Over the days that followed, Ravena and Thal created a bit of a routine. Ravena would meet Thal at the river’s edge in the early morning hours. He’d bring a loaf of bread and a canteen full of tea and sometimes an apple or two. He would attempt conversation and receive silence in return. Ravena would tie Maple to the tree while he started a fire. She would tuck her chemise into a pair of short pants and tame her wild hair into a braid and dip into the frigid waters by the time the sun came up. Armed with a net, a knife, and her sturdy lungs, she was swallowed by the lagoon and regurgitated bearing the catchings of one full trap at a time.
Thal would lounge on the shore and pass the time by occasionally singing or whittling. Sometimes she caught him looking through the shards of jade and quartz she’d found and holding them up to the light. But most of the time she’d find him napping in the warm sun, waking up just long enough to count, measure, and toss the fresh lobsters into the water-sealed box he kept in the boat. Ravena would sit by the fire between retrievals until the shivering stopped and then return to the watery depths. Sometimes she even found a sun-soaked blanket waiting for her between dives. After the final catch, Thal would hand her a small bag filled with a few gold coins, and then sail back up the river towards the palace. Her slightly ragged street clothes were always found folded and waiting for her just beside the fire where Thal had left them to warm.
By the end of the second week, the frostiness she felt towards him had begun to thaw, though she couldn’t even admit this to herself. But she’d started responding to Thal’s chatter in the mornings, and their banter had shifted from snarky to playful. She’d also begun to realize how much she enjoyed having someone waiting for her at the end of her dives, and she’d noticed his eyes resting on her when he thought she wasn’t looking. This didn’t bother her a bit; she’d been watching him, too. But he had those golden eyes, wavy dark hair, and pleasantly defined forearms, so who wouldn’t? Dread had warmed into familiarity, and she found herself waking up each morning with a sense of anticipation. She wasn’t sure how the palace was able to spare Thal so frequently, but she wasn’t upset about it.
Their routine changed on the day of their third full week of trapping. Ravena changed behind the tree like she’d always done while Thal fed Maple the remnants of his apple. The sky was the color of the deep sea and their faces were illuminated only by the warm light from a hearty fire. “Thal,” Ravena mused. “Why don’t you come dive with me tomorrow?” She peeked at him through the branches, eyes flickering with amusement.
Nervous laughter exploded out of Thal’s throat. “Me, dive? Why would I do that when I have you to do it for me?”
“You need the exercise, obviously.” She grinned. “Don’t you get tired of just waiting around? I could never sit around like that for so long.”
“Nah, I’m learning to like just waiting around. And you’ve got it covered, I’d only slow you down. Besides,” he feigned exasperation. “Who would guard Maple? She’s a precious commodity.” Maple nuzzled his neck approvingly.
“Speaking of precious things, are the lobsters breeding? I read in the papers a bit ago that their numbers within the palace were desperately low.”
“I wouldn’t say that. In fact, I’ve never seen the Queen’s water garden so full. I even had to get the men started digging another pond just to fit the excess we’re bringing in.”
“Really? That’s wonderful.” She exhaled in relief, thankful that in one way or another, her debt was being paid.
“Oh sure. The Queen is thrilled. Just means you’re stuck with me for a while, still.”
“That’s unfortunate,” she sat next to the fire to warm her hands and Thal nudged her companionably as he sat down beside her. Ravena had no idea how long they talked, but as the embers began to fade they settled into a comfortable silence. Finally, Thal broke it.
“Listen, I have something I want to tell you,” his eyes met hers, heavier than usual. Her heart sped up while she waited for him to continue. He cleared his throat and shifted. “I probably should have told you this sooner, but I have—” An owl hooted from a nearby tree, and the spell that had been cast on Thal seemed to break. He looked around quickly, as if he’d forgotten where he was. “Blast it, I’d forgotten the time. I have to go.” He stood and helped her to her feet. She smiled through her disappointment while he hustled to set off in the boat. She met him as he unwound the rope from the tree and placed her hand on his. The contact jolted through him and he froze mid-motion.
“Please swim with me tomorrow.”
“Again with this? Hold on, does this mean you actually like me now?”
She rolled her eyes. “Come on, please? Swim with me.” She couldn’t tell if he was feigning reluctance or if he really didn’t want to. Either way, his answer surprised her.
“All right, just for tomorrow.” He let out a deep sigh, but the corner of his mouth twisted up in an annoyed grin as she beamed at him.
“Let me bring the food tomorrow, Thal. I know just the thing.”
He took her hands and squeezed them, eyes lingering on hers. Something seemed to be written in the look he gave her, but she couldn’t tell what it was. Whatever it was, it made her heart squeeze. She stood on the shore as he swung into the boat and watched until he’d rounded the bend and was out of sight.
Excitement rose in her as she counted the money she’d accumulated over the past three weeks. There was just the right amount. She mounted Maple and rode into the Glass City, hopeful that she could catch Mr. Haven before he closed the bakery. She arrived just as he was locking the door, and with a broad smile he swung the door wide and ushered her in and placed two warm loaves in her hands. She shook her head and found tears brimming as she pressed her worn pouch into his hands, overflowing with gold coins. She’d never had this much money in her entire life. It was enough to pay off her entire debt to dear Mr. Haven—and there were a few coins left over for a far-off dream to come true.
. . .
Ravena rode home beaming from ear to ear, frosting-drenched cake tucked carefully in her bag. She’d told Mr. Haven everything. Well, mostly everything. She’d left out the part about the poaching, and had instead told him, rather vaguely, that she had been assisting the Queen’s cause by helping to preserve her most precious resource. She’d regaled him with stories about her exciting new dives and her handsome new friend and the hours they spent talking and working. He’d listened with a raised eyebrow that suggested he knew that she hadn’t told him the entire story, but even so, Mr. Haven had been thoroughly delighted to hear about Ravena’s good fortune. Before she’d left, he’d thrown in an extra piece of cake. “For your friend,” he’d said with a wink. She stepped out of the bakery with a lightness she hadn’t felt in a long time. In addition to the cake, she’d picked up a tin of lemon tea and a newspaper to amuse Thal, in case he decided not to dive with her tomorrow after all. But she knew he would. For her.
River of Glass is a lighthearted fantasy novelette about lies, loyalty, and the price of redemption, with a slow-burn romance beneath the current. This is a tonal departure from my usual work, written just for fun, and it will be shared here in eleven installments.
Chapter Four coming on January 27th, 2026.
© Sophie Alexander, 2026. All rights reserved. Do not repost without permission.
