Determined not to be totally useless, Octavius hands one of the ropes to Byerly to hand to the ferryman. Look at him help! He does not bother trying to loop the ropes around the moorings himself because he knows where his own talents lie, and none of them are in seamanship. He suspects he'd do a poor job of it.

He's stepping cautiously onto the dock when Byerly asks his question, and though he does hesitate, it's a very brief thing. "It's Tavi," he says. Then, much more quietly after a circumspect look at the ferryman (who still could not possibly give less of a shit about their conversation), he steps a bit nearer to Byerly and adds, "Tavi Vedici, actually. Maybe don't, you know." He cuts his gaze pointedly and not at all subtly towards the ferryman, then back to Byerly again. "Maybe don't tell anyone that last part."

(This is a young man of tremendous sincerity, extensive book learning, and absolutely no talent for espionage. Someone help him.)