It is another early start, and I’m still lying in my bed, looking up into the netting that surrounds it. Ashlea peaks through the netting, “Hey Taylan, time to get up. We got to be out of here early.”

“Yes, I know.” I pitifully roll out of bed. I am not as good at waking early as Ashlea and Saydira are. I go through my morning ritual, and before long, we are out on the path to the forest. Noon quickly arrives and Saydira suggests that we go back to the North Shore to relax for the afternoon.

The North Shore is a good choice because just the other day, there weren’t many others on the beach, and it should be the same kind of turn out this afternoon. We come to the clearing of the forest and make our way down the grassy path. I spot a ship that looks anchored just off the deeper side of the reef and stop.

“Saydira”, I whisper her name. I don’t know why.

“Yes, I see it, they are far enough away. We will stick to the plan and head down.” Today is no exception; we are the only ones here and set up on the sand for an afternoon of lazing in the sun.

“That has got to be the Princesses’ ship.” I say as I stare at it while lying in the sun. Saydira is off cooling herself in the ocean and it is just Ash and I lying together.

“Yes, I think so too.” Ashlea answers.

“What do you think they are doing here; shouldn’t they be anchored closer to the harbor near home? It’s not the typical ship route.” I think aloud.

Ash says, “Who knows with them? I think this princess is a bit of a free spirit. I thought royalty had their servants do the bidding, but I guess I was wrong.” We both watch Saydira come out of the water and approach us.

“Hey girls, I want to swim in the reef, would you like to come?” In no time, we are all out on the sand dune and ready to dive into the depths of the reef.

“Let’s go girls” with a smile and a look of playfulness, Saydira dives with a splash down into the depths of the reef. Ashlea and I follow, and down we go, flipping, twirling, and following each other as we explore.

A short distance away, on board the ship the Princess and her two servants talk. “They look like mermaids, the way that they are swimming, they are dancing in the depths”, says the taller servant as she looks on. They have tools to view from a distance, even thru the reflection of the sky on the ocean’s surface, they can see through, into the reef.

“Yes, I want to do what they are doing. Nafeeza said our pearls were found here. I want to see it up close.” The princess puts down her gazing tool. The princess requests, “Can you have a boat prepared for us to go to the shore?”

“Yes princess.” Not long after the princess and her two servants are dropped off on the shore. They walk along the shore and want to come into the water, but they are unsure of just how. She knows how to dive and swim, but isn’t sure on the currants and path that we took to go in. Saydira is the first to spot them, when she comes up for air.

“They are on shore. How did we miss that?” Saydira gasps with disbelief. The three of us have surfaced. It looks like two of the three people on the shore are now waving us over. We can’t ignore them now; they see our stuff on the shore and can tell that we have seen them because they start waving more frantically with excitement.

I grow shy, but say, “Shall we?” It would appear odd and suspicious if we were to try to swim away. We all swim up to the dune and return to the shore. It is kind of a funny encounter because we swim naked. As we approach, we know from the details Mom provided us yesterday that this is the princess and her two servants. I never imagined meeting royalty, let alone meeting them completely un-clothed. The taller servant walks up to greet us seemingly unfazed; she is the first to speak.

“We saw you from the ship and were wondering if you can take us down into the reef?”

Saydira answers politely, “It would be our pleasure.” I know she is lying.

The princess says, “I am Rosaleen, and this is Izavelle and Soolena”. They bow their heads.

Saydira says, “Princess, what an honor it is to meet you, I am Saydira and this is Taylan”, I bow my head, “And this is Ashlea”. Ashlea bows.

Izavelle asks, “Do you always swim without clothes?”

The slender woman’s accent is a little distracting, but I can understand her well enough and answer, “Yes it is easiest for propelling yourself through the water, and your clothes don’t go through the wear and tear, or get soiled with the salt of the ocean.” My sisters and I quickly smile nervously, it is infectious, and in half second, all of us are giggling. The first-time encounter nerves quickly dissolve. Rosaleen, Izavelle and Soolena remove their clothing and leave the garments with ours. Saydira leads the group out to the sand dune and back down to the reef. Just like the other day of pearl hunting, the ocean is warm, and the sun’s rays, pierce through the ocean water and ripple along the reef. My sisters and I flip and spin through the water. Rosaleen, Izavelle and Soolena are quickly mimicking our movements and truly enjoying themselves, as we swim over the vibrant corals, pinks, blues, yellows and so many schools of bright, shiny fish. After a long swim, we finally swim back to the shore and sit with our new companions on the white sandy beach.

Princess Rosaleen asks me, “That pearl around your neck looks familiar. Do you know if your pearl was found here on the North Shore?”

I answer, “Yes”

Rosaleen grins and says, “I actually purchased five pearls yesterday, just like the one you are wearing. They are being delivered to me this evening. The woman I purchased them from said that her pearls were from this shore. Did you purchase your pearl from her?”

“No”, I swallow, and am a little nervous; her questions are growing more personal.

Princess Rosaleen asks, “Did you find the pearl that you are wearing?” I nod.

Rosaleen persists, “Were you the one that supplied the pearls to the woman that keeps a stand in town?”

Saydira speaks up, “We went diving for them a couple of days ago.”

Princess Rosaleen doesn’t back away with her questions, “What was your price for the trade with the woman?”

Saydira answers, “Food, clothing, shelter.”

Rosaleen knows our connection and nods in understanding. She isn’t surprised. Soolena has been very quiet the entire time, but asks, “Do you have a father that has been called to serve?”

Ashlea answers, “I have never known him.”

Princess Rosaleen asks, “None of you have been called upon by the visitors nor have followed a young man to the City?”

Saydira replies, “No Princess, we have been fortunate to remain here for so long and we have sort of been unfortunate in finding love, there hasn’t been many options who have stayed long enough to notice and for us to be able to fall in love with and to follow them.”