A full-flowing river, beginning in the north, has a fast flow. Few people decide to cross it on a rowing boat. However, if you leave Odiern and move along the road through the fields, you can get to a calmer and rather narrow river. You can safely get to the nearest settlements located southeast

travelling along its waters.

Having gathered the necessary supplies to hold out for a couple of days, the children reached the shore and habitually went to the family's boats. Around there were several more boats of other residents of their village.

Raden and Attyon loaded supplies on a single mast cat belonging to their family and got to work. From an early age, their fathers taught them how to handle boats, so they worked swiftly.

Nialeeka and Zira also boarded, looking forward to an exciting ride. Rarely they had a chance to get somewhere outside of Odiern. They chose the most inconspicuous clothes on the insistence of Athorn and Scord.

The boat slowly moved away from the wooden flooring, which served as a pier, and moved out of a very tiny bay.

The pier was located in a secluded place, which is not visible from the river. The channel on both banks was overgrown with trees. No one considered it necessary to cut twigs so for a long time, so branches grew as they pleased. Manoeuvring around the overgrown trees on a boat was difficult.

The river carried its waters leisurely. It was also possible to describe the next few hours of travel - a calm and unhurried time. Young people brightened up their time with talking about funny incidents in Odiern. Then they began to discuss villagers.

"Look!"

Attyon noticed a familiar figure on the shore, not far from a small grove.

Bali Gershy, laden with bags, walked along a beaten path from the forest. That path glided towards the shore, so Gershy also saw their boat in the distance. He waved back and wordlessly asked them to land.

The brothers immediately directed the boat to the shore. Without waiting for her to approach the coast, Raden jumped into the water and went to the old doctor.

"Eh, if only I knew you would be sailing here... I would've left the village early in the morning. Are you going to Stais? Great, great... Uh...

“Gershy, let me take your bags?" suggested Raden.

“Ah, yes, of course.”

"So what are you doing here?" Nialeeka sat on the bow of the boat and gazed at Gershy with interest.

"I am heading to Stais. Just like you, I suppose. Errands, patients... Will you help the good old Gershy?"

"Jump in, old foggie," Raden smiled.

"How dare you say that to the old man!" Feignedly indignant Gershy protested.

With the help of the brothers, he climbed onto the boat and fell asleep not long before they could get off the shore. It seems he's exhausted.

Nialeeka carefully covered him with a spare cloak.

The sun was leisurely going down.

On the banks of the shores, fields belonging to Odiern were replaced with the forest growing on the edge of the waterside. The waters of the river twinkled and sparkled with the touches of the rays of the sun.

Nialeeka couldn't completely relax with slight ship's motions, although Zira felt fine. She watched the river with interest.

"Water is so clear here," Zira said, "but it's so muddy in our river..."

"Odiern's river has a more turbulent flow, so more sludge rises from the bottom. Here's shallow and calm."

"But what about waters in the seas outside? What's the bottom like there? Silty? Or rocky?"

“Better ask Scord," Raden a little reluctantly answered her, standing on the aft.

"Why can't we ask you?" Nialeeka laughed.

Raden was embarrassed, and Attyon, seeing this, helped him change the subject.

“Interesting,” said Attyon, "before you never asked us about the seas. Why now?"

“I want to know what to expect,” Zira said, a little thoughtfully.

'She hadn't yet abandoned her dream of going to the seas', Nialeeka understood.

"How big is your "sea"? How deadly is the "storm"? Is it possible to see the bottom of the sea in the brightest afternoon?"

Raden and Attyon looked at each other.

In fact, they sailed only to the borders of the River Valley when they accompanied their father. The most Raden and Attyon have seen so far is Outpost, a border town.

The brothers always considered their sister a windy creature who jumped from one hobby to another. It didn't reduce their love for her, but they didn't take her seriously. They always considered her secret runaways from house to father's ship something trivial, not worthy of attention. It will take several years, they thought, and Zira will calm down.

“I want to know the answers to all these questions.”

The girl glanced piercingly at her brothers and looked away.

“But do I need it?”

Zira folded her arms aboard the boat and then reached for the surface of the river.

"I'm drawn to travels, but if I go on an expedition with you one day, will I return home? No, rather... Would I want to go home?"

"I saw part of our River Valley. Only a small part! I am too anxious to sit still. As if the time allotted to me is being reduced, but I haven't yet fulfilled my thoughts. What do I want? Maybe if I one day go travelling with my father, I will understand what I want?"

"But your family is at home. Didn't you think about how mom would worry if you went with your father?" Asked Nialeeka.

"At home, everything is simple and clear. But outside Odiern, outside the Valley... it's where life is. And I am drawn to be a part of all this... What's there?"

Now it was Zira's turn to command the halt to their sail. Very close, right in front of them on the left bank of the river, there was a small sandy beach. The brothers didn't know what Zira had found, but they were not averse to stopping and stretching their legs on land.

However, what they saw astounded them.