Porch

"Hey-oh! Here! Hello!"

Fabienne looked over to the river bank. Her ship was passing through a little town. The river she was currently sailing was small and meandering, barely suitable for more than the barge she was on. It was hot, almost like the middle of summer, even though it was still late spring. And now she was seeing tiny old ladies waving at her from their porches built half into the river. Or, well, at least one such old lady.

"Heeellooooo!" the woman cried again, waving with greater fervor.

Fabienne raised a hand in salute. The old lady confused her.

"Come, come, stop for a while!" the woman shouted. She pointed at a pole they could hitch her barge to.

Fabienne looked over her crew. Most of them were human. That was, three out of the five were. The other two and her... Well, if they kept their scarves on and didn't smile, they should be fine. Otherwise, there would be questions about the gills and pointy teeth. Questions Fabienne wasn't sure how to answer. The two were nixes, after all.

"There's tea and fresh bread!" the woman called.

Fabienne sighed. "Alright! We’re coming! We’re taking a break with you, good lady!" She shouted at her crew to pick up their poles and push the barge over to the porch.

"So nice of you," the old lady beamed. In the time it took for Fabienne and her crew to moor their barge, she'd gone into her cottage and come out with a tray. She wasted no time handing out mugs and offering cheese and bread to everyone. "It's not often I get guests like you," she said with a twinkle in her eyes. She even winked at Fabienne. "Most bargees here don't hold with magic, you know? It's so refreshing to see mixed crews like yours. I just had to offer you some refreshments."

Fabienne couldn't help boggle at her.

The old lady laughed. "Oh, girlie, you don't spend a life on this riverbank without meeting a nix or two. Please, please, have a rest. My neighbors should return soon, too. If you want to try some of my cooking, I am attempting to appeal to humans and nixes alike. So please, stay, stay. It’s fresh trout for dinner."

Fabienne sighed deeply. Her crew looked very eager to stay. So she nodded. The old lady reminded her of someone, with her openness and eagerness to meet new magical creatures. No trace of fear or worry. Truly amazing that there should be another human like this. She was really starting to miss Talea.

But for now, it was a fine afternoon to relax on this porch, hang her naked feet in the river and listen to her crewnixes teach the old woman some of their dialect from downriver.

Fabienne closed her eyes, turning her face to the sun.