“I miss Simmea myself, but—” she shook her head. “I had thought the journey was doing him good.”

“It is,” I said, truthfully. “He hasn’t been like that anything like as often since we set off.”

“I suppose it’s hard for him to deal with knowing it wasn’t the Goodness Group who killed her,” Maia said, staring after him. “He was so hoping for spectacular revenge. You’d think he’d realize it does no good. It wouldn’t matter how much he avenged her, he wouldn’t get her back.”

Neleus grunted and went off after Father.

We were lost for two more days and stopped for water twice before we found somewhere that matched our charts. Father told me that he knew exactly where we were all the time, but of course he couldn’t let anyone know, other than by suggesting a direction, and they wouldn’t always listen. I didn’t have that sense, and neither did Phaedrus or Kallikles, but Father said it probably was just familiarity with the geography.

Once we knew our location we crept south along the shore of Asia until we passed Lemnos, which was full of savage villages. We didn’t go ashore. Then we reached Lesbos, where we arrived at a well-built city of marble columns and whitewashed stone houses with red tile roofs on the north shore. The Goodness was tied up at the wharf. It looked just like the Excellence except that it seemed to be missing a mast and the sides were visibly patched with wood of different shades. I wondered how difficult it was to maintain her without Workers.

“We have missed the festival,” Aristomache said sadly, as we tacked into the harbor under a blazing noon sun. “Today’s the last day. There’ll be nothing left but gladiatorial combats. And I was hoping your father would compete. I remember his music.”

“If his lyre didn’t get drowned in the storm I’m sure he will compete if there’s a chance,” I said. “And even if we have completely missed it, I’m sure he’d play for you. There’s nothing he likes better than singing, except maybe composing.”

We were close enough now to see that people on shore were rushing about in evident surprise. “We’re not going to be able to tie up the way we did at Marissa, there’s only room for one ship,” Erinna said.

After the envoys went ashore and negotiated with the Lucians, we arranged to anchor in the harbor, keep one watch aboard ship at all times, and send everyone else ashore in the little boat. “And no swimming!” Caerellia said, firmly. “We’re in civilization here and don’t you forget it!”