CHAPTER 1

The last two weeks had flown by, and the morning had arrived for the sixteen-year-old Coralie to leave home and attend boarding school. Wizen, the old merman was harnessing Meerlyn's two giant seahorses to the shell carriage. He was waiting for Coralie and her mother Meerlyn, and would escort them to Marinal, the school for girls. Wizen's own giant manta ray was waiting patiently for him.

For the first term, Meerlyn would stay at the home of Agava, her sister, who lived about an hour away from the school in the city of Marinas.

"Nearly ready, Wizen?" Gwilda, Meerlyn's cook and housekeeper, was bubbling with excitement, thought Wizen. He had never seen her look so happy. He realised Gwilda badly needed a break, especially from Coralie. The housekeeper had grown into a pretty young woman with dreamy blue-green eyes, reddish seaweed for hair, and pale fawn scales, tinged with white.

Gwilda had her arm around Old Wal, the walrus who tended the garden. He was wiping his eyes with his flippers.

"Come on Wal, this is a happy occasion. No need for tears." Wizen patted him on the head.

Wizen hadn't told Meerlyn that he had heard from Nepta, her son. Since Nepta and Coralie had returned from their earth visit two weeks earlier, he and his mother had quarrelled and Nepta left home. He had enrolled at college and was studying marine architecture.

Wizen kept in touch and hoped that the quarrel would be resolved. He understood that Nepta seemed happy sharing a shell house with two other students.

Meerlyn and Coralie appeared; to Wizen's relief, Meerlyn wasn't crying for once. She handed the house keys to Gwilda before hugging her and stepping into the carriage.

Coralie, who was studying Gwilda, hesitated. "There is something different about you, Gwilda, but I can't put my finger on it yet." She sneered, "Just don't try and be too smart. I'll discover what it is in time." She turned away and jumped into the carriage; picking up the reins, she nodded to Wizen, clicked her tongue, and murmured, "Gee up." The giant sea horses rose, and with their powerful muscles straining, swam rapidly away. Wizen climbed on to his manta ray, smiled and waved cheerfully before following behind the carriage.

Gwilda and Old Wal watched until they were out of sight. Wal sighed, "Enough of the tears. I have work to do," and he swam away to the rear of the house.

Gwilda chuckled, "Ah! Coralie, if you only knew. Wizen has been teaching me magic, and I know his spell book off by heart. If you try any mischief with me, I'll give you a run for your money."

CHAPTER 2

Marinal was an imposing building built from green marble. It had been a girls' school for fifty years The current principal, Ms Whalley, was an accomplished woman of some forty years of age She came from a family of teachers and always said she understood students better than anyone she knew.

She was short and plump, with mottled brown seaweed hair Her skin was composed of white scales tinged with pink around the eyes She informed anyone who was rude enough to ask that this was a sign of contentment In reality it was a sign of aging.

When Meerlyn and Coralie were brought to her study, the principal sensed tension between the mother and daughter.

"I imagine you have had rather a long journey and must be feeling tired." Ms Whalley smiled at mother and daughter and invited them to sit down.

"There are just a few questions I need to ask and then we shall have some refreshments."

Coralie was given a book on school rules which she folded and crammed into her bag. Ms Whalley noted this and pursed her lips.

"I imagine you will find boarding school rather different Coralie I hope you will be happy here dear."

Coralie stared at the principal and muttered she hoped she would be also.

Ms Whalley then handed Meerlyn some papers which she asked her to sign.

A maid brought in refreshments and when all the formalities were completed, Ms. Whalley rang a bell.

"You will be escorted to your room now Coralie." She turned to Meerlyn and asked, "Would you like to see the room also?" Meerlyn stood up and inclined her head, "Oh yes I would like to see Coralie's room. Thank you very much."

The same maid appeared and escorted Coralie and her mother to the girl's room To Coralie's delight the girls had separate rooms, each floor shared a bathroom.

Coralie's room was on the second floor and overlooked the back garden There was a forest of thick kelp beyond, from which sea horses occasionally emerged Meerlyn cheerfully approved of the bright and colourful room; she was about to speak when Coralie turned and looked at her mother. "Now, don't start blubbering This is my new adventure and I don't want you to spoil it."

Meerlyn's eyes which had been glistening with tears, now hardened, "I suppose I should have expected you to say something like that." Meerlyn stood up and walked to the door. Opening it, she turned to Coralie and said, "However,I hope you enjoy your stay here. boarding school was what you always wanted." Meerlyn closed the door quietly and walked away.

"Well," said Coralie to the door, "I didn't expect you to leave so calmly Mother."

What Coralie didn't see was her Mother blindly stumbling down the stairs and sobbing bitterly

Wizen groaned when he saw Meerlyn emerge from the building He helped her into the carriage and then, telling the Manta Ray to follow behind, he swam into the carriage, picked up the reins, and let Meerlyn cry herself to a stop.

CHAPTER 3

After about an hour of travelling, Meerlyn and Wizen arrived at Agava's house. Meerlyn turned to Wizen, and said "Give me some time alone with my sister; I need to settle myself."

He nodded and swam to the seahorse's heads, unharnessed them, and led them to the stable grottos at the rear of the house. Wizen briefly chatted to the stable boy before swimming back to the carriage and collecting Meerlyn's belongings.

A hearty laugh greeted him. "Wizen, my dear friend, how very kind of you to escort my sister and niece." Wizened turned and smiled, finding himself enveloped in a warm embrace. Agava was like Meerlyn at first glance, but jollier in appearance with a welcome breath of humour. She had never married, but lived a busy and happy life. She was a keen gardener, her house backing onto every shade of green sea plants that it was possible to grow.

Agava, several years older than Meerlyn, had always disliked her troublesome brother-in-law, blaming his abrasive nature for its negative influence on Coralie's disposition. As they entered the house, Agave asked her sister about the parting from her daughter. 'Was it very emotional?'

Wizen, following closely behind, answered for Meerlyn. 'Yes. A little tearful.'

Agava looked at him sceptically. 'I'm sure there was a regular fountain of tears. And how was Coralie?'

'She sees this as a new adventure, and is determined to enjoy it,' replied Meerlyn.

Hearing this, Wizen and Agava exchanged a knowing glance.

A mermaid came in, placing finger food on a small table, and then relieved Wizen of the luggage.

As Wizen picked up a crab claw, Agava asked him if he was staying overnight. 'Yes. I'll call on Nepta before returning home.'

Agava glanced at Meerlyn. "Nepta should be here shortly; I told him you were coming."

Meerlyn stood. "Perhaps I should wait in my room? I –"

Agave snapped, "Don't be absurd, Meerlyn. Now is the time to patch up your differences. You know you owe...