by Brandon Mull
Trying to save the island sanctuary was a noble purpose. But Knox was mainly here to try to save Seth. And if Kendra was trapped in that cavern, not only Seth was in trouble, but another cousin as well.
Knox grabbed a fistful of sand and squeezed it. Why had he come on this undersea adventure? He had thought maybe he could do something to help.
Everyone had been captured but him. When was he going to get a better chance to help? To do something that mattered? To make up for the trouble he had caused?
Was he really going to run away the first time nobody was watching? The first time everything depended on him? He remembered himself bragging about his bravery at the victory feast at Stormguard Castle. What if they could see him now?
It helped nobody for him to throw his life away. But he could at least check to see if there was a chance to free the others. If he freed them, he wouldn’t be alone anymore. He would have their help. They might all escape.
He didn’t have a weapon. He had dropped his spear when the spine pricked him. When he had looked a moment ago, the weapon was gone.
All the weapons were gone.
Unless you counted the unicorn horn and the sack of gales. He remembered Kendra explaining that unicorn horns couldn’t be stolen. That had to be why Remulon had left it.
Knox wondered how it would work if he tried to pick it up. What if he wasn’t trying to steal it? What if his intent was to return it to Kendra? The horn was the weapon Kendra had grabbed before Remulon attacked. Did she know it would hurt the demon?
With many glances over his shoulder, Knox started crawling backward. If things stayed quiet, he would at least take a look inside the cavern. If the effort got him captured or killed, at least he would have done his best. But he needed to think positively. If he was quiet and smart, maybe he could save the others.
At the end of the coral tunnel, Knox paused, listening intently. If Remulon was waiting for him to exit, this could be the end of life as he knew it. He backed out and looked around, but he saw no sign of the octopus.
Knox rose cautiously to his feet. Stepping quietly, he walked over to the unicorn horn, crouched down, and gently touched the side of it, half expecting to get shocked. After he rubbed the pearly surface of the unicorn horn without any problem, he picked it up, along with the sack of gales beneath it.
The horn felt good in his hand, almost like a knife. If Remulon came out of the cavern at this moment, at least Knox had something to stab him with.
Except what if Remulon just shot more tentacle darts at him? There might not be a chance to poke the octopus. Kendra had carried the horn too, and it had done her no good.
What about the sack of gales? Would it even bother Remulon? It was hard to predict how the sack would work underwater. Knox knew if he opened it, he might get blown all over the ocean. If he opened it right now, the rush of air might thrust him straight back into the razor coral.
Knox walked into the wide mouth of the cavern. The cave didn’t go far straight back from the entrance, but branched off to the left farther than he could see. The crystal he wore seemed brighter in the shade of the cavern. He covered it with his hand.
Progressing deeper into the cave felt forbidding. Was it smart to blunder onward? What if he ran into Remulon? He might find his friends. But would Remulon have left them unguarded?
Instead of turning left and going deeper into the cave, Knox tiptoed to the back wall of the entrance. There were enough large stones that he could easily hide. From where he stood, he could see out the mouth of the cavern to the razor coral and the electric kelp.
It might be best to meet Remulon on the most favorable ground he could find. With his back against the wall of the cave, maybe he could avoid getting blown around by the sack of gales. It would be risky, but so was any option at this point. If he found Kendra and the others and managed to free them, what were the chances of their escaping without the giant octopus hunting them down?
Maybe his best option would be to surprise Remulon. Hold the showdown where he would have the best chance. He wanted to control how the encounter happened. Knox decided to yell something, then paused. He needed to call from outside the cavern or the acoustics might give him away.
Knox ran out of the mouth of the cavern onto the sand. “Kendra?” he called loudly. “Can you hear me? Where are you?”
As he raced back to the rear wall of the cavern entrance, he heard a faint reply. “Knox! Get out of here! Run!” Her voice was faint, but he could tell she was yelling. She probably thought he was so stupid! Maybe she was right. . . .
Knox reached the back wall and huddled down among the rocks, clutching his crystal tightly to conceal the light. Knox foresaw three possibilities: Remulon would either return from outside the cave, emerge from inside the cave, or not respond.
Knox didn’t have to wait long to find out. The enormous black octopus came gliding out from deeper inside the cave, tentacles winding and rippling. Remulon passed where Knox was hiding and drifted out the entrance.
Where are you, frail human? Remulon called out mentally. Deeper in the coral, perhaps. Imagining yourself secure? I see you took the horn. Do you think it frightens me? I am not diseased. It would be a minor irritant at worst.
Knox tried to keep his cool. Was he really going to do this? He didn’t have much choice left. By calling out, he had committed.
The giant black octopus glided closer to the coral. Why so silent? Will you cower in there until your elixir wears off? I have a safe air pocket where you can survive. It is your only hope. Do not vex me by remaining hidden.
Knox stood up, braced himself against the back wall, and opened the sack of gales. Some little sound he made caused Remulon to look back at him at the last second, red eyes intense. A storm of bubbles gushed from the mouth of the sack, astonishing in volume and velocity. The geyser of air blasted out of the cave mouth and into Remulon.
A single tentacle lashed out with blinding speed, clinging to a projection of stone at the mouth of the cave. The other tentacles flapped and flailed in the violent gust of bubbles, a couple getting sheared off as they hit the coral. The one tentacle anchoring Remulon looked tautly stretched to its limit.
Stop this at once! Remulon demanded, panic in his mentally projected words.
Knox remembered that the wind inside the sack of gales was a limited resource. If it ran out with Remulon still alive, Knox knew he was doomed.
Striding forward, Knox found he could walk while holding the sack. It fluttered in his grip, but it didn’t blow him all over the place as he had worried! Keeping the airstream focused on the thrashing octopus, Knox approached the strained tentacle. With the sack of gales secured between one arm and his side, and one hand aiming the mouth of the sack, he raised the unicorn horn in his other hand.
I will destroy all of you for this! Remulon threatened. I have never known defeat!
Knox spoke through gritted teeth. “You’ve never gone up against a Texan!”
He brought the horn down, stabbing the tentacle as hard as he could. The meat of the tentacle sizzled and it released from the protuberance, wrenching the horn from Knox’s hand. Driven by the underwater wind tunnel, Remulon flew helplessly into the coral.
Knox closed the sack in time to see shreds and scraps of the octopus fanning out from where Remulon had blown through the barrier of razors. Above the mess, the torrent of bubbles rose out of sight. Only the top of the demon’s head remained intact, but it was being dazzlingly electrocuted by the kelp. After several blinding flashes, the scorched remains of the head drifted down into the coral, where it was minced into uncountable particles.
Knox sat down hard, tears streaming from his eyes as he laughed hysterically. It had actually worked! It had totally, perfectly worked! He wasn’t going to die. The mighty aquatic demon had been grated into confetti!
Tears of shock and relief continued to fall. Kno
x felt the tears vanishing from his cheeks almost as soon as they were shed. His involuntary laughter finally started to subside.
He searched around on the floor of the cavern until he found the unicorn horn. He wondered if it might have octopus blood on it, but the horn looked pristine. Picking it up, he ventured deeper into the cave.
“Kendra?” he shouted. “Where are you?”
“Knox,” her reply came, faint because of the distance. “Be quiet! Are you crazy?”
“Remulon is gone!” Knox called. “Lead me to you!”
“How is he gone?”
“He’s sushi! He’s dead. Where are you?”
It took some time calling back and forth, but Knox eventually heard her voice getting nearer. He was grateful for the light he wore as the cave got darker. After some time, he reached a large, fully lit chamber containing all sorts of strange items. The light came from bioluminescent fish and plants, no two of them alike. He paused to take in the bizarre variety of life and to admire the huge anchor, the suit of armor, the piles of gold and jewels, the statues, and the exotic shells.
“Knox?” Kendra called, her voice near.
“I’m almost to you,” Knox replied.
He followed her voice to a ramp on the far side of the room that led up to a chamber full of air. He could see where the water stopped, held back by the air pocket, but he felt no difference as he passed into the air. The room was very bright because of a brilliant white fairy seated on a perch. She had wings like a bat’s, but scaly, and her slender tail ended in a silky tuft. Her body was in the form of a human but covered in white, reptilian scales.
“Knox,” Kendra said with relief.
She was lying on the ground beside Warren, Vanessa, Tanu, and Hako. Their bodies were completely cocooned in gooey gray strands, with only their heads showing. All the prisoners except Kendra were unconscious.
“What did Remulon do to you?” Knox asked.
“I’m not sure,” Kendra said. “I woke up like this. Is he really dead?”
Knox smiled. “He finally met his match.”
“You?”
“Well, yeah. I’m from Texas.”
Kendra rolled her eyes. “I’m sure that was it.”
“I attacked with your wind bag,” Knox said. “I don’t think Remulon ever dealt with wind before.”
“The sack of gales?” Kendra asked. “Really?”
“I ambushed him,” Knox said, unable to resist a big grin. “And blew him into the razor coral.”
Kendra’s eyes widened. “Knox, you’re a genius!”
“I’m just happy it worked!”
“Knox, that was so clutch,” Kendra said. “I can’t believe he’s really gone.”
“He’s not completely gone,” Knox said. “He’s in a million pieces. Part of him even got electrocuted.”
“I was so worried about you,” Kendra said.
“I dragged myself into the coral tunnel before I passed out,” Knox said. “He left me there.”
“I should have been worried about Remulon,” Kendra said. “He had no idea who he was up against. I’m glad you got the horn.”
“It came in handy,” Knox said. “While I was trying to blow him into the coral, his fast tentacle grabbed a sturdy rock. A stab from the horn made him let go.”
“That’s incredible,” Kendra said. “See if the horn works on this goo. I can hardly budge.”
Knox knelt beside Kendra and touched the point of the unicorn horn to the cocoon around her. The gray strands melted away wherever the horn made contact.
“It works,” Knox said.
“Get me out,” Kendra said.
It took only a minute before her gray bindings were melted away enough for Kendra to squirm free. Knox did some touching up, dissolving most of the gray matter that still clung to her.
“What about the others?” Knox asked.
“I think they got hit with more octopus darts,” Kendra said. “Only two poked me.”
“I only got scratched by one,” Knox said. “It was enough.”
“My head hurts,” Kendra said. “But I’m so happy!”
“Is that the fairy we want?” Knox asked, motioning to the brilliant white creature.
“Yes,” Kendra said. “I’ve had a few words with the nova song. She speaks no English. She has been here for a long time. A little chain holds her to the perch.”
“Will she fly away if we free her?”
“I don’t think so,” Kendra said. “I’ll order her to stay with us. She technically has to obey me. But maybe we’ll keep the chain attached just to be sure.”
Warren let out a groan. “What is so bright?” he complained groggily. “Why can’t I move?”
“Remember the octopus?” Kendra asked.
“Crud,” Warren said. “I do now. Are we in his belly?”
“You’re tied up in his lair,” Kendra said. “And you’ll never believe what happened to Remulon.”
Craning his neck, Warren looked over at Kendra. “What?”
“Knox destroyed him,” Kendra said.
“Wait, really?” Warren asked. “No offense, but did you say Knox destroyed him?”
“None taken,” Knox said. “I showed him a little Texas hospitality.”
“Meaning what?” Warren asked.
“Sack of gales into the razor coral,” Kendra said.
Warren whistled.
“And we found the nova song,” Knox said.
“I really wasn’t looking forward to waking up,” Warren said. “I mean, even as I was fading out, I was kind of hoping to just stay asleep. This feels like a miracle.”
“What now?” Knox asked.
“You kids cut me loose,” Warren said. “Then we wake the others and get out of here.”
“There is gold out in his garden,” Knox said.
“Add grab some gold to the list,” Warren said. “Knox, we owe you, buddy. How did you keep it together and pull it off?”
“Honestly,” Knox said, looking from Kendra to Warren, “I’ve never been more scared. I almost ran for it. But I couldn’t leave without you guys.” Tears sprang into his eyes again. “I thought we were so dead. This is the best day ever. But now we need to rescue Seth.”
On the floor of his private room within the Under Realm, Seth sat cross-legged with his satchel open, the contents spread in front of him. Having returned to the Phantom Isle just after nightfall, after dropping Lampy and Salty at their lighthouse and boating back from Omari, he had stolen quietly from the subterranean dock to his room, hoping to avoid interacting with Ronodin or the Sphinx.
“I was pretty smart,” Seth said, approving of the contents laid out on the floor. He had first-aid equipment, string, duct tape, a compass, a matchbox, a magnifying glass, binoculars, a pocketknife, a dagger, a little mirror, a whistle, some beef jerky, hand sanitizer, vitamins, a flashlight, a small notepad, three pencils, a pen, some cash, a tightly folded rain slicker, a pouch of salt, several paper clips, a needle and thread, a pack of chewing gum, fingernail clippers, a bouncy ball, and a harmonica. An unlabeled bottle possibly held a potion.
He also had the single glove that could supposedly turn him invisible if he held still, as well as the leviathan carved from blue stone. He found a slip of paper with words to accompany the leviathan and also words for a tower. He didn’t see a tower among the objects.
“I should have gone through this stuff earlier,” Seth said. “I’m definitely bringing the satchel next time.”
Calvin said nothing. He had suggested it would be best for him to remain silent while in the Under Realm, just in case the undead were listening.
Seth picked up the harmonica and gave a little blow, generating a wheezy, discordant sound. He figured he had once known how to play it, and he wondered if he was any good. On a whim, he took a
vitamin, then started packing the items back into the satchel.
The door opened without warning, and Ronodin entered. “You’re back late,” he said. “How did your errand go?”
“Pretty well,” Seth said.
Ronodin stared at him. “What did you learn?”
“What do you mean?” Seth deflected.
“You choose an interesting juncture to start hiding information from me,” Ronodin said.
“Are you saying you’ve been open with me?” Seth asked.
“I’ve protected you from information that could confuse you,” Ronodin said.
Seth stared at him. He knew Ronodin was an enemy. But bringing that into the open right now would not be very strategic. “I guess that is one way to look at it.”
“You’re different,” Ronodin said.
“What do you mean?”
“You look at me differently,” Ronodin said. “Who did you speak with?”
“Don’t I deserve a little private time? You take plenty.”
“The Hidden Sage works with your enemies,” Ronodin said.
“Who are you talking about?”
“Your lies reveal more than the truth would,” Ronodin said. “You believe him. You’ve decided I’m your enemy and you must hide things from me.”
“I’m confused,” Seth said.
“At least you have that right,” Ronodin said with an exasperated sigh. “Your determination to dig into your past is poorly timed.”
“Why?”
“All is in place to retrieve the Everbloom,” Ronodin said. “The Sphinx has the location. The phantom will lead you to it.”
“I’ll be with Dezia?” Seth asked.
“It’s the most efficient way,” Ronodin said. “She’ll be compliant and docile. The Sphinx made sure of that. We’ll go fetch the Everbloom tomorrow. Unless you no longer have the stomach for it.”
“What other choice do I have?” Seth asked.
“I’d be fascinated to know,” Ronodin said. “The Everbloom is your ticket out of here. Hand that over to the Underking and you can go do whatever you want.”