The River Flows

How Ivar Frederiksen benefits by traveling down the Flone with the Riverfolk:

gaiety, ceremoniousness and friendliness;
little towns where the ship loads and unloads;
long green stretches between the towns;
harsh wisdom of his Ythrian traveling companion;
serene wisdom of the ship's chaplain;
pragmatic wisdom of the captain;
attention and companionship from the captain's young daughter;
"...the river, mighty as time..." (12, p. 169) (For full reference, see the previous post here);
"days and nights...like a foretaste of eternity..." (ibid.);
healing;
time to plan to start acting instead of reacting.

Action heroes need rests from action.