After a mile or so of trotting Jewel lets the horse slow to a more comfortable walk. She remembers the walk from the city and knows the horse will get her there faster than the stroll they had taken. Thinking about things she wonders if Tarjun had thought to ask where the Barrast's home was? She'd spent a lot more time with their father, talking about the future. She liked to plan.... She wondered if Tarjun realized how much he was like Clara?
She rides along at the slow pace for about an hour, wondering how long it would take to catch up.... Were they paddling or just floating along? Wondering she decides to send Chirp after them at her faster pace. "Find the boat Tarjun is in. If you reach the city without finding them turn around and come back."
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"Not now, Chirp!" Tarjun gestures wildly and nearly drops his oar into the water in a desperate attempt to shoo the bird away. Disappointed that it cannot perch in its favorite spot (i.e: Tarjun's hair), Chirp flies safely to the branch of a nearby tree, tilting its head curiously at the children in the boat.
"This paddling's getting annoying," the boy grumbles. "It probably would have been faster if we made a raft with a sail."
"We could just not paddle." Clara suggests and stops. "The river is running slowly, but in the right direction."
Looking around at all the trees she adds "There is no real wind here."
Chirp flies over the canoe a couple of times chirping something.
"I don't know. But as long as it doesn't rain, I don't care. We can just lay down and wait until we arrive." Clara puts the oar into the boat and tries to find a position where she can lie comfirtably and watch the sky.
"Hey chirp. Jewel can catch up soon. We're not in a hurry."
Chirp circles and chirps out "Thank you." and leaves.
When Chirp gets back Jewel listens to her chirped words and smiles. She continues along at a relatively comfortable walk for the horse. She doesn't care that horse is just a magically conjured animal. To her it is an animal, to be treated with respect. Besides, she was enjoying the ride and the quiet. And from what Chirp had said she'd catch up with Tarjun and Clara in a little over an hour.
It actually took almost two hours. Chirp had nested in Jewel's pocket and was sound asleep as she road up within sight of the canoe. "Hi guys. Are you planning on pulling over to shore at lunch time? Or just continue along and eat in the canoe? I'd rather stop, but I could continue riding while eating."
"Not sure." Clara calls back. "But my back hurts. Maybe we should stop."
Jewel shakes her head with a grin. Too tiring laying in the bottom of a canoe? "Well sit up and paddle toward the shore. There looks like a nice spot just ahead if you don't float past it. Come ashore and pull the canoe enough so it won't float away. I brought a blanket to sit on while we eat."
Once they get the crude canoe to the side she grabs a hold and pulls it a few feet up the beach and holds it steady while they disembark, then pulls it farther onto the beach.
Once the get seated she pulls out a small wrapped package. "Mom packed these in for... lunch or dinner, depending on when we'd have a chance." Opening the package there are six small tarts. "She said cherry, from Annesley. I got the feeling that they had planned things for a while. I was surprised though. I didn't think we'd be moving out for a few more years...."
"Clara? You're going to move in with your Grandmother right? How about you Tarjun? I know Mom and Dad mentioned the Barrasts to you, but I didn't hear if you accepted that. Besides, we don't know if Mrs. Jonson would be OK with you moving in too. We're not her family like Clara is."
"Drag it on land? It's not that big."
Jewel watches as the canoe floats by.... "Just paddle it straight into the shore. I'll grab the front end and pull you up."
Clara paddles to the shore with Tarjun until they land and waits for Jewel to make true on that offer to pull the boat with both on them in out of the water.
Jewel would have to do the first pull, then hold the boat steady....