Zarn was out exploring with his friends again. The afternoon sun cast long shadows over the Makteng River as Zarn and his friends, Baras and Lillim, darted through the dense reeds, their laughter echoing across the water. He had chores he was supposed to be doing, but he had decided to put them off again. Now the boys were heading back as storm clouds started gathering. They moved quickly along the path of the Makteng River, their small village’s source of wealth.

The boys’ village was a small fishing settlement known as Beltok. According to the lessons they had learned, the village was less than five decades old, created by the then Regional Governor, Lord Markus Korvan. Zarn didn’t care for the Korvans or any of the nobility, really. All they did was show up and take what the villagers had worked hard for. If they didn’t comply, they would be arrested or worse.

A crack of thunder roared through the sky, followed by a flash of lightning, as the boys picked up the pace, trying to get back home before the heavy rains started. As they neared the village, they saw Zarn’s older brother, Alfus, waiting for them.

He gave them a sour look. “You were supposed to have brought the boat in. The river is already overflowing. No one can go out there now. We might lose that boat. Dad is pissed.”

Zarn scowled, kicking a loose pebble into the water. He knew he was in the wrong, but the day had started so bright and promising that he couldn’t resist going off with Baras and Lillim. Who knew it was going to rain to the point it was going to flood? “Yeah, yeah, I know… Let’s just get back before the storm hits. I’ll deal with Dad.”

Alfus gave a look to the other boys, Baras and Lillim. “You better get going.” They both shared a sympathetic look with Zarn and ran off. Just then, the heavy downpour began. All four of them took off running in the direction of their homes.

By the time Alfus and Zarn got to their small wooden cottage, they were soaked through. They rushed inside, and their mother yelled at them for being out in the rain, ordering them to divest themselves of their wet clothes before they got sick. After a change of clothes and gathering with the rest of their large family, they sipped on warm fish broth their mother provided. That’s when their father, Ohern, came in.

“It’s no use. The river has swelled over the banks, and the boat is gone. It’s going to be a miracle to find it in one piece, if at all. Where were you today, Zarn?” he asked, giving him a stern look. He was dripping with water, his face tired and exhausted. Zarn thought it was unfair that their mother had yelled at him and Alfus when their father was dripping far more water than they did. Now she was being suspiciously quiet, he thought.

“Well… I…” He tried to think of an answer that would lessen what he was sure was going to lead to significant punishment.

His father just sighed and shook his head. “You are going out with your brother tomorrow on the remaining boat. We need to bring in a fresh haul. I don’t want to hear otherwise. Alfus, make sure you take him when you set out.” Alfus nodded his head.

Zarn, while not happy with the outcome, thought he had gotten off lightly. But his father continued, “Don’t think that’s the end of it, Zarn. You’ll be going out every day that any of us set out till I say so. Abby, have a plate ready for me, I haven’t eaten since morning.” He saw his mother move to fulfill his father’s request while he put his head down in despair at the thought of all the playtime with his friends he was going to lose.