One memorable day, while scanning the western coast of Ireland for British Naval Intelligence during World War II, Ronald Lockley caught a glimpse of a dark-haired girl swimming in a school of seals. The memory lingered on. Although Lockley never saw the girl again, he did return to uncover her legend, and the legend of the seal-woman of Kilcalla. From it he has woven this rare and tragic tale of love between a perfectly natural woman and a young naval officer... In the land of many legends they speak of the sun-bronzed sea-princess who was raised among the seals. Shian was first told when very young that she was the princess, and that one day she would meet the sea-prince and be carried off to the kingdom beyond the horizon. When a young man appears journeying the Irish coast he becomes the prince in her eyes, fulfiling the prophecy from the Song of the Seas. They spend an idyllic summer together. Then their tragedy begins.