Every person who saw Stais could describe this place as a rising piece of land in the middle of swamps. Like mountains, the hills of this settlement rose above the water of the wetlands. The surrounding territory is often exposed to flood plains. But as a result, it was rich with different marsh plants.

The moorings here were wooden. Their long and erratic rows encircled the base of the Stais' hills.

Sailing closer to the quays, Nialeeka was able to see countless boats' shadows flickering in the light.

Raden and Attyon knew which berth to head to, so they confidently manoeuvred between the berths.

Every here and there people scurried about. Nialeeka immediately found this place vain and petty. She didn't even have time to step on the quays, but she's already been tired of people fussing around before her eyes.

However, both girls were eager to set foot on a hard and non-swaying surface finally. Attyon jumped first and helped Nialeeka, who held Camil's hand and Zira to step out of the boat. The boy enthusiastically looked around. Raden woke up Gershy, and they picked up their bags.

Attyon waved to someone, and pretty soon people came to pick them up. One man seemed familiar to Nialeeka, but she didn't immediately remember him. This man was one of her father's warriors. At this time he should be working with Phelan.

Is his presence here connected with that enterprise into which the father of her good friend got involved?

They passed from the pier to the hills of Stais. Now that Nialeeka was able to look at them closely, she realized that she was mistaken with the size of these hills. In general, they were slightly sloping and not particularly high, but their area was vast. It housed many buildings - from residents' houses to shops, taverns and other administrative buildings.

When they reached the tavern, Gershy bid farewell to them. Raden handed him his bags.

"Gershy, you came here to treat people, right?" Сasually asked Zira.

"And that too," the old man nodded, "but mostly because of the herbs. Many beneficial herbs grow in the swamps, most of which can be used in potions."

"And why doesn't he sit at home in Odiern?" Muttered Zira, but continued louder. "You could well ask someone to bring you these herbs."

Nialeeka and the brothers glanced at Zira, remembering that she was still angry with Gershy for that one time. He went for the herbs, and at the same time, her mother became seriously ill. Of course, it's not Gershy's guilt here. No more than an accident, but Zira began to fear such occurrences.

Gershy also remembered this and didn't argue with the child.

He explained that herbs need to be harvested in a certain way. Some of them need to be collected with the root, while in the case with some other plants, only the leaves are suitable for potions.

People came out of the tavern, recognized Gershi, and greeted him. The doctor was welcomed here, so he hastened to say goodbye and went with the helpers inside the inn.

Nialeeka wanted to follow them, but Attyon stopped her by the hand. He led her after Raden and the people who met them.

At their fifteen and fourteen, Raden and Attyon were almost as tall as the adult men here in Stais.

“Tell me,” Nialeeka spoke, not releasing Attyon's hand, "are there always so many people here? Even after the sunset, they rush along with the berths. Soon the night will fall, but here it is still so noisy..."

“Yes, in normal times there are not many people here,” Attyon agreed, "now there are crowds because of..."

He fell silent as if he remembered that he is forbidden to talk about it.

“Come on already, I know everything,” Nialeeka squeezed his hand. "Zira spilt the beans a long time ago."

Attyon grunted unhappily.

"They are related to the work of the father."

Nialeeka's eyes lit up in anticipation of the answers to the questions. Attyon saw this and immediately put her in place.

"Not here. You'll find out soon."

Soon, having meandered the narrow streets of Stais for a while, they reached a spacious house on the outskirts. It was two-story, like most buildings in the area, and wooden. On the ground floor, there was a spacious hall with a fireplace and large tables, at which many people sat. Nialeeka immediately recognized many familiar faces. Phelan's team, his most trusted people.

They saw the guests and stood up to say hello to Raden and Attyon, abandoning food on the tables. Raden stepped forward to them, and the Phelan's warriors saw who else had arrived at the house.

Upon seeing the girls, it immediately became somehow quieter in this spacious hall. But then a couple of men rushed to the entrance, grabbed the girls and lifted them into the air. The rest laughed, continuing to drink and eat.

"Aah!"

"Look how they've grown up! Became real beauties! Nialeeka! Zira!"

Their voices merged into one. These men were friends of the Phelan and Sylben's families. They are the warriors who travelled with them from their first trips to the sea outside the River Valley.

Both girls grew before their eyes and were like their daughters to them. These battle-hardened warriors now knelt and hugged girls whom they had not seen for a very long time.

Zira and Nialeeka were also pleased to see them.

"Uncle Ahein, Uncle Shehm!"

"Ah, put me down!"

Raden, chuckling with delight, freed the sisters from the bear hugs of warriors. Then, like the others, he took off his outer clothing and joined the people in the hall. Ahein and Shehm led Attyon and the girls to the first floor. Nialeeka didn't forget Camil, who was already ready to slip away somewhere. Deciding that it was too early for him to get to know the temper of the warriors when they got angry, Nialeeka took the boy with her. Zira sighed in displeasure, realizing that she would have to watch him at midnight.

Ahein and Shehm immediately took her disappointed sigh to heart and thought that they weren't welcomed here.

Nialeeka immediately waved her hands and assured them that they were delighted to see them again. And she spoke about Camille.

A pair of warriors, obviously, had heard about the son of one of Silben's men, judging by the quick look. To Camil, everything was child's play, and he looked around, trying to come closer to something.

On the first floor, there were many rooms on both sides of the corridor.

“Atty, we left the remote room to you and Raden," said Shehm, "but we didn't anticipate that you would bring the girls with you."

“I'll look for more blankets,” Ahein volunteered.

“We have spares in the boat,” Nialeeka spoke, but Ahein waved off.

"Here, we have more than enough supplies. We'll use those that have been prepared for the sail; nothing will happen to them."

They settled in a spacious room. It was relatively warm from the fireplace glowing below. Zira began to light candles on the table, and Nialeeka helped Attyon lay the beds. Attyon took one bed, laying Raden on the floor. And the girls were able to accommodate in the second bed, holding Camila among themselves, so that he couldn't run away. He wasn't happy about it, but under the soft conviction of Nialeeka, he humbled himself and fell asleep. Nialeeka caught Zira's glance and smiled. Zira smiled back, and they soon fell asleep.

As the sun dawned on the horizon, Nialeeka dragged Zira to cook breakfast for everyone. Camil at that time was still sleeping upstairs.

Most of the warriors who were sitting at tables in the hall and having dinner now went to continue preparations for the upcoming voyage. Usually, journeys like this one began in the Outpost, but now there was a special case.

Phelan, that man - his current partner, and their crews had to travel to distant areas of the Valley, where there are no settlements or people. Whatever Phelan wanted to find there, the soldiers weren't concerned while they were regularly paid.

One or two warriors remained in the house; the brothers were also waiting for someone.

After some time, a man in a strange suit came to the house. The colours of his clothes were vibrant, but not flashy. They suggested great affluence and a love of comfort. Nevertheless, staying on the road was familiar to him for a confident gait and posture. There were two more people with this man, apparently guards.

The brothers got up and after the greetings led him into the room adjacent to the hall. An interestingly dressed man noticed the girls and brightened up, apparently remembering something. He signalled to his companions and told them something.

Raden instantly tensed, but Attyon reassured him.

"Mister, our brother Scord assured us that you would have with you goods for sale that may interest our sisters," he said to the man.

“My name is Dunlop,” the man answered with a business smile.

"Mr Dunlop," repeated Attyon, "they have come a long way here for your vendibles."

So the moment that both girls were waiting for finally came. The brothers and their guest went to talk about something, and the girls began to look at the things laid out by the assistants on the table. There were a variety of jewellery, items, the purpose of which was incomprehensible, even metal figurines. They were so tiny that they fit in the palm of your hand and were no larger than a finger in size.

As their older brother Scord had expected, at first girls were attracted by everything brilliant. Nialeeka picked up something small and round and was surprised to find her reflection on it.

"Is it water?" she exclaimed.

The two merchants laughed.

"It's called a mirror. Little girls like you look at it to make sure they are always beautiful."

Nialeeka was embarrassed. Before that, she saw her reflection only in the water and was not used to it.

Zira began to quickly and enthusiastically twirl everything in turn. The second merchant could not understand what she liked. As soon as she came across an incomprehensible thing, she asked and then went on to the next.

One could inadvertently see a smirk on her face. Nialeeka looked at her friend's unpleasant smile and for some reason, felt avenged. She even felt a bit of sympathy for the two merchants.

The brothers, meanwhile, conveyed a message from Silben to this man. Their conversation wasn't long, but when they left the room a few minutes later, an exciting sight awaited them.

Two merchants sat with confused and embarrassed faces. Zira turned and tossed the purchases in her arms, and Nialeeka insolently admired all this, propping her chin with her fist. There were also a few trinkets on the table near her.

"What happened here?" with a slight accent Dunlop curiously asked his subordinates.

"We... sold items to these girls..."

"I see that. Go on."

"But now we owe them two gold coins."

By the way, a simple family in Outpost can live more than six months with two gold coins. If talking about such remote places like Stais or Odiern...

The girls modestly dropped their heads, quietly laughing at the expression on the faces of this man, Dunlop, and the brothers. They bought what they wanted, sold some of the beads they found hungry for local curiosities hunters and looked at such unforgettable faces!

It's a sheer joy to watch!