River Summer — Meyari McFarland

Lurking in the water, Gods sang of debts and change. Water lapped against the side of the barge, slapping, gurgling, endlessly burbling along against the hull, carrying songs of fish, of snake-heads flowing up and down the river, of mer chattering, clicking, laughing in counterpoint to the water's ever-present song. Duru just wanted some sleep. Was that too much to ask? The water didn't have to grab his attention and force him to listen. But it did. A debt was owed, and Duru had a choice to make that might change not just his life but the entire world, too.