The Sea Devil's Eye - Mel Odom [130]
* * * * *
Tu'uua'col swam through the clutch of rocks and settled gently on the ocean floor behind Prince Mirol as he prayed to Eadro.
Built lean and angular, Mirol didn't look like a warrior, or the newly named heir to the throne of Eadraal. King Vhaemas had awakened only once after the whales and Princess Arina had transported him to Naulys, the merman city west of Voalidru. During that time he named Mirol as his successor, then slipped back into the coma that held him still.
Tu'uua'col hadn't accompanied King Vhaemas during the Battle of Voalidru. The prejudices the merman warriors had against him because he was shalarin ran too deep. Still, he had not allowed himself to be put on the sidelines as the Taker's army closed on Naulys. His place, for the moment, was at the prince's side. Quietly, the Green Dukar put his hand on Mirol's shoulder.
Unhurried, Mirol finished his prayer to Eadro, asking for deliverance in this time of need. He flipped his tail and turned to face his advisor.
"Our scouts have spotted the Taker's advance guard," Tu'uua'col said. "How soon will they be here?"
"Within minutes."
"And their numbers?"
"As at Voalidru," Tu'uua'col answered.
"Do you think we can hold them from Naulys?"
The Dukar hesitated. Mirol had remained very true to his calling as a priest until his father had handed him the reins of leadership. As a result, the boy didn't know much about the ways of war and warriors.
"No, my prince. Not without a miracle."
Mirol showed him a brave smile and said, "Exactly what I was praying for. Now let's see if Eadro can deliver."
He took up the trident that had been his father's and swam to the front of the line.
The land around Naulys was hilly, rife with coral reefs. They'd used those reefs to set up ballistae that had been salvaged from surface world ships. The Taker's army came on, the drowned ones at the lead.
Tu'uua'col watched as the first rows of warriors clashed. Priests of Eadro, summoned by Mirol, worked to turn the undead, chanting praises to Eadro. Many of the drowned ones were turned away, leaving the koalinth to bear the brunt of the first attack while their own ranks were broken by the zombies' retreat.
For a moment, confused by the retreating zombies, the koalinth gave ground in the face of the vengeful assault by the merman warriors of three conquered cities who'd managed to join Naulys's defenders. The sheer numbers of the koalinth turned the tide yet again. The merman warriors were slowly driven back.
Tu'uua'col watched, desperately seeking some way out of the situation though he knew there wasn't one. The Taker had planned too well, and the priests had not turned all of the drowned ones. He gazed at the Taker's flagship floating above and behind the koalinth, then noticed the fluttering movement that came in from the north.
The winged shapes sped through the water without warning, and they came by the thousands. They descended on the staggered line of koalinth without mercy.
"What is that?" Mirol asked. He peered into the deeper reaches of the sea.
"Ixitxachitl," Tu'uua'col answered, feeling somewhat better. "Apparently, they decided to join in and retaliate against the Taker."
"It's a miracle," Mirol said quietly.
Tu'uua'col didn't agree, thinking it was more like the demon rays taking advantage of the diversion the mermen provided. As he watched the ixitxachitls swoop in on the koalinth, the Dukar thought the real miracle would be if the demon rays didn't turn on them next.
The merman warriors pressed to the forefront, cutting down koalinth as chance presented itself
"Col," Mirol asked, "do you think there's a chance to form an alliance at Myth Nantar to stand against the Taker?"
"Yes," the Dukar replied quickly.
Excitement flared within him. The merman cities held the largest population in the immediate area around Myth Nan tar. If they took a step to form an alliance he was certain the other races would agree.
"I would like you to