"Care to tour our little households?" the old man offered, his voice warm and laced with genuine hospitality.
There was nothing deceptive in his tone, nothing that indicated malice. Just a kind old man extending a simple gesture.
The thought did cross Einar's mind. A part of him was curious—curious to peer behind those perfectly painted smiles, to see if there was something else lurking beneath the surface of these cheerful facades.
But instinct quickly overruled curiosity. He waved his hand casually in dismissal, his expression calm.
"Some other time," he replied with a half-smile. "Right now, I want to explore more of the grasslands."
The old man's smile didn't falter. If anything, it grew softer, as though he understood something Einar didn't. "If you say so," the elder said with a knowing nod. "Have a safe journey, traveler. May peace walk with you."
