A ship docked at Pelie Principality’s Port the third day from midsummer, neat and clean but wind and water worn. It was expected, called upon by Prince Pelie himself, yet it surprised the water watchman, watching from the city wall, so lulled by the crashing waves on the shore that he only ever expected another wave to roll onto the sand, never a boat to come with it.
When that boat crossed into the circle of his scope, the water watcher jumped up and yelled with a cry:
“Ahoy! Ahoy, a ship!”
All the children of the principality expected to hear these words every other minute, yet they were still surprised. They were so worn with the disappointed ring of empty waves that they only ever expected their expectations met with disappointment.
At the sound, every child in the village ran onto
