Sixth Son: Villager in Another World 24

Fishing went as well as could be expected in a shallow creek with few fish. Helen joined me. Meanwhile, a fire burned a small distance away for ash. I wasn't sure how much ash was needed, so I made a guess of one to one. The next day, I mixed the ash with clay and rebuilt the stove and baked the glazed bowl. Both of the pieces of ceramic that were recognizable as bowels survived the process and emerged a shiny, tanned brown.

Helen wasn't interested, so she delved into the forest.

More baking and fishing followed on the third day. The day was too hot to move around much, so Helen sat next to the creek with me and kept away from the fire. This time Quartus and Quintus wandered by with their fishing poles over their shoulders.

"What are you guys doing?" Quartus asked.

"Fishing," Helen answered.

"How do you expect to catch anything with that little piece of wood?" Quintus asked.

I pulled my line from the creek and showed the sliver of wood that I used in place of a hook. The cordage was tied to one side of middle of the splinter. Once a fish bit, the idea was that splinter would rotate and jam itself in the fish's maw.

It was about time for me to check up on my ink. I pulled my line, wrapped it up and hung it from a nearby branch, before making my way to a steady fire nearby.

Quartus followed, while Quintus stayed by the creek.

I stirred the bowl of dark brown liquid with some peeled birch twigs. The color stained the pale wood. The ink was going well.

"What is that for?" Quartus asked.

I mimed dipping a pen into the ink and writing. He nodded. He stood, folded his arms behind his head, and went into deep thought, which was soon interrupted by Quintus's raised voice."

"She's got a bite. Helen's got a bite!"

Quartus and I returned to Helen as she pulled a fish a little longer than her finger from the water.

"What are you going to do with that?" Quintus asked.

"It's too small to eat," Helen said.

"You can use it as bait," Quartus said.

"Not here," Helen gestured at the creek.

"You're right, what about the mill pond?"

Helen considered a moment.

"Come on, Six, let's go," she jerked her chin. "You can bank the fire, right?"

After a moment's thought, I nodded and returned to the fire. I buried the fire under some earth and left the simmering walnut ink next to it. I brought back the other bowl for her little fish, and the four of us headed to the mill pond.