Petrell's “boat” is a one mast sloop with 2 sails.

It is bigger than most other fishermen's dinghy, rafts and other canoe. Our ride is about 7 meters long for 2 wide and has a flat bottom fit for river sailing.

It is an old but well maintained embarkation: the wood is polished by use on some parts yet shiny with a recent coating of polish. Onboard there are a diverse array of nets, lines, and poles but also some impressive harpoons laying at the prow, ready for use.

I voice my concern: “What are we supposed to catch with these?” pointing warily at the harpoons.

My captain answers sternly “They are not for today, don't worry. Namasus won't come in these waters until Fall.”

He pushes the boat afloat and joins me aboard. He keeps the sails down and instead takes a pair of rows to lead us 30 m away from the riverbank. The mist was dispersed by the sun and I can now contemplate the full extent of the river.

Around here the Awanui river is almost 200 meters wide with a calm flow. The waters are dark and murky, rich with silt brought back from under the mountain. This is what makes the river so fishy: there is much nutrients in the waters right now, perfect for algae and krills in turn attracting fish and other predators.

Far down the river in the south, I can make out the giant bridge crossing over to reach the eastern farmlands and orchards. The bridge is officially named “the red emperor's bridge” but since it's the only bridge on the Awanui river, people just wisely call it the big bridge. Upstream here if one wants to cross over, large flat barges are the way to do it.

* * * * * *

Despite our boat being bulkier than the small rafts of other fishermen, my captain still stops at the same distance from the shore as them.

Sensing my surprise he simply says: “Let's start easy, you don't want to go in the middle of the river yet. Trust me. Charavatkeh keeps some big nasty ones there.” Yeah I'll trust your word for it, I'm not in a hurry to see them for myself.

“For today I want you to learn how to cast a line, watch it and reel it back. With fish if possible.” He orders me, each words coming out slowly as if he's speaking to a dumb person or a foreigner. Well, as a young kid I must look like a bit of both to him.

He brings me on starboard and casts 10 lines in a row. He then goes on the other side to repeat the action. “Now we wait and watch. Stay focus.” He is a man of few words.

As I open my mouth to ask a question he just raises his scars covered hand in front of his lips, his index finger calling for silence.

I am left to watch my lines, the flowing waters and the surrounding scenery. Gulls are gathering up overhead the fishermen, crying their hunger out loud, diving to catch the fish guts that are thrown at them as fishermen clean their fish on the get go.

Upstream the first merchants boats are appearing, sailing towards the mercantile docks of the southern district. They have heavy railings reinforced with spikes and blades and the sailors all look more like soldiers than simple crew mates, some of them are even wearing armour despite the drowning risk if they were to fall overboard. Piracy must be a serious threat for them to be so geared up.

I can spot a few fish fins, silver flashes cutting the water surface. I also see a few more worrying sights in the middle of the river: a rosy tentacle that rises from the water to catch a gull and pull it underneath the water, leaving only a few feathers floating... And a big spray of water caused by whatever surfaced to breath in.

Maybe piracy wasn't their sole worry...

After some patient watch two of my lines finally caught something. I gently reeled them up. There was some resistance but nothing that steadiness and a good arm lock couldn't beat. I ended up with 2 fishes onboard: a catfish looking thing with 4 long antennas. The thing was almost half a meter long. And also a smaller rainbow coloured trout: literally looking like a parrot fish going to carnival, not just a fancy name.

“Nicely done, you didn't break a line. Tamayoku favours you.” Compliments my captain before grabbing the fishes and throwing them in a pail full of clear water.

On his side he'd already caught four. Two nice shad looking things with a distinctive vermilion dorsal fin, a fat eel thingy still wriggling on the deck and another rainbow trout.

“Put the mogoi into the pool.” he points at the wriggly eel thing and then at another bigger pail.

It is slimier than anything I've ever touched. Whenever I start to grab a hold of it, some of it scales hardens and cuts at my fingers. After a few more wounds bloodying my hands, i just leave the thing on the floor and stomp on its head, killing or at least stunning it.

Peterell just laughs slowly when it happens, sounding like a mischievous pirate “Harr, harr, Nice one kid. It took me five more cuts before doing the same when I was in your shoes. Mogois are tasty but are a pain to handle. Killing it was the right decision, now I'll show you how to clean it.” He shows his hands full of scars as proof of his experience.

He grabs the limp body with a clothe and guts it with his knife, showing me how to not hurt myself on the sharp scales. He then removes the guts and organs without tainting the flesh and finally skins it from top to bottom. The stripped snake thing is then put in a jar with brine and herbs to both preserve it and start seasoning it.

“Mogois are a delicacy, it will fetch for a good price on the west market.” he happily says in his lazy style, while throwing the guts around the boat, mumbling a small prayer to either Amidea, Otik or Fortan “This will attract more, be ready to reel.” he warns me.

And he is right, as soon as he says so my lines are tugging one after the other.

In the end I broke 5 lines but brought 20 more fishes up. The captain did fare even better and the pool, pails and jars aboard are soon filled to the brim with our prizes.

Fourth morning bell rings and he steers us back ashore. Most other boats do the same.

“No one fishes for the rest of the day?” I'm surprised that work ends so early.

“Now there will be more merchants sailing up and down and the barges crossing the river. They'll trouble the fishes and the tridents will be swimming around, scarying our preys too.” he explains with his unique accent.

“The tridents ?” I retort. What are those now?

He points at 2 men standing on one of the decks a bit further ahead of us. I say men but they are far from it.

They have an aquamarine scaly skin that reflects light and gills on their necks. Their heads are a bit smaller than humans but with eyes that are rounder and bigger, deep blue in colour and with many folds eyelids.

They are wearing some chain-mail and both carry a huge trident, holding it with their webbed hands.

Before I can ask more Peterell completes his explanation: “They are Nereians, merfolks. The city houses a unit of about fifty of them, tasked with securing the waters. They hunt underwater monsters and other dangerous threats. They also make sure the merchants boats are travelling safely. Show them respect whenever you talk to them, they are your lifeline on these waters.” He adds with heartfelt admiration.

“I've never seen any before,” I respond with wonder.

“No surprise, they don't like being ashore. Water is their domain, not the ground.” he states.

They must be one of the 8 humanoids races. I've already seen 5 of them now (Trolls, Beastkins, Humans, Elves and now Nereids, only 3 more to meet, gotta catch them all).

The 2 waterguards dive without a splash in the water despite their mail and weapon, going on patrol.

* * * * * *

He docks the boat and shows me how to fix it to the pontoon. The knot is complex yet easy to reproduce, I learned a bit about knots from surgery. One of the sailor, the one with the liquid fire, comes to check my knot before nodding in approval. “A good lad ye found for yourself Pet'. How'as your catch ?”

My new boss looks at me then at his pools on board before answering with satisfaction “Not bad. A hex catfishs, a few trouts, ara (10) vermilions, enough small fry, two full guddus and a mogoi.” he lists with pride.

The guddus are big brown sea-slugs that smells like rotten meat, they are the source of the grey eggs I ate before.

The old sailor comically raises one eyebrow and whistles in appreciation “Nice catch. The kid is bringing Fortan and Tamayoku in his underwear or what?” making an obscene gesture towards his crotch.

“He broke five lines in total.” answers Peterell, looking at me with exaggerated disappointment. Are 5 lines that big of a deal?

“Still worth it,” rebukes the sailor. He then turns toward me “If you ever get bored of Pet's sullenness, come join me: old Aroku and bring some of that luck with you.” he points at himself. “I'll even let you have some more Drata.” he shows the flask he gave me a sip from earlier when I came out of the cold waters.

I just nod, not wanting to offend either of them.

After that all that was left was to unload the boat and carry most of the catches, still alive in their bassin, to a wheelbarrow. Once done, Peterell took the vermilions out and we gutted them. I say we but it was mostly him as he had to correct my numerous mistakes while I'm learning the technique.

When we were done I was tasked with cleaning the deck, pails and our gruesome mess ashore. Then I was to repair some of the nets although we didn't cast any today. This felt more like the seamstress job I tried to escape from.

When second daybell rang, he taped on my shoulder and brought me to a nearby food-stall.

A middle aged blond lady was serving food to the fishermen around, cooking their fish with a sidedish of soup and blue potatoes.

Peterells gave her 5 small bronze coins and 5 of the smallest vermilions. She grilled them and sprinkled salt and herbs atop, while we drank some warm soup. We then got our plates with fish and potatoes. This is a far better meal than anything i got at the tailor shop. It's not just a snack.

I'll need to eventually teach her deep frying and breadcrumbs. Can bunta make breadcrumbs? I wonder. She will make a killing with fish n chips.

Peterell barely talks with the other fishermen who don't seem to be annoyed by his attitude. They must be accustomed to it. The group jokes and laughs around idly until third daybell.

We then start making our way home. I'm surprised there isn't more work to do. Peterell pushes the wheelbarrow loaded with our fresh catches.

When we arrive in front of my door, he leaves me, giving me 5 eggs he fetched out of one of the gutted guddus, 2 medium sized catfish (almost 3kg of fish) and 10 small bronze coins.

“Next time be careful with the lines, they are made of spider-silk thread and are quite costly.” he lectures me.

I'm happily surprised by the amount of today's bounty. “Isn't this a bit too much? How comes there aren't more fishermen when one can win so much in a day?” I ask with a hint of greed.

He laughs at my naivety “Wise men value their lives highly.” His face turns stern again “Today was uneventful and a great harvest. The mogoi especially will fetch for a good price.” he turns his gaze towards the sky “but not everyday is that smooth. When it gets too windy or rainy, the river can be dangerous as the tridents are busy around. Even with the patrols, boats can get attacked and capsized.” I tremble at the idea: I don't want to fall in the murky waters and discover what a chogsu is. “And sometimes there is just no luck, Amidea keeps the hoard to herself.” he shrugs. “With risk comes rewards, same hour tomorrow. Rest well Telerios.” he takes his wheelbarrow towards market place. Leaving me with my spoil of the day. I give him a polite bow in thanks.

I wait for Gel's return so that we can go milk Godzilla together while recounting our respective days to each other.

Mom was happily surprised with my bountiful loot. And we have catfish pot for dinner.

But I pocketed the coins for myself, storing them for my long term project: buying paper.