Faolán stared at Valia, wondering how it was that someone could say, completely straight-faced, that missing a festival was just as bad as torturing and hanging someone. Nobles were awful! To threaten lives so easily, and take them on a whim, for such minor things! Well...nobles were awful, except for Aella, who was sweet and gorgeous.
Why couldn't he escort Aella?
Still cursing his luck--Ansgar had to be testing him this day!--he dug around along the sides of the boat until he found an oar, and then, with another sigh, he took a seat at the back of the boat and started to row.
Unfortunately, he had no experience with rowing, and ended up rowing on one side alone, which just made the boat turn in a giant circle.