Riverlilly Page 5

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  Deep in the night, the boat began to sink. They had taken on too much water. The prow dipped below the surface.

  The shadowy bundle which the black dolphin had dropped in the hull sprang to action. It jumped like trained lightning quick as a spark to the front of the boat, where it became perfectly still, tamed in a beam of moonlight. Then the moon met a cloud and the world went dark.

  A grief-stricken roar rippled out over the open sea.

  A pink flash split the night.

  A comet began to blaze across the sky, due east, for nothing can happen in the sea that is not a reflection from above.

  The Year One,

  Every variety of creature in the sea came to watch the two dolphins make their way east. Big fish and small fish, simple fish and fancy fish alike were filled with wonder as the parade stretched along tail after countless tail. Old fish wept at their coming while the young fought through the teeming masses to catch a glimpse of the procession.

  Wild sea-lions stampeded the seafloor, raising clouds of green silt until it seemed as much confetti filled the water. Seahorses roared approval. Throngs of mermen and mermaids cheered so loudly the surface of the water bubbled. Later, there would be fish who swore they saw the Spirit of the Sea herself watching the pageant from afar. But of all the unique animals that came to celebrate, the two most remarkable in the crowd were the pair of dolphins, black and white.

  Seashell-colored horns grew from their foreheads, emitting halos of soft light to guide them home. The sea itself, normally crabby and quiet, applauded with thunderous waves when the two young unicorns and their ebullient entourage finally arrived at the soaring stronghold of Coral Wing.