The Maiden Meets the Student

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The maiden’s flaxen tresses flowed over her shoulders and shone brightly in the sunlight while she lounged against a rock in the moor, resting from a playful frolic with the dolphin and terns. As she lay in the crystal clear pool fed by rivulets of tidewater left by the receding ocean, she gazed wistfully at the peel tower atop the butte in the distance, trying to imagine the scenes that could be viewed from the vantage point in that turret. Her reverie was broken by a figure emerging from the mist that cloaked the foot of the monticle, framed by the gnarled scrub tree and azure sky dappled with pastel puffs of pink cloud drifting lazily across the horizon.~0~

*****

Marston McManus strolled listlessly along the footpath that wound through the emerald bracken of the salt marsh in search of black mussels for the Academy where he was a student. In addition to their studies, students were required to perform chores, such as tending to the livestock in the keep and gathering berries and herbs from the mountainside as payment for their training. The headmaster frequently chastised Marston for inattention when he caught the student gazing bemusedly out the window at the ocean. On this particular day, the headmaster had assigned Marson the task of gathering mussels for a special meal with the admonition, “Mind to your task. No lollygagging.”

Marston was glad to escape the unpleasantness of cleaning stables and the commotion of sheep braying and chickens cackling. Wearing the grey tunic and sandals that were the uniform of the Academy and carrying a gunny sack slung over his shoulder, he took deep breaths of the fresh salt air as he wandered lackadaisically down the path with his eyes focused on the bog where his quarry would be found.~1~

Suddenly a curious uneasiness came over him. He had a strange feeling that he was being watched. Scanning the marsh, he spotted a flash of color that was definitely out of place. There was a golden mane protruding above a rock by the gnarled scrub tree. Coming closer, he saw a pair of sparkling blue eyes peeping from behind the rock.

Shocked to find this maiden in such a desolate place, he asked, “W-who are you?”

With an enchanting lyrical lilt, the maiden responded, “I am called Lorelei.”

As he came to the edge of the tidal pond, Marston could see this was no ordinary maiden. Through the refraction of the water, he perceived her naked torso spangled with blue and green scales.~2~

She asked him, “What is it like on yon peak? Can you see the whole world from up there?’

Entranced by her beauty and the clear, melodious timbre of her tongue, he sat on the rock and said, “Nothing but drudgery--chores, classes, more chores. I would give anything to be free to travel over the ocean away from the stink of the animals and the prying eyes of the headmaster!”

She responded, “And I would give anything to be able to see the world from such a vista.”

They talked for hours, exchanging impressions of the world in which each lived, until the incoming tide forced Marston to retreat to higher ground. Before parting, they made a pact to return the following day.~3~

*****

Lorelei was waiting by the gnarled scrub tree when Marston returned at low tide the next morning. He doffed his tunic and sandals and sat in the pool beside her. Then he took some berries from a pouch he carried and shared them with her. She took a garland of marine flora from her neck and placed it around his neck. They sat together musing over their visions until slumber carried them away to dreamland.

They were awakened by the nudging of waves as the ocean reclaimed the marshland. Lorelei stood up on her two feet, donned the tunic and sandals, and started the trek to the peel tower, while Marston glided easily out to sea with one strong sweep of his tail for a carefree frolic with the dolphins, gulls and terns.~4~

It seems that Marston had adsorbed some of the teachings of the Academy of Wizardry after all.~5~

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691 words

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