"Let's catch some fish for mommy, eh?" said Fiontann while taking the child in his arms and put it down on the ground next to him. It was early in the morning and the two of them went for fishing, leaving Cedwyn at home to go about her usual routine with the baking and the deliveries. Averick was enthusiastic about it, he put on his little boots and the hat that Fiontann gave him some weeks ago and now the man took him on the trip he promised. They went fishing by the lake a couple of hours away from the hamlet of Hamglen. The boy ran and stood by the water leaning over and watching. Fion started unloading the gear for fishing, the two rods, the baits and a small basket for they fish they would catch.
"There are fish here, mr Feeontann." called out the boy pointing at the water. The man turned to look and smiled.
"Yes, they are waiting for us it seems. Let's prepare the rods." Fion rubbed his hands and took the small box with the essentials for fishing and the basket.
"Bring the rods and let's prepare."
The boy nodded and ran back to the tree where Fion put the rods leaning against and carried them by the waterside. The two sat down together and attached the string to the rods. Averick wasn't new to this apparently and they went on to tie properly the hooks and then bait them. When everything was ready they stood side by side with the basket behind them and got ready. Fiontann swung first and threw as fast as he could, Averick did the same and the two stood patiently and waited for the bite. Not long had past before the first bite, Fiontann felt the tug and opened his eyes wide, with an over-exaggerated enthusiasm he called to Averick.
“I’m winning! I caught something!” and feigned pulling the rod back, then he leaned forward suddenly as if pulled himself. They boy laughed and shouted.
“Pull, mr Feeontann.”
Fion pulled and took a step back lifting the rod, he held on to the string with his left hand and started pulling it. He let out a sigh.
“It’s a big one, I see that!” and he finally pulled out the fish.
“Oh, it’s a minnow…” and his enthusiasm left him.
They boy laughed again.
“That’s small mr Feeontan. Loo’ a’ me now.” said Averick and puffed his chest proudly.
Fion threw the fish in the basket and put hooked another bait and swung once more. Some moments later Averick felt a tug, he remained quiet and calm and followed the motion of the string patiently, then suddenly he started pulling. Fion looked at him admiring without interfering, he let the boy do it on his own, unless he would ask for help. Averick stepped back pulling at the string and soon he dragged a dace out fish jumped on the sand and Fion took it off the hook and threw it in the basket.
“That’s a good one, good job!”
“Thank you, mr Feeontann.” said the boy holding out the rod for Fion to bait it again.
The morning passed pleasantly. The two caught a good amount of fish and exchanged stories, Averick told Fion of his adventures with his father and his mother and Fiontann told him some of his without getting into details about violence or specific deeds. The boy told him about his studies and what he has been taught so far and named a few of the plants around them. Fion only nodded, having no idea that they were named so.
“Your mother’s a good teacher, Averick. And you are clever and took after her.”
The boy nodded with a beaming smile and wandered about to gather some flowers for Cedwyn. Fiontann packed the horse and the two mounted Hedinn and headed back home.
