But only if there’s a shiver and homewaters left to rule. We must win this fight first.”
    Tydal settled back onto the throne. The royals spoke low among themselves. It was Sawtooth who swam forward. Tydal nodded for him to speak. “We didn’t like you when you were chosen to rule by Seazarein Graynoldus. We liked it even less when the AuzyAuzy mariners were left here. But you’ve proven to be a good leader that doesn’t play favorites. If it’s a choice between you and certain death, we choose you.”
    Tydal chuckled. “So I win over certain death? It seems there’s a first time for everything.”
    Though Tydal didn’t plan on saying anything like it, the small joke worked wonders. The tension in the court released like a water bladder being burst. Soon he was laughing so hard there were tears in his eyes. And for the first time in a long time, Indi Shiver was united toward a common goal.
    But now came the harder part . . .
    Winning.

CHAPTER 10
    VELENKA SWAM BY HERSELF BEHIND GRAY, Barkley, Leilani, Takiza, and the rest of the Seazarein’s