"I am impressed. I have met nowarrior before who could read-and you fought well."

      "Not well enough." The tone wasflat. "Now I must seek the mountain."

      "I am sorry this had to pass,"Sol said sincerely.

      The nameless one nodded curtly. No morewas said for a time. They took turns in the shower compartment, also set in thecentral column, and dried and changed clothing, indifferent to the presence ofthe girl.

      Bandaged on head and leg, they shared thesupper the girl prepared. She had quietly folded down the dining table from thenorth face and set up stools, while she kept her feet and ferried dishes fromrange and refrigerator-the last of the fixtures of the column. They did notinquire the source of the spiced white meat or the delicate wine; such thingswere taken for granted, and even looked down upon, as was the hostel itself.

      "What is your objective inlife?" the nameless one inquired as they lingered over the ice cream, andthe girl washed the dishes.

      "I mean to fashion an empire."

      "A tribe of your own? I have no doubtyou can do it."

      "An empire. Many tribes. I am askilled warrior-better in the circle than any I have seen. Better than themasters of tribes. I will take what my arm brings me-but I have not encounteredany I wish to keep, except yourself, and we did not contest for mastery. Had Iknown how good you were, I would have set different terms."

      The other chose to ignore the compliment,but it pleased him. "To build a tribe you need honorable men, proficientin their specialties, who are capable of fighting for you and bringing othersinto your group. You need young ones, as young as yourself, who will listen toadvice and profit from it. To build an empire you need more."