Chapter 77

Caspian lay back in the crook of his favorite rock, the waters of the river trickling past around him as he watched the twine of his fishing pole drift back and forth in the current. A fish darted close to the bone hook, nibbling inquisitively at the strip of meat trailing from the end, then streaked away downstream.

The splash of Khelt’s spear piercing the water sounded in his ears a moment later. He looked up, then smiled as his friend cursed and withdrew his weapon from the shallows, returning to his perch on the line of stepping stones, body tense as he eyed the riverbed for another target.

“The line catches them more often than the spear,” Caspian said.

“But where is the challenge in holding a line?” Khelt replied, shifting the spear in his grasp to get a better grip. “They say my father could spear a fish the second he saw it. He never needed to wait for his prey to bite.”

“If you spent less time feasting and more time fishing you might be able to as we