Chapter 3

Chapter THREE The following evening we had a rehearsal for the Ocean Parade. The royal carriage pulled up outside the palace and we all swam out to admire it. It was very beautiful—round like a giant silver bubble, and decorated all over with swirls, twirls, and jewels. Six beautiful dolphins were harnessed to the front of

the carriage, looking very regal. 'I love dolphins!' exclaimed Delphina, putting out her hand to pat one of them on the snout. The dolphin squeaked happily. 'Right!' said Auster. 'Everyone get inside the carriage! The dolphins will pull it around the palace gardens and we will practise our waving technique. The Ocean Parade is only two days away!' He swam into the carriage and sat down on one of the squashy sea-sponge seats. Mum and Delphina followed with me at the back, and Inkibelle squiggling along behind me. I sat down on the seat next to one of the large, open windows.

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There was nowhere to hide everyone would be able to see in as we passed! 'Be careful, Emerald!' said Mum, as I accidentally knocked my headdress into her delicate one. A single pearl came floating off her headdress, and landed in her lap.

'Oops, sorry,' I said. 'No worries, Emerald, I'm sure it can be mended before the parade. Mum smiled at me but I felt bad. I knew how excited Mum was about the headdress she had chosen. There was a sudden jerk and the carriage started to float through the palace gardens, pulled along by the dolphins. We passed tall seaweed fronds in all the colours of the rainbow. Colourful fish darted about alongside the carriage. They were pretty to look at but I couldn't help remembering that the day after tomorrow it wouldn't just be fish that I would be seeing outside the carriage window.