The story includes a lot of information about the number three. Throughout the novel we read about objects being divided by three and even the title of the book is the THREE day road. Many examples from page 245 include the division of the army, the daily routine, and how things happen. Xavier realizes this and begins explaining: "It seems to me that everything these wemistikoshiw do is in threes. They are obsessed by that number. The front line, the support line and the reserve line is just the beginning of it." He goes on to explain further about every working group is split in three, there are three rituals/manitous, and how people die in threes.
The reason why everything is about three may be because the Native people believe that when you pass away, it takes three days for your spirit to separate from your body and continue to the spirit world. The European version is much more complicated but simply insists that there are three faces of god. Perhaps the reason why the war is centered around three is because it is symbolizing the journey to the spirit world. Xavier makes a small prayer to Niska, stating that there must be magic in the number and is wondering when he will have to walk the three day road.
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