It was so obvious that he had been named after a flathead boy. Ayla smiled to herself. "Yes, I'm sure. We should try to put some distance between us and them. It's hard to believe that Clan people cook this way. 'Show me the bowl,' he demanded. Although to the people around him he gave the impression of impervious stoicism, in reality he could feel their stares and their apprehension. It is not up to us what happens to them, we're just supposed to bring them in. He tried to help by fetching water and firewood but could tell that even if he hadn't been there, those things would have been accomplished without a word needing to be spoken. They were spread out over a large area. "Mother?" By the time they had reached the area above the blocked river, it was almost dark and they had to make camp again. They had heard most of what had been said from others in their encampment. Then in a loud defiant voice she screamed, "No! Ayla looked up from her thoughts. As the noise decreased she continued, indicating the couple should raise their clasped hands. Chapter 40. Jonayla asked. A moment later the children jumped in surprise as a loud drum began to beat a slow somber tattoo, a beat of mourning. The prehistorical milestones were also found to be inconsistent and arbitrary. Melodene's shoulders shook as she quietly sobbed in distress. Jonayla looked at her friend and made the face that Groog now knew was a sign of friendship for the Others. The runner ran up to the entrance to The White Cave breathing hard. She tried not to think of herself that way, but as a small child that is how she'd felt among the Clan. We were forced to run away from our home, leaving everything behind. "Well, if the look on his face is any indication, I think you've convinced him that you're a spiritual leader.". I think he just put fear aside when he saw how Jonayla and I rode. Her body language and her ability to speak properly, in combination with everything else he had seen, told him that this female Mog-ur would be a leader no matter where she went. Taking advantage of this moment of surprise, Cambarre pulled his arm violently out of Mageb's grip and walked back to the horses, he reached down and playfully pulled a wolf ear, then he slipped the spearthrower out of its holder and loaded a bird spear into it. Summer was coming to an end and the afternoons were markedly cooler and the water of the lake colder than before. "Yes, a most remarkable medicine. Ayla stood with her arms extended forward and spread slightly with her palms up. She quickly regretted her harsh feelings. To her chagrin, she realized that she hadn't noticed that before. Now it was the Second's turn to speak. "I can't think of the last time we Zelandoni all agreed on anything." They glanced at each other then began to shout and scream, moving away from each other, waving their arms in an effort to distract the beast. "In fact, I caused them more trouble than anyone else in their community with my strange way of thinking. Directing her comments to her fellow Zelandoni, she said, "Madroman was a Zelandoni Acolyte, one who was caught cheating, pretending to be called by the Mother and in shame he left our people to wander elsewhere. As he concluded his plea she raised her head and opened her eyes and looked directly at him. Lately I seem to forget that I'm hungry until I smell food cooking," Ayla said, grateful for the food. They were on the trail as the sun rose to spread its glorious golden shafts of light over the misty valley. She laid out her reasons again for a journey to the north. He slipped from his horse's back and came over to stand by her, placing his hand casually on her thigh as she sat upon Summer Child. "Well, I will readily admit that you have learned your craft. Slowly she began to smile, a smile that would remind anyone - should they have been standing nearby - of her mother. If I am the Zelandonii spiritual leader, the First Zelandoni among those who serve the Mother, I will make it known to all that I desire our people to be at peace with them. Rough handling of women was encouraged by the leader, so there were many women who wished that things were different than they were. Ayla asked. There were hundreds of ivory beads made from mammoth tusk and sewn onto the garment and Jonayla knew that each small bead had been carved, pierced, and polished by hand. Willamar, knowing when to retreat, smiled at her fondly and nodded, walking over to a fallen tree to sit and watch the preparations. They would stop on the way and leave some of the people from the Nineteenth Cave at their cave to finish repairs to the damage caused by the false Shaman followers and to prepare for their people's return from the Summer Meeting. That makes no difference about how I feel toward you. We expect the other Zelandoni from the north and south to arrive over the next two days and I will rely on you to make everyone comfortable." The southern Donier made the fever fungus infusion as she'd seen the First Zelandoni do when she had treated Jondalar north of the river Neema. Tonight though, he just wanted to let her unusual beauty soak in, like the sweet scent from a spring meadow. Groog was still telling him about his experiences with the Others when the Mog-ur signed the younger man to halt. But I am the only woman to survive and return. ", "We will be glad to share a meal with you and I would very much like to spend time with you and hear some of your stories, if you have the time, but we need to get to the storyteller's lodge and stake out our space before there is no room left. "Zelandoni, I understand your doubt, but I am not my predecessor, I care greatly that both the south and north become one people in more than name only. "And so is Folrian, she's my sister.". Now, with hind-sight, it seemed so obvious, but before her revelation everyone had thought differently. We heard from the Losadunai that the Zelandonii Summer Meeting would be in this place this year and hoped we would be welcomed.". He began to carefully crawl toward the voices. "Why not? he wondered. "I don't feel that I did anything to take credit for," Ayla replied. She could speak knowledgably with anyone on either subject. There were three boys and a girl lying in the grass beside a stream, one of the boys with a sinew fishing line dangling in the water. The young couple had erected their travel tent and laid out the circle of stones to contain their campfire and had even gathered wood for the fire the day before. You're right about one thing; deep down inside I admit that I wish I wasn't so different from everyone else. They would be here for several full moons and she would have to be around him constantly. She was no longer Clan, she reminded herself. "Please tell what you know about this shaman of the Chimu and why the violence has broken out here in the north.". Then the Donier turned to the Chimu leader and addressed her. I will not stop until these Hyenas have been stopped!". "I must leave the Chimu. ", "Yes Zelandoni, she went to the stream a little while ago to wash.". She felt anyone who could survive and thrive through all that this woman had, deserved the respect and willing support of those subordinate to her. Her skin glowed golden and smooth in the firelight. There were only three yearlings left from Jonayla's original nine plus his own horse Lightning, so it wasn't much of a chore anyway. We may find ourselves at risk of running into some of the renegades. That fact hadn't stopped Marthona, Jondalar's mother, from caring for Brukeval as a boy. Even if he is telling us what he believes to be true, there is no one from the other side of the conflict - some of who, you claim may even be Zelandonii - to tell us their side of the story.". Madroman was limping and whining that he was tired and thirsty. Although she hadn't shared her dream with her daughter, the Mother had come to her again in the night and gave her another dream image. Joharran nodded his acceptance, "Alright, so what do you suggest? Ayla assured Tormaden that she would be responsible for the Chimu woman and led her to the guest hearth, asking Jonayla to make a small cooking fire and heat water for tea. Their pole-drag, holding the dead body of the gutted cave lion, was being pulled by a very nervous horse. To Jonayla's eyes, the pup seemed to be at home there. The path they followed was also damaged and several times they had to dismount and lead the horses further up the slope and through bracken and shrubs that hindered their way. ", Ayla was fascinated by First Place, it was so unusual. At twenty-eight she was a mother of two, both of whom had died and now her mate was dead too. Look at all the people here. I didn't want to add to your distress and I hoped the hunters I sent to search would have found them by now and brought them back," Joharran said. It was only the boy child 'Durc', bringing in the carrying baskets and their other travel gear. This is the place where you washed, see that flat boulder?". "It was one of the reasons I became a storyteller. If she hadn't already loved Jondalar, Ranec would have been the man of her hearth and to meet his son after all this time, was an emotional experience indeed. She didn't understand how exciting she was. "I will leave this with you so you can drink when you wish," she signed, placing the water bag within easy reach. The three children had stopped at the storytelling surround when Durcan noticed the red-haired friend of his mother, the man called Ralev, was speaking. I'll never forget when I had no one and it's just comforting to know there will soon be three generations in our family. So why do you think this woman is any different than the others of her kind?". Jonayla already knew what her mother meant. Mother and daughter wandered aimlessly for hours. He enjoyed the ride to the ground, with a few whooping yells on the way down. The Mother Spirit raised a hand and pointed to Armuna, demanding that she take her restraining hands from Her lover. She finally left the project she was working on inside the family lodge to see what the commotion was about. "This wound isn't very deep. she shouted. He was powerfully built and looked like he could be dangerous if angered. I know what a trained Mog-ur of the Clan can do with it. Even when I first arrived with Jondalar as a stranger, you were kind to me and you've been a great help to me since the First Zelandoni died. They looked with disgust at their Shaman as he begged for mercy like a little child begging not to be spanked. "Groog, do you know that my mother is holding a meeting with the leaders from other caves and will be talking about the violence in the north?" Ayla had bowed her head and closed her eyes as the Fifth Cave's Zelandoni spoke. 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