The Ebb and Flow of Tides

Disclaimer: All characters and locations herein are the property of Tamora Pierce. Plot and actual written words owned by me.

Winds whipped at her hair and clothes, weighed with the pervasive smell of brine. Sitting on the narrow bench that filled the boat's bow, she could watch Aly battling with assorted ropes and the flapping sail, or adjusting the position of the tiller at the stern. She couldn't help, never having sailed even a rudimentary craft like this one, but she enjoyed watching Aly so within her element, padding barefoot over the smooth wooden deck, her forehead creased in concentration.

The spring weather, which when they lifted anchor was so chilly that Kel protested Aly's light garb and bare feet, grew warmer as the afternoon waxed. The sunlight reflected off the water, intensifying. Kel fully expected to return home that evening with more freckles than she'd left with. The bronzing of Aly's face, forearms and feet was recent, so Kel knew Aly had been sailing her father's early birthday present, the aptly-named Trickster, often.

"Hand me a flask, will you, darling?" called Aly over the rushing wind. "They should be under the seat."

Reaching under the bench she pulled out a round wicker basket covered in a striped cloth. She hefted it onto her lap and undid the ties that secured the covering, reaching beneath it to pull out a leather flask of some liquid, which she deposited in Aly's outstretched hand. "What is it?" she asked loudly.

Aly winked. "Not spirits, if that's what you fear."

Kel smiled, sighed and shook her head.

"Yes, I am a silly girl, aren't I?" said Aly with a broad grin.

"I'm not sure how safe I feel, with all that silliness navigating," replied Kel, straight-faced.

Slackening her grip on a rope, Aly reached over to slap her knee lightly. Kel caught hold of her hand and pulled it up to her lips, and Aly giggled when she kissed it. Eventually she gave up and released the rope entirely, settling herself and her flask on the deck at Kel's feet, leaning against her legs and resting her head on her knee.

Almost of its own accord, Kel's hand reached down to her, tracing her lips and the arc of one cheek with a hesitant finger.

"How do you like my boat?"

"Quite a lot. Almost as much as its captain, in fact."

"You shouldn't tease like that!" admonished Aly, mock-hurt.

"Why?" asked Kel, smiling faintly.

"It's not seemly."

"That's never stopped you."

Aly frowned, considering. "Yes, that's true," she said gravely. "That leaves me with the choice of sacrificing either my teasing or my right to scold."

"Which will you pick?" asked Kel with interest.

"Alas, I could bear to part with neither," admitted Aly. Biting her lower lip, she hoisted herself up to crowd next to Kel on the bench. Sitting close against her, she again rested her head on Kel's ready shoulder and the other draped an arm around her back.

"That leaves you with being a hypocrite," she pointed out.

Aly grinned. "I can live with that."