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all the cities of the RegiVul loop; its crew had provided his army for the battle of Ov. With Sapphire he had unmasked the sorcerers and discovered their secrets. Now someone—and he still did not know who—had called a tryst in Casr. To Casr he must go. Looking at Nnanji beaming idiotically as he held Thana’s hands, he wondered if his party was about to be restored to the sacred number. Possibly Sapphire’s part in his mission was ended, and he was about to leave this easy, informal River life and complete his quest ashore.
    Yet Apprentice Thana was showing few signs of cooperating, although Nnanji now proposed to her regularly—three times a day, after meals, Wallie suspected. She clearly had no illusions about that redheaded idealist who regarded honor as life’s purpose, kilting as his business, fencing and wenching as the only worthwhile recreations. Looking at the two of them, lost in their private conversation, Wallie would not have been surprised to learn that his lusty young protege* was describing his rooming’s exploits in the brothel. He was quite capable of doing so and then
     
    wondering how he had offended. Yet certainly Nnanji had some major part to play in the gods’ mission, for Wallie had been directed to swear the fourth oath with him, the oath of brotherhood.
    Oath of brotherhood or not, Nnanji would be reluctant to leave Sapphire without Thana. Suppose she would not go? What would the gods do then?
    He must discuss that possibility with Honakura.
    Two hours later, reeking like a tannery, Sapphire cast off. As she did so, another ship pulled into an empty berth ahead and two nimble young swordsman Seconds jumped ashore without even waiting for the plank. They were at once accosted by a Fourth and three Thirds, whom Wallie had already identified as followers of the head,hunting Sixth. By nightfall that Sixth would have collected all the loose swordsmen in town.
    Wallie had gone up on the fo’c’sle to stay out of the sailors’ way. He was leaning on the rail with Nnanji beside him. Thana was next to Nnanji.
    “On to Casr!” Nnanji said in a satisfied tone.
    “We may be back!” Wallie warned him, watching the two Seconds being marched off to meet the absent Sixth and swear their oaths.
    “What! Why, brother?”
    Wallie explained his theory that the Goddess might be wanting him to recruit a private army. Nnanji pouted mightily—he would be greatly outranked by a Sixth.
    “I hope that is not the case,” Wallie assured him. “But why else would she have brought all these swordsmen to Tau? It is a long way to Casr. I am sure that the Goddess is capable of better aim than that.”
    “Ah!” Nnanji looked relieved. “It is not only Tau! Swordsmen have been arriving at Dri and Wo, also. And Ki San, appparently. Even Quo.”
    The ways of gods were inscrutable. Perhaps, though, the docks at Casr could not handle the traffic, and the Goddess was using these outlying ports as way stations...
    “Quo?” Wallie echoed.
    Nnanji chuckled and glanced sideways at him. “It is on die
     
    next loop of the River! There is a wagon trail over the hills from Casr to Quo, brother! One day by road and twenty weeks by water, so I’m told.”
    “Where did you hear this?”
    “During intermission!” Nnanji leered. Then he remembered that Thana was present, and his face suddenly matched his hair; perhaps his social skills were improving, slightly.
    There was also a trail from Ov to Aus, Wallie knew, although land travel was very rare in the World. There were no maps in the World, because there was no writing, and because the geography was subject to change without notice, at the whim of the Goddess. But Wallie had a mental picture of the usual form of the landscape, and he now sought to adjust it. What had Nnanji thought of, to put that grin on his face?
    “Another loop?” Wallie said. “Then Casr is strategic!”
    Nnanji looked vaguely disappointed that his mentor had worked that out so quickly. He