The prior left for his own estates, making his way via Golegã. His brothers Nuno Álvares and Diogo Álvares did not go with him but travelled to Lisbon, where the Master was, and as they had previously agreed. However, when they were still some 3 leagues away from the city, Diogo Álvares regretted his decision and announced that he wanted to rejoin his brother the prior. Unable to dissuade him from his intent, Nuno Álvares found himself obliged to take his leave of him and arrived that day at a village named Ereira, where he spent the night. Once there, he called his squires aside and said: ‘Friends, I want to tell you a secret. It concerns a great challenge which I keep deep in my heart and that secret is this: I imagine that I can see a very deep pit, full of darkness. I am inclined to believe that any man who jumps down into that pit can never escape from it, except through some great miracle born of God's willingness to favour and rescue him. Yet I cannot resist what my heart tells me, which is to jump down into the pit. For many days you have been my companions, and I have come to recognise your noble intentions towards me and my deeds. For that very reason, I am informing you of this, because, despite everything, my great desire is to jump down into the pit. As for those of you who are content to jump down with me, I shall regard that action as being of the highest service to me. The others, who are loath to do so, can go their own ways and do with their lives whatever they regard as more profitable.’

On hearing this, the squires were filled with consternation and did not know what to say. However, they did answer him, saying: ‘Nuno Álvares, you know very well that we are your followers and are ready to serve you. But this matter about which you have spoken to us is indeed very obscure and difficult for us to grasp. Not one of us knows what answer to give you. For that reason, kindly tell us what it is, so that we can know about it, and then we shall give you our answer as we see fit.’