Hands of the Sea (The Magic of Thedes, Book 2) *preview*

When I Found the Sea

 "Never enter the ocean at night. The seas can be an angry place, Eferee. We may hunt the water in the daylight, but the nighttime is when the seas belong to the hunters whose home we borrow. Never enter that world. It belongs to the gods of the seas, and men must not go there." –My father always said.

Winters by the sea, my sea, get very cold, but aren't too hard to weather. My village is on the west shore out of Thedes and a little north where the weather is gentle and warm winds blow most of the year. I remember getting sick over one of those winters. My chest ached badly. I could hardly breathe and when I coughed I rattled. The doctor said breathing through my nose would help but it didn't because it felt like a hand was pressed over my face, as if something much bigger than me was sure I should die, and they thought I would but I didn't. Since then there are things I'm not allowed to do, like running and swimming. When you can't run, everywhere takes longer to get to and living by the sea isn't as fun when you can't go into it.

Spending time with boys is generally discouraged by my father, because as he says, boys play too rough and I'm not supposed to be rough. Not that I played with boys before I got sick. Who wants to spend time with the boring little girl from the nice house up the hill?

The only time I go out is when my parents make me go out with them. Even though I'm only supposed to sit and watch them, still they say it's good to get out of the house; which is funny because they're the ones keeping me there in the first place. I guess they think it's good for me to go out just so long as they can keep an eye on me, not that they are tonight. They're busy dancing while I sit in my favorite spot where I can see through the open windows of the town hall, where I can hear the music and where I can be generally undisturbed. I like being undisturbed. Sometimes though, a pack of kids my age find me, always the same pack and they always act surprised. They never have any idea what to say to me so they lower their voices and then hurry past as if they don't want to disturb whatever I was doing. So I sit here, not much to do. My parents won't let me bring my books. I love my books, but they want me to talk instead. Talking isn't as effortless as they think.

Tonight, there was this boy came up to me, staring straight at me, looking happy and calm, which I thought was an unusual way for a boy to look when he walks up to a girl. Then these three girls my sister's age, his age, tiptoed nearby, whispering and giggling like idiots something about the boy and me. When they heard him actually ask me to dance they scattered, and all of a sudden the boy and I were alone. He was still calm and I liked that he was calm, but then I was probably too little girly to frighten him. I'd seen the boy around and liked him fine, but I think I might have accidentally been staring at him so he was maybe thinking that I wanted to dance with him and that's why he came over and is now standing here expectantly while I'm not saying anything and he's thinking that I'm coy, and I despise coy. My sister plays coy with boys. I've seen it and don't buy it. I don't like boys who buy it either. But still, I thought, staring coyly back at him. I didn't know how to talk to boys. What was I supposed to do? I'm not allowed to dance, but I like this one. I'd like him to talk to me.

He offered his hand and I immediately turned a little away from him, just like Em would have done, and frustrated with myself I accidentally ran a hand through my hair and tucked it behind my ear before I could stop myself. I was falling right into that silly boy/girl game. It's the only way I'd ever seen boys and girls talk and it was like I couldn't even help myself. Warm anger flushed my cheeks. Perfect! Now I look like I'm blushing. Might as well toss my handkerchief on the ground.

I've watched Em do this so many times and I thought it was so silly, but I guess there are just things you can't help but do when you're nervous. Like how I was fidgeting with a seashell, and of course, just as I realized I was doing it, dropped the stupid thing on the ground.

Time slowed for a moment as his knees bent and his proffered hand lowered towards the ground, and in that same slow moment, determined to end my helpless, girly, simpering act, I sprang off my seat and tackled the seashell with both hands. I looked like a kitten in doing so, and I know he noticed, but at least I got it and hadn't fallen into his arms or swooned like some girls are wont to do. It wasn't my fault (I think) that when I stood up my shoulder connected with his jaw. He shouldn't have been standing over me like that. I retreated to my seat, determined not to offer sympathy for hitting him in the face. I mustn't fawn or simper or be disgusting like Em. God, I was confused!

"You okay?" he asked, rubbing his jaw and still smiling at me.

"No", I thought angrily. "My collarbone is bruised, you idiot." I should have said it. Instead I bit my lip and nodded. Of course I did.

He gave a small shrug and extended his hand, silently asking me to dance a second time. I wasn't allowed to dance, but even my parents wanted me to talk. This time, well in control of myself, I turned deliberately away from him towards the sea and let the first words that came to mind come tumbling out. I was hoping for something brilliant.