“Keep their bow there,” Lyra told Corl.
He followed her glance toward Bram Alder’s hand and held the distance between the first two boats.
The narrow water opened beside the posts. Lyra’s silver ward marker showed the clear edge without touching the current. Maud crouched over her trays, counting damaged leaves as though each had personally disappointed her.
At the entry platform, Felix’s timed signal remained visible.
Then fog crossed it.
Ned raised the fallback board. No new entry. The boats already inside kept the safe observed pace, leaving the channel clear rather than trying to stop across it.
Corl glanced back once, read the board and returned to the water ahead.
“This pace suits people with no crops left to plant,” Maud muttered.
