Ivarr had never felt bad about eating humans. He had done it since he was a colt. Mankind always wanted to say that they were at the top of the food chain, little did they know. "They pollute everything, not just oceans and rivers," he pointed out. "They pollute the land and the air and they have so many lights, no one can see the galaxy we are in unless they go far away from everything artificial." If Eric had been deep in the ocean for a long time, he might not know how bad it had gotten up top. "You are a little crazy for coming up here if it is still the same below." He shook his head. "But you will have no trouble affording sushi if you only buy essentials like food. You don't look like someone who has a lot of silly and worthless things."
Leaving his shoes where they were, he pulled his shirt from River's back and slipped it back on over his head. "She won't throw you off. Not with me on. They know that I am also one of them, and they know I am their protector and leader, and I do not use harsh bits and yank on their mouths or wear spurs on my feet or any stupid thing man does with horses. I don't use anything on them at all." Taking a bit of mane in his hand, he swung himself easily up onto River's back. Once Eric was settled behind him, he couldn't help but touch one of the merman's hands with a forefinger, wondering if he would feel fishier or more human. River shifted underneath them and he moved his hand to her mane, grabbing a hunk of it. He used it to guide her, pulling it right or left. Unlike humans, horses didn't have any nerve endings in their hair, so it didn't hurt her. He nudged her into a trot and they covered the ground to the stables in quick time.
Once there, he had Eric dismount first, then he slid off and settled River back into her stall, checked on all the other horses one more time, then pulled Eric along toward the sound of the festivities. "You'll like it!" he insisted, bare feet slapping against the ground as he hurried in that direction, still full of energy even after the swim.