Called

by E J Pay

  As I turn to face Celia, I realize I have taken too much time with Pisces’ battle. She is bearing down on me from above with her sword drawn, tiny crystals of ice still stuck to her armor. She is still cold and it has slowed her down. I raise my shield just in time for her blow to glance off. She raises her sword again, and I raise my mace and swing with everything I have. My mace wraps mercilessly around Celia’s frozen sword, snapping it in two. Just then, she swings her shield in so that it catches the chain of my mace and knocks it out of my hand. In a flash, her mace is drawn and overhead. I call for Pisces just as I raise my shield to protect my head from her strike. She hits my shield and raises her mace again. Pisces hears my cry and rushes from the stingray, slamming into Celia’s right side. Her stingray companion is not far behind and pushes Pisces into the wall of the ring while he is distracted. Pisces is knocked momentarily unconscious by the blow and I push myself up from the ground with my feet so I can reach him. I leave my shield behind in the sand.

  Before I can make it to Pisces, Celia is standing over me, mace raised. “Do you concede land-brat?”

  “Celia. I have to see to Pisces, he’s hurt.”

  “Fish will be hurt in battle and you’ll be killed too if you lose your focus to care for them.” Celia’s stingray swims up behind her and floats silently at her side. I can feel him echoing her sentiments.

  My body is screaming at me for all I have put it through and my mind can only scream to Pisces. I feel his consciousness returning, though he lay still on the ocean floor.

  “I repeat, Land Brat. Do you concede?” I feel Pisces reach out to my mind.

  You must concede, Evelyn. If this were battle, you’d be dead by now. Shame fills me as I realize I have been foolish.

  “Yes, Celia, I concede. The battle is yours.”

  Celia removes her helmet, shakes out her hair and looks down at me again. The ice crystals that covered her before, are swiftly disappearing from the heat of the battle. She raises her head again in a triumphant glare. Turning to the group, she says, “Let this be a lesson to each of you. Lose your focus for even a moment and you will lose as Evelyn just did. Dismissed.” The other recruits watch for a second or two, waiting to see if Celia will leave me alone or if I am going to make a move against her.

  Normally, following a training battle, the winner is supposed to help the loser from the ocean floor and see that their needs are met. Celia just turns from me and swims out of the training ring with her stingray by her side. In a moment, a conscious, but groggy Pisces is by my side and my group mates make their way slowly to the mess hall.

  Are you okay, Evelyn? Are you critically injured?

  No, Pisces. I am sore but I am well. How are you? Any injury you cannot heal from?

  A cool chuckle rises from the consciousness of the large fish.

  I may be old, but I am still able to recover from a fight with a slippery stingray.

  I’m hungry, let’s go to the mess hall and see if there’s any food left.

  I pull myself off the ground and Pisces and I head to the armor stalls. Just as we reach the long row of stalls, a reverberating sound echoes throughout the chamber and throughout all of Atlantis. It is deep and ominous and low. It strikes again. Though I have never heard it before, I know what that sound is. It is the war gong. We are going to battle for real now. Training is over.

  Chapter 18

  Chaos is everywhere. I am nearly over-run as thousands of my people, the two-worlders, flock to the battle equipment stalls. I recognize many of the faces that swim around me. Haven’t I been swimming with them for months? But something is different in each face – in the expression each bears. I see fear. I see determination. I see strength. Several of my comrades are like robots, going through the motions of putting on their armor and strapping on their weapons. I am exhausted from the training battles of the day, but I feel a new surge of energy within me as the anticipation of all I have trained for approaches. Like everyone else, I strap land lights to my back. Whatever it is that powers Atlantis does not extend beyond the edge of the city.

  I make my way through the mayhem with Pisces. We are on our way to our battle stations. At the edge of the training field is the ancient Atlantean wall. It once ringed the edge of Atlantis several stories high, but over the years the sand of the ocean has buried the wall and surrounding area so that now its height is only a single story. The training field lies shore side of the wall, on the other side is… well, there is nothing. It is open, empty ocean on the other side of that wall. Just a few hundred yards downslope is where the new armies of Atlantis gather in their battalions to receive further instruction.

  I move into position and am soon joined by the rest of Celia’s group of 10 within Jack’s group of 50. The leader of each group of 50 stands at the forefront of his or her band. The formation takes shape as groups of 50 become groups of 250 then groups of 1,000. Each group of 10,000 has its own chief captain. Uncle Russ is ours.

  Soon, the field is covered with two-worlders. Pisces follows me to my position and then leaves for his own. The fish of the sea are in two groups in the center of the formation on the field, legged recruits on the right, finned two-worlders on the left. There are over 40,000 fighters in Atlantis’ army. Uncle Russ stands with the other three chief captains at the head of the army. Lady Pescara, General of the Army of Atlantis, faces her novice followers.

  “We have received word that the army of Ceto has just crossed the Eastern border of the Atlantic sea. She and her army are moving with ferocious speed. They will be here by week’s end. But I ask you, army of Atlantis, will we sit here and wait for their arrival?”

  With a thunderous noise, the entire army shouts their response, “NO!” Shields are waved and weapons are pounded on them. The noise is deafening. My heart races at what is taking place all around me. Lady Pescara raises her arm into the air and the crowd is silenced.

  “Will you follow me in a flight of our own to meet this unworthy foe in battle?”

  “Yes!” is the thunderous reply.

  “We will not be defeated! Atlantis must remain unscathed! We will protect our home! We will protect the sea!”

  The entire army erupts into cheers and yells. Again, weapons hammer against the shields of soldiers as they cheer for their general. I join in the action, the moment is so exhilarating.

  “Remember your training, my people. Remember your home. Follow me and we will see ourselves conquerors!” With her battle sword raised high in the air, Lady Pescara turns to face the dark sea before us. Uncle Russ comes to stand before his group of 10,000. He raises both hands high into the air and draws from us a fearful shout. The other chief captains do the same and soon the entire army is again a mass of shouts and yells. In this formation, we swim forward, following our fearless leaders. Celia swims just to the left of me as the leader of our group. I am feeling such camaraderie that even her nearness cannot bother me. Her face is exultant as she leads us toward the battle. This is what she has been training for and she is ready. I take confidence in this, my foe of only a few hours ago. We may have our differences, but Celia and I are now united in cause. And that cause is Atlantis. Our joint enemy is Ceto, an octopus woman. My aunt.

  My armor is light as I swim with all my might in this Atlantean army. We race toward our foe with increased speed as those with power to control currents propel us forward from behind. In the space of an hour, we have crossed over hundreds of miles of ocean terrain. One hour becomes two and two becomes four. At first, the excitement of the upcoming battle is buzzing throughout the troops. Then as the journey continues late into the night, a hush spreads over our ranks. The efforts I expended during the day creep up on me. I am tired, very tired. I see weariness on the faces of my companions. We are going to be heading into this battle fatigued.

  Countless hours later, with only one stop for rest, I am wearily considering our situation. Jack swims up next to me and addresses me. “Evelyn, Lady Pescara has issued an order that you are to r
emain in the rear, on the right flank.” Celia is at our sides in an instant.

  “What is this, Captain Jack? Is there an order from Lady Pescara for me?” she asks.

  “Not for your entire group, Celia. Just for Evelyn. She is to remain in the rear for the duration of the battle.”

  “Why should she be separated from her group of 10? We have trained together. This can only weaken my group.” The fatigue Celia is battling shows in her willingness to question a direct order. I know it is gut wrenching for her to have to express a need for me in any way.

  Jack stretches taller until his head is higher than both Celia and me. “Leader Celia. You have heard orders that you are to obey. We are heading into battle, not into a diplomatic conference. Here, you obey first and ask questions later. Do you understand?”

  Celia’s eyes narrow ever so slightly and resignation creeps onto her face. “I understand, Captain.”

  “Good,” says Jack. “Return to the head of your group. Evelyn, come with me.” Celia swims back, her posture stiff and her head high, to the front of her band of 10. Jack turns from me and swims to the outer right of the formation. Since I am under orders to go with him, I follow. I am tired, but this change in events has awakened my senses and I feel myself more alert.

  Beneath our collective feet and fins, I see nothing but blackness. The ocean floor is nowhere to be seen. Even so, we are at least two hundred feet below the surface of the sea. I feel strangely cold as I realized that, other than our massive army, there is no life around us. Apprehension fills me. The creatures of the sea must be in hiding. Nobody wants to be seen.

  A few minutes later, very near the back of the entire army, Jack pauses and turns to me. As the army continues on, we are dropping back even farther. I am anxious to rejoin the safety of the larger group and anxious to learn why I am so far separated from them. Allowing us to fall behind, Jack comes close to my face so that my eyes cannot be turned from him. He speaks in tones so low, I have to lean in to hear him.

  “Evelyn, I did not allow Celia to ask any questions, but I will answer some that I am sure you must have right now. You know that you have talents in speaking with the air that lingers above the water. You cannot possibly understand what that means in the history of our people and what it means in the war we have now entered. It is a rare talent that can be developed into a powerful skill. You have not had time to learn those skills. Your comrades will be at the front lines. We cannot risk sending you there. Your talents are needed too much. For this battle, you are being ordered to sit in the back. You are not to engage in battle.”

  Shock and revulsion fill me. How can I not fight? How can I let my group go into battle with everyone else and I not be a part of it? I will be branded a coward and will lose their trust. My emotions register on my face and Jack raises his chin into the air in an act of authority. He continues, “Ceto will have spies and they will be on the lookout for someone with special skills. Even if you only display the remaining four skills you have, it will be enough to make you a prime target.” His expression softens for a moment. Just long enough for him to say, “You are too valuable. We cannot lose you.”

  I know I need to respond now and think later. “Yes, sir,” I say in as confident an air as I can intone. I raise my chin as Jack did and look him boldly in the eye.

  Jack grabs both of my shoulders with his hands. We were already close, but this movement brings us even closer. “I don’t want to see you get hurt, Evelyn. You have become too valuable to me.” He pulls me close and presses his lips against my forehead as he did when I first breathed water. I melt into the kiss and forget everything around me. I know no battle. I know no war. I only know that a burning is growing within me for this person.

  As I lean into his body, Jack releases my arms and swims away to his band of 50. I am still for a moment, relishing the warmth of his touch. But I am brought back to reality when that cold, empty ocean water swirls around me as the last of the recruits passes by. I am at the rear and it is time to get moving. I pull myself into place at the back of the army, trying to figure out what I am supposed to do if I am not going to fight.

  Suddenly, an explosion of water, light, and sound stun me. The commotion is maybe 500 yards in front of our army. No doubt, we have finally come face to face with Ceto’s army. The battle is about to begin.

  Chapter 19

  Without me. The battle is beginning without me. My entire body is on edge and ready to go. This is what I have been training for. This is what I am prepared to do. With Jack’s orders still fresh in my mind, my heart tears away from the thoughts of his warmth. My left hand grips my shield, and with my right hand I pull my mace free from my belt. I swim forward and am instantly thrust to the side by Pisces.

  “Pisces! What are you doing here?!” I yell at my friend and battle companion, “We should be engaged in the battle, not sitting aside watching our companions do the work for us!” I feel rage filling me, almost to the point of overflow. I am determined to get into that fight and defeat Ceto. I will do it alone if I have to. I can’t sit back and watch everyone else do my part.

  Pisces swims close enough for me to mount him, but I sense enough tenseness in his body, that I know I will not be welcome on his back. He, too, would rather be in the fight.

  “Young one,” he says in a firm and clipped voice, “I am here to protect you and make sure you remain in the rear as directed. I will not be moved from my orders and resolve. Too high a prize is at stake!”

  I know he means that my talents are too valuable to our army. That somehow it is okay for everyone else to be hurt. I am too special for that. I have to be kept safe. I have to be protected. I have to be held in the back like a defenseless baby until everyone else has proven themselves worthy. Lady Pescara must have known that a new recruit who trained for battle would be reluctant to obey orders to stand down. Pisces was sent here to enforce the order I’d been given.

  With anger and frustration toward all those who want to control every move I make – Lady Pescara, my mother, Celia, Jack, and now Pisces – I strike forward, determined to barrel into the gargantuan fish. This is a mistake. Before I can make it, Pisces swivels his gigantic body sideways, blocking my path. I swim full force into his decorated armor. The water is temporarily knocked out of me and I float backward several feet.

  “Young one, I will not let you pass.”

  Infuriated by his obstinacy in forcing me to stay put, I pull up my shield and charge again, this time faking my forward motion and diving downward at the last minute. This also proves to be a useless effort. Pisces merely dives on top of me and slams me further down. Pain shoots through my back, just under the place he hits my armor. I let out an audible gasp and cry from the injury.

  “Young one. We can go all day and all night in this manner or you can obey the orders you have been given. As for me, I will obey my orders. I will not let you pass.”

  I feel the tenseness and determination in all of Pisces’ thoughts. I know he will not give up. Many hundred feet ahead of us now, the battle is growing. Ceto’s army is nearly as large as the army of Atlantis. Those in the back of the formation are not yet engaged in the fight, but I know it will be that way for only a few more minutes. I know I will have to watch them engage, every last one of them, and I can do nothing to help. Nothing to do in behalf of my new-found people. In complete mental defeat, I turn my face up to Pisces.

  “I submit, Pisces. I will not fight.” Hot tears fill my eyes as my oldest sea friend swims beneath me so I can mount him.

  “I am glad for your willingness, my young friend. I feel your anguish at not being able to fight when you have trained so well. But trust me, Evelyn, you will live now to fight for another day and be a far greater asset to this great sea home we share.” I mount his back slowly, feeling the swelling begin beneath my armor from the blows I received from my protector. Pisces is more gentle than usual as he waits and even aids me in climbing onto his saddle. “We cannot remain far behind or we dr
aw attention to ourselves,” he says. My eyes sweep the sea before us. Three hundred yards or more now separate us from the Army of Atlantis. We are like sitting ducks. I hold tightly to Pisces’ reins and lean down toward his head as he shoots through the water. I am going to have to be so near the fight I can be disguised as a fighter, but I will not be able to do anything. Dread fills my stomach as we approach the fray.

  When are only ten yards from the last battalion of two-worlders, I look up to the back of the line and see Gwen. There is no mistaking that dark hair and her confident posture as she turns from the battle toward Pisces and me. In my months beneath the sea, I have never seen her face. I am shaken and confused. The world around me swirls again as my mind races to understand what I cannot yet see.

  With our mental link still close and strong, Pisces feels my surprise register within him. He is caught off guard and looks to see where the source of my perplexity is. Just as his eyes raise to see Gwen, she raises her hand and a huge smile spreads across her face. She looks happy to see me. Happy to have finally found me. How long has she been waiting to find me here? How long has she been in Atlantis without my noticing? She was kissing James the last time I saw her.

  Out of nowhere, a swarm of Octopi swims from beneath the battle. They congregate quickly and head in our direction. Pisces senses the bent of their course and turns to swim in the opposite direction. I was lost in my thoughts at seeing Gwen and have to re-grasp the rein. I nearly slip from the fish twice as he creates a zig-zag pathway in the ocean, darting right, left, up, down, and even diagonally to avoid the oncoming enemy. His general course has altered and he is leading us closer to the Army of Atlantis even as he is darting away from the sleek, bulging heads. Inky, blinding blots shoot around my head more than once as Pisces avoids their sloppy aim.