The Mermaid of Colbridge
A Mercerian Fable
A long time ago, when the kingdom was in its infancy, the city of Colbridge was a great port. Ships and boats would make their way down the river, past the ancient swamp, to the sea of storms where all manner of strange creatures lived.
In the city lived two brothers, Aiden and Caiden, who were fishermen by trade. Every morning, before the sun was up, they would launch their boat on the riverbank and sail downstream to fish near the mouth of the river. Here they would cast out their net, letting it sink to the depths, to be pulled back in with its haul.
Three times they cast their net, each time bringing up a meagre haul.
“This is not working,” complained Aiden.
“There are not enough fish here,” agreed Caiden. “Let us go further out into the
