Fishing

The Nawyet was again tacking slowly back and forth across the river. Captain Amaruq, from her customary position at the wheel, took in the morning weather conditions and felt the wind would pick up as the day went on, hopefully increasing their speed. In the back of her mind was the approach to the Empty City, and she knew she was not the only one.

“We are slightly ahead of the pace so far,” Hannah said by way of greeting as she walked up, “and with the angle of the river the next two days we could get lucky with the wind, make even better time, maybe get to the City early.”

Amaruq hid a smile - clearly her first mate was thinking the same as she was. “Aye, might can get some speed this afternoon too. Have Kireama check the mizzen staysail - she had mentioned it might need mending soon and if the wind favours us today, I want to be able to set flying.”

“Aye aye.” Hannah stood there, idly scanning the surroundings. This part of the Northlands was still mostly scrub grass, tundra, and rocky hills, so Amaruq doubted she was suddenly fascinated with featureless terrain.

“Yes, Hannah?”

They had known each other a decade now, so the red-haired first mate quirked a smile and said, “So how was it?”

Amaruq said, “How was what?” and then cursed herself internally for dodging Hannah’s question like a girl with a guilty conscious.

“How was the steward? I saw Noah visiting your cabin two nights ago, and I was hoping for a story or two to keep me going until it’s my turn to have a tumble. And instead, you’ve said nothing at all about him! I must say, I was surprised to see you call on him like that, before the maidens were done.”

The captain fought against the frown she felt developing. Was that a tone of reproach from Hannah? Probably, but Amaruq had to admit that from her point of view it wouldn’t be incorrect. Better to just correct her misapprehension.

“Noah was in my cabin to talk about the war, that is all. To learn about our history.” Even as she said it, Amaruq remembered her drunken kiss and grimaced, “Although, part of wished for more. But it was a night off duty for him, and I would not cut in line, don’t worry.”

“Maybe you should.”

Amaruq turned in surprise. Hannah was now standing with her arms crossed, looking down at the captain in a way that the Kuniq woman occasionally found annoying, but you can’t blame a woman for being half a foot taller than you. Probably.

“What do you mean?” the captain asked.

Hannah rolled her eyes, a slight smile on her face, “Captain… Amaruq… you are my friend. And I’m telling you, as your friend, that everyone can see how you look at Noah, how you talk to him. We all feel it too in some ways, shit I heard Fatima laughing at a joke he made during breakfast! And you clearly are attracted to him, there is no shame in that. You don’t have to pretend you’re above it because you’re the captain. Ancestors know as soon as I can I’m pounding him to his bunk until I can’t walk anymore.”

A gull overhead cried out in annoyance at something. Amaruq scowled up at it, but Hannah remained where she was. Annoying woman, not letting her captain avoid her feelings like she wanted to.

Finally, Amaruq sighed and rubbed at her eyes with a hand, asking, “Is it obvious?”

“Incredibly. Last night I saw you staring at him like the last glass of freshwater on a becalmed ship, which was odd to me since I assumed you had him in your cabin the night before. Granted, I didn’t hear anything, and so far, when Noah beds a woman, you definitely hear it happening!”

The captain had to laugh, “Deep hells, he had Hitty all but shattering eardrums. And you should be in my cabin, it’s… impressive. And impressively distracting.”

Hannah smiled, then said, “The women are starting to get restless. Having a steward for half of one leg of the journey is a gift, no doubting that, but a taste of something wonderful can be a hard thing if it’s taken from you too quickly. And we are only 5 days away from the Empty City.”

“I’m working on that,” Amaruq replied, “and it might be a good idea to have Hyvin talk to Noah about it. She won’t sleep with anyone but her husband back home, so she can ask him about his, er, workload.”

As they spoke, the man in question walked down the deck, rather idly. He leaned on the railing to watch a group of cranes fighting over fish in the shallows, and Ipellie almost tripped over her own feet walking by while staring at his ass on display.

Amaruq asked her first mate, “Who is on half watch today?”

“Hitty had dog watch last night,” Hannah replied.

“Well, lucky coincidence. Ask her to cast some lines out, and suggest she see if Noah wants to help. Having him walk around all bored and curious just makes him cuter somehow.”

Hannah chuckled as Amaruq blushed, annoyed with herself for calling him cute out loud.

Hitty watched as Noah, focusing so hard his tongue partially stuck out of his mouth, tied his large hook onto the line.

“There, like that?” he asked proudly.

“Oh, uh, yeah,” Hitty replied, blushing as she hadn’t actually been looking at what he was doing at all. A quick glance showed he had his hook and lure on the line, albeit with a rather sloppy knot. She wasn’t going to criticize.

They sat on a pair of short camp chairs on the starboard aft railing. Hitty had a net out already to catch some fish, but she and Noah were also going to fish with poles and see if they could catch some supper. Sitting side by side, teaching Noah how to fish (seriously how did a man get to be 22 summers old without knowing how to fish?) had Hitty almost dizzy with happiness. When she had helped him rig the net, their hands touching, their heads bowed so close she could feel his breath on her neck, she had whispered a quick prayer of thanks to Akna, the spirit who watches over women.

“With the current, the fish are likely near the bottom, so we use these heavy sinkers. These strips of cut fish will be good bait and this shiny lure will help too.” Hitty quickly wove the hook and line through the strip of fish bait three times before burying the hook, then repeated the process for her own fishing rig.

Noah was impressed by her dexterous competence. “Damn, you do that so well, it looks so easy.”

She grinned and said, “A lot of practice, maybe over time you can too.” Even as she said it, she recoiled at the realization he was almost definitely not going to get much practice at this at all. Certainly, not with her, or on this boat.

Ignoring that, Hitty told herself to enjoy spending whatever time with Noah she did get. He was so impressed with how much she knew she had to wonder at how little he seemed to know about how to survive, but clearly, he was from a place where people did not fish. Not for the first time, Hitty thought about Noah staying by himself at the Empty City for several weeks and her blood ran cold. Surely, the captain would not allow it now! The man couldn’t even catch a fish!

But she pushed those worries down, lest they ruin her time now. The sun was out and Hitty sat with her first lover, just talking and fishing. They chatted about the weather (good) and the mosquitos (annoying but could be worse), and Noah asked her about her village. She shared some stories of her home which had him laughing, then he described to her how baffling he found some things about life on a boat, which amused her to no end.

“What did Hyvin want to talk to you about?” Hitty asked, “Oh, just curious, not being nosy! Well, I guess I am obviously being nosy, but I was truly just asking for no real reason.”

He smiled, his green eyes flashing, “She wanted to ask me about, well, seeing crew during the day. I agreed, I think I could, how to say it politely, do more throughout the day?”

“You did two last night, ney?” Hitty asked. Part of her, a part she didn’t really dwell on, hated even thinking about Noah and the others, but she had to know. “Well, Macha was bragging this morning, even before you showed up for breakfast. Said she was happy to be able to step in after you had nothing but disappointing virgins.” Hitty, as the first of the virgins in question, couldn’t hide her annoyance at Macha’s very predictable teasing.

Noah paused, then looked around conspiratorially. He whispered, “Can you keep a secret?”

Hitty grinned and nodded, of course.

“Macha was, well, not very memorable last night. I had a great deal of fun with Yura, and then after her Macha was very bold and talked a great game, but actually…” he trailed off and laughed. “I’m sorry, I’m being awful talking about it. But her jokes this morning annoyed me too, because she was not at all the gifted, experienced lover she acts like!”

Hitty couldn’t help but giggle, “I’ll never say, don’t worry! But thank you, it does make me feel better!” The two of them laughed, bashfully. Then Hitty said, “Noah, I want another turn with you. Maybe in a few nights there will be a chance again, and I really hope you say yes if so.”

“Hitty, I would love to, I told you that night and I meant it. Being with you was truly wonderful.” He was staring at her, looking so handsome and serious, Hitty felt like her whole body was trying to float away. Her heart was beating oddly in her chest, and only when her fishing rod jumped in her hands the second time did she snap back to reality and realize she had caught something.