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Dawn had hardly broken before Garmund, Lčođern, and Cnebba ran out of the Inn to play. Since their meeting, the children had spent most of their free time together. All three were now friends. Though to Garmund, it seemed that there was something not quite right. Before Cnebba came, Garmund and his sister had each been the best and only friend to the other. Things were different now. When Garmund was called to learn his father's stonecraft, Cnebba was often free, and Lčođern had often gone to play with the carpenter's son, leaving Garmund to catch up on their games only as they neared their ending. And then, in their room in the evening, she spoke often about Cnebba. In his own thought, Garmund found himself in envy of the attention the new boy had from his sister. His sister. If Lčođern played with anyone, it should be her brother.
But in the early morning, all three were together, and those thoughts did not come to Garmund. They huddled in a corner of the yard where Cnebba had drawn a circle on the ground. Each of the children had made a set of clay balls the day before, and now played at knocking one ball against the other, trying to push the others' out of the circle.
It was Lčođern's turn. Cnebba suddenly whispered something in her ear. She giggled and sent one of her balls flying towards one of Garmund's, his last in the circle. Garmund's rolled outside the circle's border, and Lčođern laughed again, clapping her hands.
"Poor Garmund. You're out."
Garmund clenched his jaw. He was out, yet again. The unsettled envy returned.
"I am. But I have work to do anyway. I should go." He stood and started to leave, and then in a hasty moment, turned to give a parting jab, knowing well that he was acting wrongly.
"Unlike some others."
Almost instantly, Garmund was ashamed, but he kept walking, angry at Cnebba for taking so much of Lčođern's attention, angry at Lčođern for not siding with him, and, most of all, angry with himself for making matters worse.
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