When the sunset drew near, Zira's second and third brothers - Raden and Attyon - appeared in the garden. None of the girls was surprised by the ostentatious calmness of the young men. The dexterous sailor boys are tempered by sailing on Silben's ship and are used to everything Scord can think of.

"Zira! Nialeeka!"

Young men waved the girls hands from afar. They wanted to walk past the courtyard garden, as one of them noticed something in their direction. He poked his elbow at his brother and pointed toward the girls. Looking at each other, they darted towards the bushes from two sides across.

Both girls quickly turned around and managed to see how the brothers grabbed something, or rather, someone who was about to escape and pressed him to the ground.

Zira laughed, but Nialeeka, recognizing the boy who had been caught, hurried to him.

It was one of the boys living in the village, Camil. The son of one of Silben's warriors. He was younger than the little boys from the village, and always ran after to play with them. He couldn't always keep up with his older companions. Nialeeka didn't understand why the boys didn't take Camil to play with them. He wasn't quiet, he gets on well with others, but other boys gave him a blind eye.

Nialeeka's heart sank as she watched the boy floundering on the grass, trying to break free of the youth's grip almost twice as old.

"Let him go!"

The boy turned over, taking advantage of Raden's hitch, jerked his leg sharply and almost hit him in the jaw. Raden easily dodged the blow.

Nialeeka helped the boy up, but he did not appreciate the care and jumped away.

"I don't need your help! I can do it myself!"

All soiled with dirt from hiding in the bushes and his clash with Raden, Camil stubbornly wiped his face off dirt with his sleeve. His gaze was a little scared.

"What are you doing here?" Asked reasonable Attyon.

"I wanted to, so I came. You never call me to play with you," Camil replied sullenly.

The brothers were silent, and the boy was silent too. As if they were contending with each other - who will surrender first.

"What are you here for?" Finally asked him Raden.

"..."

"We don't mind that you went in, but it's better that you go through the main entrance and not through the fence," the voice of the third brother rang out.

"..."

"Camil, it's already sunset, and you're still on the street. Your mom must be worried now!" Said Nialeeka.

"..."

"..." Zira enthusiastically embroidered a river on a handkerchief.

The boy mustered up the courage and muttered something.

"What are you saying?"

"…with you."

"What?"

"Take me with you!"

"What are you talking about?"

"You're going somewhere!" Blurted out an eight-year-old boy. "I heard it! You two are constantly going sailing with everyone! And play. I want it too!"

"We don't decide this," replied Raden sharply. "This is not a game."

"And you never take me with you. And they did not call to play. Just like the others. I hate you!"

Seeing the indescribable looks of the Zira's brothers, he fled.

Nialeeka wanted to send Raden with him, but it all happened too quickly.

"Why did he say so, do not want to tell?" Squinted Nialeeka. She wanted to understand why the boy was so angry at the brothers.

"He constantly sticks to us and everyone older than him," Raden spoke. "If we work, then he needs to play right there. If we are sent with an errand to a neighbouring settlement, we find it him hiding in our boat halfway to the place. Last time, Scord thought about throwing him overboard!"

"It's all a game for him," Attion added. "He throws acorns at people, small stones - he tries to attract attention to himself. He wants to make someone to play with him. We are used to it, but what happens if he starts to annoy someone who is not so patient?"

"He's psycho. I have known this for a long time. But this..." Raden thought. "this happened to him for the first time."

The brothers went to lick the wounds inflicted by the eldest. They didn't want to think about cheeky boy Camil anymore.

Zira looked up from embroidery.

"Hmmm..."

Sometimes, Nialeeka thought with displeasure, Zira was indecently tranquil.

Zira poured herself some tea and sipped a little.

"What?" Nialeeka asked impatiently.

"He could eavesdrop on us."

Nialeeka had a cold sweat as soon as she thought about the possible consequences. However, it's still all up in the air. When Camil was speaking, he could point to the brothers, since they were standing nearby and not to the girls. Now paying attention to this, she didn't understand who the boy was talking to.

"However, it's nothing," Zira continued, drinking tea, "everything will work out."

"If this is your intuition again ..." Nialeeka began threateningly, but she was interrupted.

"Have a cup of tea," Zira handed her a freshly brewed cup of tea with a smile.

The girl, of course, took it.

But still, she immediately ran to the eldest brother Scord and told him about everything.

He praised Nialeeka for honesty and assured the frightened girl that it's all right.

"But ..."

Scord laughed and patted her head. Nialeeka hastily grabbed her head to check if her braids were dishevelled.

"You are still such a baby," he spoke with a smile but continued more seriously. "Nialeeka, you and Athorn seem to be the most reasonable of all children. And I mean both my brothers and Zira. The expedition of my father this time is more important than everything that was before. You understand that we will not allow unnecessary people on the expedition. And it is not a place for a walk. Zira will stay at home, and I hope you'll look after her. But as for the boy... Camil, right? His father serves as a warrior and sailor. I don't think he wants to endanger his son."

"Raden says Camil is out of his mind."

"Maybe he's right. It is not easy to be the youngest in a huge family."

At first, Nialeeka did not understand what he was talking about.

A family.

Skord's family can be considered large; he has parents, many brothers and a sister. Nialeeka's family could be regarded as big too. She's got a father, a grandmother, cousins, uncles and aunts. But Camil... His family is him, his father and mother. How can this be considered a large, even huge family?

"We all are... their family." Answered Scord. "We live together, work together, get food together. How can it not be a family?"

While they spoke, Scord decided to take the girl home. They walked along the streets bathed in the evening sun with stone houses perched on both sides of them. Candles burned in their windows, creating cosiness.

After a moment of silence, Scord spoke on:

"In a few days, I will send Raden and Attion on an assignment to Stais."

"Is it southeast of us?"

"Yes," he nodded and smiled. "If you want, you can take Zira and go with them."

Nialeeka smiled back and squinted at once.

"And what will we find there?"

"Yes, a lot of interesting things. The person to whom I send the brothers usually has many wonders for sale with him. Maybe both of you find interested in his collection."

A tempting offer!

Joyful Nialeeka went outside the gate of the house, and Scord went back.

Scord watched with satisfaction as Nialeeka's eyes lit up. Girls like magpies, they love everything shiny and brilliant. And that person will probably have something to his younger sisters' taste.

That merchant's path runs past Odiern. He is interested in the eastern swamps of the River Valley. His master, the man with whom Phelan made a deal, is very interested in those generally unknown areas.

What does he want to find there? The locals have no fables or legends about those places. Maybe that person heard something from where he came from?

Could this be connected to old tales of ancient cities of the River Valley?