Gen and Attolia in a Rowboat

[cyberskiver.livejournal.com]

I know we've been spending most of our time discussing KoA, but recently I've been thinking back to QoA, especially Chapter Fifteen, which, you will remember, contained some very important events and revelations. It has occurred to me that many things could have gone very differently, particularly when Gen and Attolia were in the boat.


Situation:

Eugenides and Attolia are in a boat, that, fortunately for Eugenides, possesses sails. The sea is quite choppy, and the wind is behind them. There are cliffs nearby, and lots of rocks near the coast. By the time they reach the cove, the wind has died and the water is still.

Neither Eugenides nor Attolia can swim.

Eugenides loves Attolia, but she does not realize this.

Attolia cannot steer the boat.

Eugenides cannot row the boat.

Weapons:

Eugenides has one hand, a hook, Attolia's three knives, and a marriage proposal.

Attolia has a paddle.

Several 'What ifs':

What if Attolia had taken Eugenides by surprise by clubbing him with the paddle?

What if Attolia had refused to row anywhere until they had decided on terms that pleased her more?

What if Eugenides had told her he loved her while they were still in the boat? Would Attolia have acted differently?

It seems to me that if Eugenides really had drowned Attolia, he wouldn't have been able to row to shore. Could Attolia have called his bluff?

Anyway, further thoughts would be welcome.