Chapter 3: Clouds of the earth, Sails of heaven (2)
They lived in a settlement on the banks of a deep and wide river. It had a little more than a hundred families. It was founded eight generations ago and named Odiern, in honour of an ally of one of the famous heroes of ancient times.
Odiern was one of many such settlements scattered throughout the River Valley, except perhaps more extensive than the rest. Many of these places did not even have their name. The houses here were humble and unpretentious but spacious. They had from one to two floors, less often three. The first floor was usually laid in stone, with a wooden superstructure. Winters in these parts are severe, so the houses had to be heated with stone stoves. Despite the snowy winters, people have taken root in these places, since the soils are fertile.
This settlement is one of the few places in the River Valley where there is no food problem. It is located on a hill while most of the other settlements in the River Valley are located in a swampy area. Odiern is the closest to the mountain range that covers the Valley from the winds from the north.
The River Valley, as the name implies, is riddled with many meandering rivers, canals and streams. Some of those rivers were full-flowing and carrying their waters away from the Valley. But most of them could change the course in the swampy lowlands, which, in essence, was the Valley. Often, visiting hapless captains ran aground, not having reached the "gate" of the Valley - the city of Outpost in the east.
Among the people who inhabit the Valley, there is a belief that it used to be a blessed land, full of cities, more vibrant and more beautiful of which the world has never seen. Until now, no one could either confirm or deny this, so fairy tales remain fairy tales — a tall tale for treasure hunters.
But sometimes…
People uncover unusual things that mysteriously the turn of the tides of their lives.
At a certain distance from the coast, on a small hill, surrounded by sprawling oaks, is situated the house of the head of Odiern. The first two floors are stone, and the further superstructure, the third floor, is wooden. Frames of windows are decorated with intricate ornaments carved in wood. Around were smaller and less decorated houses. Most of them were wooden. These were the houses of the rest of the family and warriors loyal to the head of the settlement. If you cast a glance to the northeast, you could see the fields that fed the settlement. Now they sparkled in the sun with pristine whiteness.
On the ground floor of the main house, there is a spacious hall, where they usually had dinners and greeted guests. There are many windows with shutters, but all of them are firmly closed to retain heat and prevent it from dispersing. The fireplace is heated, and during the winter, women used to do their work here. They spun and weaved, embroidered, sang. There have always been people here.
Nialeeka rushed into the house like the fresh wind.
"Hurry, close the door!" Immediately said one of her aunts.
The girl took off her warm winter sheepskin coat and boots, grabbed a warm bun and sat down with her grandmother, the oldest woman in the house.
"Grandma!"
The eldest woman stroked the girl on the head and hugged her.
"Did you do what I asked?"
"Yes! Athorn and I went to Gershy in a forest hut. That's what he gave you." She rummaged in her pockets and pulled out a small bundle. "You know, on the way there, Zira almost fell into that creek that I spoke about before. For some reason, he does not want to freeze this year."
The girl began to talk about how she spent the morning enthusiastically. She considered it necessary to share even the smallest details with the family as if reliving this walk. Today, children climbed the highest hill on this riverbank, from which the river is visible for many kilometres around. Athorn also noted that the ice on the river this year is weak from the ridge. She asked her grandmother what this meant. And then she asked about a strange tree that she had not yet seen. And much more...
Then she remembered something, fell silent and began to rummage through her pockets again.
Nialeeka pulled out a stone and began to examine it in the bright light of day. She ran her fingers along each facet of it, trying to capture all his features in her memory. Women around her noticed a stone in her hands but did not attach importance to it.
Women went about their business without raising their eyes, but still listened attentively to the girl. And when she was silent, some of the women looked up from embroidery. One of her aunts, Iret, immediately put down the yarn, came closer and squatted down beside her. For a while, she carefully examined the stone.
"These patterns... I saw from some objects that hunters found.
Iret was an ardent lover of such things. Of course, she became very interested in this little treasure. Nialeeka handed her the stone, pleased that someone else had appreciated it.
"The surface is so polished I thought it was made right now! I almost could see my reflection. But this pattern... I've seen it before on a fragment found in the north-west of..."
Nialeeka understood little from the muttering of her aunt, and grandma's pies are so delicious!
A little later, two of her father's brothers came up. They wore leather armour and swords on their belts. They returned from the training field, where they were honing their skills together with a small army of their father.
The stone of Nialeeka reminded them of other similar artefacts that they saw in their wanderings.
"An amusing little thing," her uncle spoke, taking the stone from Iret's hands. "These are common in Outpost, and especially with the local treasure hunters. "You can sell it for a good price."
To sell?
- Father once told me that in the early days, merchants could exchange for it a pair of cows or a good catboat. Now you can't amaze them even with a stone of this fantastic quality. However, it may be possible to sell for a decent amount of money."
Get rid of the stone?
Looking slightly frightened but confident, Nialeeka glared at her elders.
I will not let it go!
"Nialeeka, where did you find it?" Asked Iret asked, breaking away from admiring the stone.
"On the bank of the river, where you leave the forest and see swamps on the other bank," replied the girl.
"But its winter outside now. You couldn't just find this artefact underfoot..." Her second uncle thought.
"Atre... tact?"
"Artefact. Merchants from afar, not from the Valley, call these little things "artefacts".
"Artefact."
"Yes. Therefore... answer me honestly, Nialeeka. Could it be that you... stole it?"
Uncle's cautious questioning shocked Nialeeka. How could they think that? She is not a thief!
"Athorn and Zira were with me when I found it. I didn't steal it! And I want to let it go it! You won't make me sell it!
"I spoke with people who trade with these stones. They have to dig deep only to find fragments of such things. Complete stones are rarity they may never come across."
Its is mine. No one will get it from my hands!
Nialeeka's behaviour and her shouts did not make a good impression on her relatives. She did not see the usual condescension on their faces. She realized that now they see her as a spoiled girl, who expects sweets from relatives with a smile on her face. Unconsciously, Nialeeka straightened up and calmed down.
"Nialeeka, my dear, your stone is different from what we saw before," her aunt spoke, not particularly paying attention to the cries of her niece, "this artefact is in excellent condition. There is not a scratch on him, although you say you fished him out of the river. And you! I scared the girl! Why immediately talk about the sale!"
Her uncle shrugged and started lightly quarrelling with Iret.
Nialeeka tempered her zeal while listening to Iret's words. She knew that her aunt spent a lot of time studying the stones found not only in Odiern, but she also travelled through the River Valley, exploring antiquities. The girl somehow hardly believed that it is but a rock. There was something different about it, but she couldn't say what it was. She was now gradually becoming aware that she had found it too easy. The presence of Athorn and Zira on the shore helped to verify the reality of what happened.
Most of those present did not care about a small stone-like artefact. Life here in Odiern, at the foot of the mountains, was quite simple. It was necessary to take care of food, to ensure that there is a roof over your head, and warm clothes to wear.
Only a few people in the Valley specifically hunted for such artefacts. To find one such object, they had to dig the earth in conditions of constant flooding.
But to find an artefact of excellent quality right under your feet is a marvellous thing unless it comes into his arms itself, which is of course impossible.
"I think it spent quite a long time in the river," the aunt said, twirling the stone in her hands and examining the facets of a very small artefact. "I saw many more similar things, but all these were only fragments... Besides, the ornaments of this artefact are not peculiar to finds in our settlement. Most likely, the current lifted him from the bottom, and it carried him to our shores.
Nialeeka vaguely felt that she should keep this stone with her at all costs.
"Stones... no. Artefacts like this are not rare in our area," the girl spoke, trying to seem more convincing. "It can be seen in the Outpost markets, as you said, uncle, and in the future, they are sold at distant frontiers. I want to leave only one of them here, in the place where it was found as a souvenir. Why should we sell everything we see?
She turned to her uncle, who looked at her condescendingly. For some reason, such a look hurt her. It was as if he said, "little girl, do not pander into adult conversations; we will decide without you."
Nialeeka was the true daughter of her father. She was auldfarran, and she had a talent for trading. At eight years old, she knew where to press harder and where to give in.
You can't change the fact that rare stones like this are still found in the River Valley. At the marketplaces of settlements where merchants from Odiern sail on their ships people gossip about artefacts. They were a marvel, but the ringing of coins was much more pleasant by ear for essentially money-hungry people. Most often, objects were found less valuable than the artefact that Nialeeka found. They were also damaged.
And they were not just simple stones. Pieces of ancient metalwork, whatever it was used. Сarving in stones. Gold-diggers of River Valley sold everything that could survive the flow of time.
But all the inhabitants of the River Valley knew and honoured one rule.
"Everything that was taken out of the river belongs to the finder."
"Since my daughter wants this stone, why did you rest your horn, old blockheads?"
Solidly built, a tall man, laughing, went into the hall, taking off his warm outerwear. With a voice like his, it is easy to give commands to warriors on a ship. Now, while it's winter, he is at home with his family. But in the spring, as soon as the ice breaks, he will again travel the rivers, explore new trade routes. Nialeeka enthusiastically watched him walk, radiating strength and confidence.
"You've found a good topic for a quarrel," said the father of Nialeeka, Silben, the head of the settlement. He put an end to the argument in a powerful voice. "Similar things have been and will be found in the River Valley. Are we so poor that we cannot afford to leave one artefact with our daughter?"
Nialeeka smiled, realizing that her father was on her side. She glanced triumphantly at her uncle, who smiled back - he also loved his niece very much and didn't mind over an earlier argument. Athorn, who followed Nialeeka's father into the house, looked around, trying to find out what was causing the commotion. He saw a pebble in the hands of Iret and rolled his eyes - who would doubt it. He still felt a little wariness, but quickly dismissed doubts. Just a stone!
It was decided to frame the stone in precious metal. The necklace will become part of Nialeeka's dowry. Aunt Iret asked Nialeeka to let her examine the stone before it was framed, and the girl immediately agreed.
Silben with a commanding appearance began to give orders to his brothers, who then approached the army commanders, and soon it was time to set the table.
A few days later, the necklace was ready. Nialeeka began to wear it without taking it off.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone