Hook, Line, and Sinker

  The next shop that drew her attention was called Hook, Line, and Sinker.  Valenthia wrinkled her nose, but had to stop in.  It was, of course, a fishing supply shop.

  The shop was drab grey, a testament to how long it had stood.  The outside was draped in a large, heavy net, the kind that ships dragged behind to net fish.  There were buoys carved of wood and a fishing pole projected above the doorway from which the sign was hung.

  Inside there were troughs filled with water with small baitfish swimming in them.  Other troughs held loamy dirt that smelled of worms.  There were racks of various poles, spears, fine silken lines, nets of various shapes and sizes.  Everything a fisherman could want.

  The owner, a toothless old man sat on a stool smoking a rancid smelling pipe.  His name was Paulie the Fishman, as the sign on his counter read.

  "Kin I help ya?" he croaked, not bothering to get up.

  "Oh, just looking, thanks." replied Valenthia with a weak smile.  She had taken an immediate dislike to the place as soon as she saw it.  It was her future if she could not find a way to succeed as an adventurer.

  "Got 'bout anything ya can need.  Even teach ya how to wiggle the worm a bit!" he cackled at his own joke.

  Valenthia hurried out.

River Quarter