The Sailor in the Wind

A heavy wind wracked the water above Gulfia. Julrane floated near the surface, letting the rougher currents carry her back and forth and spin her around.

She felt hands grab her arm from above and pull her out of the waves. Someone dragged her into a moderately sized wooden boat and deposited her on the boat’s floor. At first she was too surprised to move. She was still getting her bearings when a young man stood over her, an astonished expression on his face. Since he now filled her entire line of vision, she studied his appearance. The wind was blowing his hair like a flag. His face was wet from where he’d gotten splashed pulling her out of the water, showing his sharp, jagged features.

She lifted herself closer to him, and slapped him across his stupid wet face with all the force of an arm strengthened by continual swimming and digging. He reeled sideways and she heard him slam into the side of the boat just before she leapt back into the water.