Having made a decision, the banneret, taking a weapon, crossed his office in a few steps.

- Lier.

Seeing the owner, the servants, hurrying about their business, stopped, greeting Ok'Tarner, but he did not seem to notice them, passing by and thinking about his own. At the same time, everyone was surprised to see how their banner went not to the central, master's exit from the castle, but to the one through which food and firewood were brought.

Not wanting to waste time and bypass the Durchars in a circle, Ader took a short path, thanks to which he was able to approach the crowded people unnoticed. And what was his surprise when he realized the cause of the commotion? It turned out to be the most ordinary flowers. Not understanding what might have caused his people to get excited, Ok'Tharner inquired loudly.

- What happened here?

As soon as the servants heard the menacing shout of the owner, they first froze in fright, but after a moment they began to vied with each other.

- He came, and then ...

- Flowers...

- Alisums...

- Early...

- Did not have...

- Just yesterday...

- How so? ..

-- Quiet!!!

From the furious hubbub and outcries, Ader's head hurt even more, because of which he grimaced in displeasure. Noticing this, as well as hearing a formidable, booming order, everyone immediately fell silent. Nodding in satisfaction, the banneret cast an attentive glance at those present, stopping it at the old groom.

- You, tell me. One.

“Yes, there’s nothing special to tell here,” grunting and running his hand over his mustache, as if smoothing it, the old man looked at the alysums that had so impressed everyone. - Flowers have grown in the flower bed.

- AND?

Since Ader Ok'Tarner was brought up as a warrior, he, both in housekeeping and in all the nuances of growing plants, almost did not understand at all. He knew how to fight, how to conduct reconnaissance and build defensive structures as well, but he was far from agriculture and everything connected with it, although in recent months he tried to get as much information about it as possible for everyone. But many things require practical knowledge and experience, and he did not have them yet. The latter just gave him a lot of difficulties now. And this means that as soon as his people clear the road, it will be necessary to hire an assistant who understands all these matters.

- Well, - hesitating, the grandfather once again looked at the flowers. - It's not time for them to bloom yet. Early. The snow has just gone down for a week. Cold for them. Unless sprouts could only appear. And they are out there.

Having finally understood what had so alarmed his people, the banneret himself carefully looked at a small flower bed with flowers neatly planted on it in the form of two circles, a small one inside a large one. The fact that they did not grow up on their own, but were imprisoned, Ader understood immediately.

- Who did it?

Hearing their master's question, the people looked at him with incomprehension.

- Who planted the flowers is known?

The owner of Durschars asked his questions to the same groom. Of all those present, the old man seemed to him the calmest.

- So it is, - grunting and again running his hand over his mustache, smoothing them, the elderly man somewhat guiltily looked somewhere to the side, after which he said. - Here Christie, the daughter of the korytniche, was spinning for several days. She must have planted the alyssums.

Hearing the answer, Ok'Tharner thought for a few seconds. He remembered Korytnichiy, but he didn't have a child. Ader's gaze returned to the blossoming flowers, and then he ran a glance around the area. But really, nothing is blooming yet. Buds have just begun to swell on the trees, and the first grass has broken through in some places. That's all. Now it became clear why the servants had gathered near the flower bed. And then a thought flashed through the banneret, but did the girl's magical gift wake up? Although rare, it still happened that a gifted child was born in an ordinary family. Yes, most often they had little potential, but even such a small amount could help them hold out until the new harvest. Or at least until the road was cleared and he could buy food and seed.

- You, - this time the lier chose a girl of about fifteen, - quickly find Christie for me and bring her here. Everyone else, leave. It is as if you saw flowers for the first time in your life. Or do you just have nothing to do?

Hearing a formidable and quite fair order, the people quickly went about their business, and the maid, who was asked to bring the girl, ran away towards the kennel. Ok'Tarner himself sat down by the flowerbed and began to move his hand over the flowers. As a magician of the earth, he felt the power poured into her, but who did it, he could not understand. Some can track such nuances, but not him.

- Lier, you wished to see my daughter? Did she do something?

Her father also came along with the child. Seeing his concern, the banneret immediately calmed the nervous man.

- No, Sinas, everything is fine. I just want to talk to her.

Seeing that the owner was not angry with his daughter, the korytnichii took a few steps back. Ader, so that the child would not be nervous, squatted down next to the girl, calmly inquiring.

- They say it was you who planted these beautiful flowers.

- Yes. Do you like them too, lier?

- Yes, I like them very much. And how long ago did you plant them?

- Five days ago. You're not mad at me for this, are you?

- Of course not.

Hearing the answer, Ok'Tharner mentally considered the possible potential in the child. The flowerbed was not very large and since it took five days for the flowers to grow, the baby's gift is rather weak. So weak that he does not feel it at all in her. Well, the owner of Durschars did not expect anything else. Although, of course, there is still hope that the strength in the child has just awakened, and will continue to grow. And this means that over time, its potential will increase. But it will not be soon, so in the current situation, the baby will not help him. But for the development of the gift, it will be necessary to give her several tasks. For example, look after a couple of fruit trees. And there, depending on the result, he will think about what to do next.

Already going to get up and go to training, Ader nevertheless decided to ask a few more questions to the little one.

“Won’t you tell me what you did to make your flowers grow so beautiful?”

Seeing that they were not going to scold her, moreover, the owner liked the flower bed, the girl joyfully began to tell everything she did.

“Last autumn I collected alisum seeds at the foot of the mountain. I like these flowers. They are so pretty and smell good. And so, when the snow melted, my mother allowed me to break a flower bed, but so that it would not interfere with anyone. Taking a small shovel, which my father made especially for me last year, I dug up the ground. And after that she came and watered everything here every day.

Listening to the overly detailed story of the child, the banneret did not urge the baby but decided to clarify one point.

- And when you looked after your flower bed, did you feel anything? Warmth in the chest or arms? Fatigue? Or extreme hunger?

- No, - in confirmation of her words, the baby also shook her head negatively. - I didn't feel anything like that. Only joy when I saw the first sprouts yesterday. And then anger.

- Anger?

Not quite understanding what the girl was leading to, the owner of Durschars decided to clarify this point.

- Yes. I was glad that everything worked out for me, and the flowers began to grow, but then Storm came running and tore everything up. I drove him away, drove him away, but he did not leave. And if not for lea, then the flowers would never have grown.

Hearing the end of the little girl's story, Adler stood up in surprise. So what happened here yesterday? Frowning, he again looked at the flowers with an attentive look, after which he clarified with the child what exactly she had told him.

- What lea and what exactly did she do?

- So the one you saved. Lea Daria, - even though the name sounded unusual, Ader immediately understood who it was. - She first forbade Storm to dig the ground and then ordered him to sit. And he obeyed her. He never listens to me. But I help his dad and your other dogs to feed. But she only looked at him sternly, and he immediately began to follow her orders. No, don't think Storm is very smart. You should have seen, lier, how he guards the sheep. All the wolves in the area are afraid of him. And he always listens to his dad. And you. And shepherds. And now I also lei Daria.

- I understood, Storm is a very good dog, - nevertheless, interrupting the child's story, Ok'Tarner directed him in the direction he needed. At the same time, he already had one thought at that moment. It remains only to hear the confirmation of his guess. - So what did lea do to make your flowers grow?

- Well, at first she offered to save those sprouts that had time to appear, but Storm broke them all with his paws. And then she helped me sow new seeds. Together with her, we first dug up the hole that the dog had made and then leveled the ground. After that, Leah drew two circles, saying, sow the seeds in the depressions that appeared. And I watered everything myself. Lea Daria said that for the flowers to grow faster, they will need to be watered every day in the morning and evening. Only in the morning when I arrived, they not only grew but also bloom. Does that mean we did everything right?

- Yes. Well done. And now you can go.

After releasing the child and her father, Ok'Tharner stood by the flower bed for a few more minutes, considering everything he had heard. After that, instead of training, he returned to his office, on the way giving a short order to the servant who always followed him.

- Tell Lea Odarite that I wish to see her today during dinner.