Lhepsch (the god of the smiths), having manufactured all the implements and weapons that the Narts had wanted him to make, was left with no work to do, so he became very bored. When the ennui became unbearable, he went to Lady Satanay to seek her advice.

• "Lady Satanay. I am bored out of my wits. I have no more work to do, no challenges to rack my brain. I have flattened all the iron in my smithy, but I can’t think of anything to apply my strength and skill to. It is said that you are the wisest lady that there is. Think of something for me to do!" he said.
• "What am I supposed to think of!?" said Lady Satanay in an anxious voice. "You have made all the weapons that the Narts wanted. You have formed sickles for them. You have manufactured all that the people wanted. Now go and roam the earth. See how other peoples live and bring back new knowledge and know-how for the Narts. If God doesn’t forsake you, you might find some novel and interesting things."
• "What would I need for such a journey?"
• "You don’t need much. Prepare clothes that would wear well, and then set off on your quest. The farmers like you a lot, and the cattle herds consider you as a friend, so you won’t go short of food.

• "For God’s sake, tell me who you are. I have never met or seen anyone like you in all my life. No one has ever refused me a request," he said.
•  "We are the huris of the Tree Lady," said the maidens. "Our Lady will receive you and she will grant you your request."
• "Go on then. Lead me to her," said Lhepsch.

• "This is so very unseemly," protested the Tree Lady. "No little man has ever laid hands on me before."
• "I am one of the gods," said Lhepsch. He stood up and made love to her.

• "This is not possible. I must be on my way." Lhepsch declined her offer. "I have to find the edge of the world and take back new knowledge to the Narts."
• "Lhepsch, you would be making a big mistake, if you leave me. I could give you all the knowledge that the Narts shall ever need. My roots go down into the very depth of earth. I could confide to you all the secrets in her bosom. My hair reaches the very eye of heaven. I would tell you all about the heavenly bodies. There is no need for you to roam the World."

• "There is an end to everything, except for earth. Stay by my side. I would introduce you to all the stars in the sky. I would offer you all the treasures of the earth.

• "Have you found the edge of the World?" asked the Tree Lady.
• "No."
• "What have you found, then?"
• "Nothing."
• "What have you learned, then?"
• "I Know now that the earth has no end."
• "What else?"
• "The human body is much tougher than iron."
• "And what else?"
• "There is nothing harder and more desolate than travelling alone."
• "That’s all very well," said the Tree Lady. "But what have you discovered to make the lives of the Narts better? What new know-how and knowledge would you be taking back to them?"
• "I have nothing to show for my labours."
• "Then all your endeavour has been in vain. If you had listened to me, I would have given your people knowledge to benefit them for all time. You Narts are a haughty and stubborn race. These traits would eventually lead to your undoing. But to let the rest go on living, I give you this," she said and handed Lhepsch a very handsome boy. "Take this child of yours. I have imparted to him all my lore and practical skills. You shall see how he turns up when he reaches manhood."

• "Do you see the Milky Way up in the sky?"
• "We do."
• "When you next set off on a campaign, keep sight of it all the time and you will never lose your way," he said.
• "By God! When he reaches his prime he would give us great ideas. We have to raise him up carefully," they said. Seven women were assigned to look after him.

  When the Narts were informed about what had happened, they mounted their horses and went looking for the boy. They found people who saw him, they came across people who met him, but they just couldn’t find the child.

• "He might have gone back to his mother."

• "What hope do we have now? What could be done?" Lhepsch asked her.
• "There is no hope for you. When the time comes, he shall return himself. But only God knows when that would be. If you be alive when he comes back, then fortune would smile upon you. If he does not come back, then wow be on you, for that would spell your doom," she told him.

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