A small town, situated on the hills in the middle of the swamps, was seething. People in the city weren't too busy, they talked and talked about the forthcoming expedition. They wanted at least with half an eye, but to peep at the preparations. There wasn't a man yet who could gather so many people to go into the unknown, to the southeast region of the River Valley.

There is nothing there, people objected, having heard for the first time about Phelan's ambitious idea.

But those who were attracted by adventure and suspense got excited the rest. Recall the legends, they said. Beautiful cities, with buildings rising to the skies! The golden age of the Valley, plenty of pastures, abundant harvests!

People knew that you couldn't build tall buildings in the swamps, but they still dreamed of pipe dreams.

Some people in Stais laughed at Phelan, considering him a fool. Others wished him good luck.

But most of all, people believed in the power of hard money and joyfully went to work as auxiliary workers. Preparations for the expedition were in full swing.

The River Valley is vast, but the settlements are small and scattered entirely remotely from each other. Odiern can be considered one of the major centres of the Valley, and Stais was a bit of a transit town. There was no need to linger in that town, and there was absolutely nothing to do. With the decision of the one influential man, Stais became the centre of preparation for the expedition of Phelan and his partner. People thought this expedition is entirely Phelan's idea. Not a word about his partner! For some reason, he has always been forgotten by the people.

As Nialeeka later found out, that person played a critical role in this expedition. His intuition, his instructions and his money became decisive factors for the success.

In the River Valley itself, few written sources would describe Valley from many centuries ago. However, outside the Valley, some written documents describe the past of this region. And they fell into the hands of a man named Reynoud Lourens.

Nialeeka didn't know who this man was in his country, but his insight and arrogance betrayed him as a man of a prominent family.

On the day when she and Zira so successfully played a sneaky trick on two of Dunlop's merchants, they met with Reynoud Lourens.

They decided to spend the whole day in Stais and set sail back to Odiern the next morning. The girls looked at their purchases. Nialeeka was extremely pleased. She and Zira managed to bargain with those people and to get many astonishing wonders that you will never find in the Valley.

These were metal products in different colours. These were miniature forged bouquets, animals carved from whitish materials. In the end, Nialeeka still bought a mirror. She was fascinated by the opportunity to look at her reflection at any time without looking in the water.

What pleased her the most is that the money given to her by her father remain.

If not for Zira, Nialeeka thought, they would've had to spend much more.

It was Zira who found those beads that merchants were so interested in. And she found the beads with such unprecedented ease as if the river itself had slipped them into being found. A casually cast glance sees a mountain of treasures nearby. It doesn't happen!

Incredibly, there is something strange about it. After all... Her treasure, that artefact that Nialeeka found four years ago and which she didn't part with, she also found in the place where Zira fell.

Maybe her artefact was there to be picked up by Zira?

The strange luck of her friend rather pleased her. The opportunity to find a miracle under their feet isn't given to anyone.

But now Nialeeka realized that something was beginning to bother her. As if she had forgotten about something.

Yes, it became too quiet.

Raden went out a little earlier to wander around and returned with some news.

"Some people saw Camil near the piers on the south coast, let’s go after him!”

Nialeeka grunted.

Well, of course.

They went together to look for the runaway boy. The three of them warned the warriors and went to the southern point of the hilly village.

The sun was hot, and the afternoon shadows grew longer.

Nialeeka couldn't calm down, and she almost went crazy with anxiety. Looking around, she said:

"Camil does what he wants, and well, he would have been running along Odiern... But here is Stais, anything can happen to him..."

“Nialeeka, stop it. He's not going anywhere," said Raden.

The young man went to search for a boy with great reluctance, and he didn't want to listen to the grunts of a young girl.

"I can not help but worry about him!"

Attyon joined them somewhere in the shopping area, located near the place where their boat was tied broadside to the piers. A smile flashed on his face as if something pleasant had happened. Attyon saw his brother's face expressing an extreme degree of irritation. He didn't ask, but not seeing the little boy with them, he understood everything. Only Zira didn't care about the boy at all. She was more occupied with counters around. There were no goods from distant settlements, but local artisans put up for sale rude implements, but they were durable enough.

Not finding Camil in the place where he was last seen, they began to ask people around.

“Yes, a boy. He's around this height, and he constantly smiles. He had...” Attyon began to describe what Camille was wearing in the morning.

Finally, they found a man who saw the boy latch onto some interestingly dressed man to the southern hill.

“To the south? But there...” sounded Attyon. He fell silent immediately and frowned.

He led everyone aside to an inconspicuous wooden house where were not many people.

“What is there?” immediately asked Raden. “Is it somehow connected with what you wanted to tell us earlier?”

“Yes and no. But I think we'll find Camil in the same place.”

He leaned against the wooden wall of the house, crossed his arms and heaved a sigh.

"I don't know about you, but his matter seems to be more and more strange. The sudden appearance of Camil on our boat, his disappearance just when...”

“When what?”

"Did you pay any attention to the words of that man about Camil's run after the person in "interesting" clothes? Most likely, this is one of the Dunlop's people" continued Attyon.

“I always say that the boy is out of his mind. He doesn't listen to anyone's advice! His father had to kick his ass hard a long time ago! He had to put him to some work so that he could be this slightly smarter!”

Attyon waved a hand at Raden and thought.

“So, most likely, everything is okay with him for now?” sounded the voice of Nialeeka, full of relief.

Attyon dubiously nodded. Nialeeka's face brightened with her smile.

"It's good..." She sighed. "Let's find him!”