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“I—I promise. But—”
“Good.” He took my hand, his attention already elsewhere when a voice shouted over the hullabaloo, announcing the boarding of the Cull ferry. “They’re loading. Come on, I want to get a spot that keeps us as far from them as we can get.”
Goodness, but he sure didn’t like those two men. They didn’t seem all that pleasant, not with the glares they kept sending both me and Farrow, but they hadn’t actually done a single thing to cause problems yet, either.
I decided Farrow was overreacting just a tad.
As it happened, we did not get to board first. The ferry master had all the animals loaded before the humans. I patted Caramel as she passed, silently wishing her good luck and hoping she didn’t get seasick. When people were finally allowed on the pontoon next, Farrow was a bit rude with how he nudged others aside to keep them from even accidentally bumping into me.
Once all the passengers were on board, we were given instruction by the ferry master, who had to yell to be heard above everyone.
“The ferry stops for no one,” he began, his booming voice echoing over the roar of the river. “If you drop a satchel into the water, we do not stop. If you drop a child into the water, we keep going. If you fall into the water, have a nice life. Is that understood?”
When everyone mumbled their understanding, the ferry master went over a few more rules before hollering, “And finally, ladies! If any of you are wearing fine, sparkling jewels today, take them off right now, please. The river monsters have been thick this season, and they’re attracted to anything shiny that casts a reflection into the water.”
A buzz of confusion went through the crowd. When someone said, “River monster?” the ferry master nodded.
“Aye, Coral Reef Killers, they’re called. Swimmers with hard, elongated, pointy bills, they’ll jump right out of the water and kill you if you flash them too many of your shiny baubles.”
Having heard enough, I reached for the clasp of my wrist guards, but Farrow caught my hand. “Just lift the hood of your cloak over you to hide them,” he suggested, bidding me not to remove anything.
I furrowed my brow. “But—”
He rolled his eyes. “It’s fine. The savagery of Coral Reef Killers is mostly an old wives’ tale, a scare tactic to keep people from getting too close to the edge of the barge. I’ve never heard of anyone actually being harmed by such a fish.”
Not sure why he wanted me to keep my jewels on, I nodded and drew up my hood before tucking my hands into the inside pockets of the cloak.
As the ferry master untied the rope from the lodge and pushed us away from the dock with the biggest pole I’d ever seen, the wooden planks under my feet shifted and moved. Everyone lurched with the sway of the watery movement.
Farrow and I latched on to each other and made eye contact.
Here we go, we seemed to tell each other.
“Not the most comforting sensation,” Farrow allowed, glancing around us uneasily before his gaze landed on the palace guards loitering on the other side of the ferry. Eyes darkening, he glowered a moment before turning back to me. “I’ll be happy when we’re on dry land again.”
No doubt. I pressed my hand to my roiling stomach. “I think I might already be getting seasick.”
Farrow studied my face, and it must’ve turned green enough to concern him because he gripped my elbow through my cloak and hauled me to the edge of the ferry where I could hug the wooden side rails and feel the breeze on my face. It was misty and smelled faintly of fish, but the briskness was nice.
I inhaled deeply through my mouth. “Thank you,” I said after a moment, sagging back against him. “That feels much better.”
He wrapped an arm around my waist to support me, so I sank deeper into him to enjoy the moment. Closing my eyes, I turned my nose up to the wind and let it caress my cheeks fully.
We stayed that way for probably an hour, if not more, just holding each other and enjoying our first boat ride together.
“The water’s running swiftly today,” Farrow observed, speaking to me alone, but another voice answered him.
“Aye, we’re making good time.”
I opened my lashes and peered around my partner to spy one of the other riders also standing at the edge of the ferry as if he too enjoyed feeling the wind on his face.
Still leaning against Farrow, I asked the stranger, “Do you ride often, sir?”
He nodded. “Every weekend. I go home to see my wife and children in Blayton.”
I shook my head, confused. “Do you not live with them otherwise?”
Finally meeting my gaze, he murmured, “No, miss. I cut wood down south in Dimway. A crew of us are working on widening the king’s road for our bread and meat.”
