The Foreign Deep (In the Giant's Shadow) by Pete A O'Donnell

Author:Pete A O'Donnell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pete A O'Donnell
Published: 2025-10-29T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

‘What now?’ was the question on everyone’s lips, though the answer was obvious to Jayse; the ‘how’ concerned him. Duke Takia was the warden of the northern tribes, a posting made for violent times when tribes fought over resources and honor. He controlled a string of fortifications at the very edge of the northern territory, including a stronghold on a true island.

Unlike Anchor Home, the castle, Deep’s Blade, was on a tiny piece of land, the tallest point of an underwater mountain range. It was the southernmost point of the Northern territory where icebergs touched warm currents, melted, and died. Unfortunately, it was almost five thousand kilometers away. Even for the swift cindaria, it would take days to get there, and for the sea dragons, it would be even longer. Jayse couldn’t be sure what the Naiads intended. They knew now who was responsible for the death of Talbert’s son, a noble who they’d never heard of and the high chief of the surface world. Aysa wanted revenge, but the other two, the elders, said little about what they intended.

Julta didn’t seem bothered by the distance. While Nasir pleaded for patience with his daughter, who wanted to leave right away, find the two leaders and take blood for blood, Julta promised a solution.

He excused himself as other Grannusians joined him on the platform. They reached out to the survivors from the sub. Quelling their resistance, they injected them like the first one. The men became willing thralls, and the Grannusians guided them into the pool where a cindaria waited.

As Jayse watched the soldiers following like children, he asked, “What do you plan to do with them?”

Julta explained, “We recovered a life raft from the sub. It will be brought to the surface along with these men. They will be placed in it with no memory of these events.”

The Grannusians left while Jayse and Cathal stayed behind with the Naiads. Strange creatures that emerged from the pool and wiggled across the floor brought them food and fresh water contained in gourds. They looked like tongues broken free from a giant's mouth.

Cathal and two older Naiads took advantage of the refreshments while Jayse looked on. It wasn’t until Cathal warned him that, “You’ll need your strength for what comes next,” that he finally ate some of the oysters and drank the water. He didn’t realize until then how famished he was.

Everyone but Aysa sat on the glass blocks, gathering around like they were at a picnic. She stayed by her dragon, petting its side, ignoring the humans and the two older men from her species.

“Those soldiers, that sub was here to kill me,” Jayse said to his friend, “I can’t go back to Anchor Home.”

“I know,” Cathal said.

Jayse’s voice was shaking, “How will I see my son again?”

Cathal reached over and touched his friend’s arm. “By bringing your wife back. By exposing this whole conspiracy. The high chief is playing a dangerous game. He needs to be stopped.”

“You honestly think my wife will help bring down her father?” Jayse asked.

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