Nonetheless, I declined the opportunity. “I must tend to my mistress here,” I explained. “And what if your Princess returns early?”

Sawtooth looked disappointed, but accepted my decision without argument. The last I saw of him was his fin, disappearing into the crowd of sharkponies who had already begun another busy day in their normal lives.

True to my word, I returned to my mistress, but she was distant and irritable, unhappy with the continued wait for the sharkpony Princess and potential continuation of our journey. I can’t say that my mood was much better.

“Have you not found us alternate transit?” she testily inquired, later that day.

I shook my head.

“We must bide our time, Madame.”