Black Sun

Four days before the convergence, Xiala arrives at the mouth of the Tovasheh River; the city of Tova is on the same river, further down. It’s cold and rainy; Xiala is uncomfortable. She docks at the port in the rivermouth and Serapio sets off to sell their cargo and find them separate transportation upriver. Xiala finds the harbormaster and is pleased to discover she’s a woman.

They sell the cargo and ship; they find transportation upriver. Xiala internally berates herself for her inability to hold on to money or stay stable in one place. She meets Serapio on the riverboat, where he hands her new clothes he bought from one of the pilgrims onboard. The pilgrims are traveling for the solstice celebrations in Tova, and they occupy themselves on board the ship with gambling and drinking.

An attractive woman and her brothers ask Xiala to spend the evening having a good time with them, but she turns them down to spend more time with Serapio. She dreads what will happen when they reach Tova and go their separate ways. He offers to tell her, but she pushes him aside and goes to take a bath.