Chapter 14: Descent into Darkness

“What?” Vonkar asked in confusion, brandishing Foegrin.

“Who? Where?”

“The wizard, the witch, and King Kugelbone escaped up that tunnel,” Frangen continued pointing toward the tunnel that led to the water cavern where they had docked the submarine, “and it sounds like they are stealing our underwater ship from my brothers who stayed behind to guard it!”

“Oh no they’re not!” Nathan growled, forgetting his anger at his friends. Without warning, the prince sprang for the tunnel, scooping his sword and shield up from the floor as he passed. Vonkar and the others were not far behind. Together, they all raced down the tunnel to stop the villains who had caused so much trouble and even grief. But when they arrived they saw only Heindel dragging himself out of the water and onto the shore. The three villains were nowhere to be seen and the submarine was already disappearing beneath the water!

“NO!” Nathan shouted in rage and anguish! He could not stand the thought that Panganiban, King Kugelbone and Hagwig would escape after all they had done – after causing Nataleigh to… He couldn’t bring himself to consciously finish the thought. Heedlessly, the prince ran for the water and dove in, desperately trying to catch hold of the submarine as if he could drag it back by sheer willpower – as if bringing it back would bring back his sister!

The others shouted for him to stop and Heindel exclaimed something about the weight of his armor dragging him to the bottom, but it was too late and he didn’t care. As his feet slipped over the edge of the drop off, the prince took a final gulp of air and sank, following the dim glow of the sub disappearing into the darkness below him.

But it was no use. The sub was heavier than he was, even with his full armor. He watched it fade below him. The propeller suddenly began to spin and it moved forward through the underwater tunnel that led to the open sea. The prince began to kick his feet and arms to follow, but now the foolishness of his action became obvious as he realized that he was powerless to swim.

As the submarine disappeared into the tunnel, darkness settled around him and he began to panic. No matter how hard he kicked or stroked with his arms, he could not slow his descent. Frantically he began to pull at the buckles and straps that held his armor on, but in the darkness he could not see well enough to loosen them by himself.

He continued to sink, dropping like a stone and hope faded in his heart. His lungs were starting to burn now and he knew he could not last much longer without air. He had failed his sister, and now it looked as if he would fail himself as well.

But the prince was not alone. His friends had not forsaken him to a watery grave. Just as he felt his lungs could not hold another second, he felt something huge close around him in the darkness and begin to lift him up. For a moment he thought he was being swallowed whole by some giant fish. And then he was clearing the water, gasping for air as he was lifted to the cavern ceiling and then back down again.

Before he realized it, he was being spit onto the cave floor next to Vonkar and the others. He had been swallowed, or nearly swallowed anyway, by Papa. The sea serpent had retrieved him from the depths the quickest way possible and the prince had sea serpent spit all over him to prove it.
“Is he ok, Papa?” Mama asked in a worried voice. “Is he breathing?”

“Ew, gross!” Quipped Flindee waving his hand back and forth in front of his face. “And I thought ettins had bad breath.”

“Give him air, people.” Commanded Heindel as he waved them all back a step or two.
The prince was still gasping and trying to suck down much needed oxygen, but as soon as he caught his breath again he stood up and started toward the water.

Alarmed, the others moved to block him, but the prince was determined and pushed past them. Once again it was the sea serpent which saved him from himself. No matter how determined Nathan was, there was no moving Papa and Mama.

Nathan began pounding on the tough rubbery underbelly of the sea serpent with his fists, venting his frustration at them.

“Why aren’t you going after them?” he shouted, “You could have caught that submarine and dragged it back here by now so those villains could face justice! What’s the matter with you?”
Once again, the prince collapsed to the ground in defeat and overwhelmed by grief. He was beyond exhaustion and too weary to even cry now.

A large flipper covered his back and he heard Mama’s voice. “We’re sorry, your majesty, but we had to save you first. We couldn’t just let you drown now. What good would that have done? But we can go after them now, can’t we Papa?”

She looked at Papa, who shook his head doubtfully, but then said, “Of course. We can out swim any machine built by dwarves.”

“What about Boz and the maiden?” Frangen asked, looking at Heindel for an answer.

“Zhey vere both still in zhe infirmary when zhose villains attacked, probably still unconscious. Zhey are prisoners now.” Heindel explained. “I just hope zhat vizard doesn’t learn how to use zhe veapons. Ve vouldn’t vant you getting zappified, Mr. uh… and Mrs. Sea Serpent. Be careful.”

“Heh! Good luck trying to catch them now.” Flindee remarked suddenly. “They got a big head start on you and there’s lots of places to hide under the ocean. At least that’s what my cousin Mindee told me. She was turned into a mermaid once when she fell in love with this merman from Atlantis… or was it a mailman from Atlanta? I get confused. Do you remember, Q?”

The puppet shook its head and almost seemed to shrug as Flindee continued. “Anyway, she was telling me that…”

“Hush, fruitcake!” Vonkar snapped. “You’re not helping the prince to feel any better. And that goes double for your daft, award winning puppet friend. Not another word from either of ye!”

Flindee huffed and plopped down on the cave floor. Q blew cherries at the Viking then turned its back on them all, looking over the jester’s shoulder in apparent disgust.

“Unfortunately, he may be right,” Heindel agreed reluctantly, “…especially if zhey discover zhe submersible’s newest feature. I just installed a new cloaking device zhat makes it nearly invisible vhen it is activated. I’m sorry.”

“We can’t just abandon Boz and the maiden, Madelyn, can we?” Frangen asked.

“He’s right,” agreed Mama. “Come on, Papa.”

But before the sea serpent could move, a loud bubbling was suddenly heard coming from the water and all eyes were drawn toward the cavern pool. Within seconds a large metal object appeared, rising from the bubbling water.

It was the submarine! It had miraculously returned!