No one dared to be the first. The Megalodon continued to gnaw, nearly ripping all flesh and skin beneath its enemy's eyes clean away. "Aim for the weakest spot—cut it!"

  A dark-skinned boy, barely a teenager, took the first swing—his blade only went in three centimeters.

  The tentacle convulsed instantly, whipping across the deck in violent arcs. The brave boy was thrown against the rail, his spine snapping in two. Most of the other sailors were swept into the churning sea. "Stop it, now!" Henris rushed forward, scimitar in hand, slashing wildly. The tentacle's tip smashed against the mast, causing the wooden column and its half-raised white sail to lurch dangerously. "He'll destroy the—" The old man ducked, stumbled several steps, and narrowly avoided being crushed.

  A fresh wave of sailors charged forward, weapons raised, encircling the thrashing tentacle—yet none dared strike. "Your Highness, get below deck!" Wally Laren Ctiton ignored them all, raising his scimitar as he strolled forward with deliberate calm. "I am a prince of Shahani." He lifted his chin proudly, blinking rapidly, glaring defiantly at the undulating dark green mass above.

  "Your Highness." Wally knew the soft, familiar voice.

  "What are you doing here!?" He spun around, shouting, his composure shattered. "Can't you see how dangerous this is!?"

  Siv Grace covered her mouth with trembling hands, eyes wide with horror at the sight of the monstrous tentacle and the mangled corpses strewn across the deck. "My lady, please, you must go back," Lydia spread her arms wide, her small frame attempting to shield the princess. "We mustn't interfere with their battle."

  The tentacle swept across again; a tall sailor, too slow to dodge, was hurled violently against the stern. "Woman, get below!" Wally rushed back toward them. Siv remained frozen in terror. "You and the princess, below deck, now!" Henris shouted to the soldiers, "Leave this battle to us!"

  "I said I am the Prince of Shahani, commander of this expedition—" Wally Laren Ctiton urgently pushed Siv, "Go below, stay with Lydia." (Not that it would be any great loss if something happened to her right here,) he thought. (That way, nothing could impede my union with Queen Cynthia. Hmph, even if I married her sister before her very eyes, this little filly wouldn't dare utter a word of protest.)

  "Prince, aren't you coming?"

  "Are you joking!?" Wally roared, "I will not retreat! For I am—"

  A massive splintered timber plummeted from above. Lydia only had time for a piercing scream, Siv barely managed to look up, before Wally shoved Lydia aside and tackled Siv to the deck. "Are you hurt!?" His voice carried such intensity that even he was startled by it. "I'm fine, Your Highness," Siv Grace stammered, "but..."

  A shriek from Lydia cut through the chaos. She sat slumped on the deck, her left calf impaled by a jagged wooden shard. "Lydia!" Siv cried out in anguish. "Take her below and tend to her wounds immediately!" Wally commanded two nearby soldiers. "You go with them," he told the princess, gently wiping tears from her wet cheeks with his fingertips. "I'll join you soon. Until then, stay with Lydia." Siv Grace nodded numbly and was guided away by a burly sailor. (Did I really just save her life!?) he wondered in confusion. (At least that troublesome woman is finally gone.)"Now let me deal with you, you foul beast."

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  The tentacle lashed back and forth across the deck; the soldiers hacked at it frantically while dodging its deadly sweeps. Each wound enraged the colossal octopus, causing it to pound the deck with greater fury, gouging a deep trough in the wooden planks. "Once that tentacle's severed, we go full speed ahead!" Henris Weber Ian crouched behind rum barrels to catch his breath. "Tell the rowers to put their backs into it!"

  "It's wrapped around the mast!" a young sailor cried out in horror. "It's trying to drag our ship back into the battle!"

  The Megalodon had gained the upper hand, its massive jaws shredding the octopus's mouth region until even the hardened chitin beak and muscular lips were pulverized by its crushing bite. The Larodo Colossal Octopus hurled both its remaining tentacles and shipwrecks at the shark with desperate strength, but no matter how many splintered timbers impaled the Megalodon's thick hide, it maintained its death grip, pushing the octopus relentlessly forward.

  The mast emitted an ominous creak. "Cut it off, damn you all!" the old man gasped, peering from between the barrels. "If that mast goes down, we're finished! Dead men, every last one of us!"

  Sailors and soldiers surged forward en masse, none questioning Henris's dire warning. "The cursed thing's too tough!" someone shouted in frustration, "Our blades barely sink more than a few inches!"

  (I cannot let this monster destroy my ship.) Wally raced to the rear of the mast, examining the taut, straining tentacle. (There's a promising wound there,) he noted with grim satisfaction, (Perhaps I can sever it... but,) he glanced up at the dangerously tilting mast, (I'll need to climb up there first.)

  Barely two meters up the climb, sweat drenched his body and vertigo clouded his vision. (I could easily fall to my death.) His jaw trembled uncontrollably. (If I succeed, I'll be a hero—earning my soldiers' respect and cementing my princely authority. But...) The only sounds reaching his consciousness were his thundering heartbeat and labored breathing; the desperate shouts of sailors and Henris's warnings faded to nothing. (If I slip, that's the end of Wally Laren Ctiton. Even if I survived the fall, no islander would ever follow a crippled prince...)

  His teeth pierced his lower lip, filling his mouth with coppery blood. ("Conviction shall conquer doubt, glory shall conquer fear.") He mentally recited the immortal words of Ludwig Lo Cand, the elven poet from ages past, steeling his faltering nerve. Wally Laren Ctiton squeezed his eyes shut and reached blindly upward. He desperately believed this would banish his fear—and more desperately wished fear would simply ignore him. On his fourth attempt, his hand made contact with the grotesquely sticky, slick hide of the colossal octopus. He shuddered violently, nearly losing his grip entirely. Eyes snapping open, he prepared to push past the nauseating green mass.

  The sound of heavy breathing reached him from above. (Who in seven hells is that!?) Atop the platform stood a boy, no more than twelve or thirteen, his skin the sun-bronzed hue common to islanders. "What are you doing up there!?" Wally had no idea when the boy had scaled the mast, but feared for his safety. (Probably scrambled up there in blind panic,) he thought bitterly. (How ironic—my subject climbs from fear, while I climb for glory. What a pitiful joke.)"Don't be afraid, boy!" he called out, "Stay where you are! I'll bring you down when I reach you!" (Honestly, I haven't even figured out how I'm getting down myself. Brilliant planning, Wally.)

  The boy seemed not to hear the prince's shouts. His eyes darted rapidly between the writhing tentacle and the platform beneath his feet, clearly calculating distances. Muttering under his breath, he severed a rope from the mast with quick, decisive strokes.

  "What in blazes do you think you're doing!?" Wally frantically wiped stinging sweat from his eyes. "Don't jump, you fool! Wait for me!" Looking down, he realized with dismay that he hadn't climbed an inch since he last spoke. The boy tugged sharply on the rope, testing its strength with calm deliberation. (Damned little fool!) Wally silently cursed. (He may be no kin of mine, a complete stranger, but he remains my subject! I refuse to be the king who watches his people throw their lives away!)

  The boy gripped the rope with his left hand and, before Wally could draw another breath, launched himself into empty air. "Gods above!" the prince shrieked in horror, "Is he completely mad?!"

  He was, indeed, completely mad.