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Brun leaned back and studied the girl—tall, flat-faced, blue-eyed The last thing he expected was her gratitude He had cursed her But she didn’t say she was grateful for the death curse, he thought, she said she was grateful for her life Did she understand he had no choice? Did she understand he had given her the only chance he could? Did this strange girl understand that -ur? Yes, he decided, she does understand For an instant, Brun had a feeling toward Ayla he’d never before had toward a woman At that moment, he wished she were a man He didn’t have to think any -ur He knew
“I don’t knohat they’re planning, I don’t think the rest of the hunters even know,” Ebra was saying “All I know is I’ve never seen Brun so nervous”
The wo food for a feast They didn’t know the reason for the feast—Brun just told theht—and they plied Iza and Ebra with questions trying to get some hint
“Mog-ur has been spending all day and half the night in the place of the spirits It o near it; now he hardly ever comes out,” Iza coets to eat So”
“But if they’re having a cere out a space in back of the cave?” Ebra motioned “When I offered to do it, he chased me away They have their place for cere out the back?”
“What else could it be?” Iza asked “See-ur have their heads together And if they notice uilty looks on their faces What else could those two be planning? And why are we having a feast tonight? Mog-ur’s been back in that space Brun cleared out all day Sooes into the place of the spirits, but he co so, but it’s so dark back there I can’t tell”
Ayla was just enjoying the companionship After five days, it was still hard for her to believe she was back in the cave of the clan sitting with the woh she had never been away It wasn’t exactly the same The woht she had been dead; her return to life was nothing less than one to the world of the spirits and returned Ayla didn’tup to his mother to nurse
“How’s Brac’s ar beside her
“See for yourself, Ayla” She opened his wrap and showed Ayla his arm and shoulder “Iza took the cast off the day before you came back His arm is just fine, except a little thinner than the other one Iza says once he starts using it again, it will get stronger”
Ayla looked at the healed wounds and felt the bone gently while the sober, big-eyed boy stared at her The women had been careful to steer away from subjects that were rein a conversation, then drop her hands inIt tended to stifle the warether to work
“The scars are still red, but they should fade in ti, Brac?” He nodded “ShowCan you pull my arm down?” She held out her forearm “No, not with that hand, the other one,” she corrected when he reached up with the uninjured arainst her arth of his pull, then let her ar boy, Brac Someday you will be a brave hunter, just like Broud”
She held out her arms to see if he would coed his mind and allowed Ayla to pick him up She held hi boy So heavy, so sturdy” He stayed there comfortably for a fewto feed hiet back to hisat Ayla with big, round eyes
“You’re so lucky, Oga He’s a wonderful baby”
“I wouldn’t be so lucky if it wasn’t for you, Ayla” Oga had finally broached the subject they had painstakingly avoided “I never told you how grateful I am First I was too worried about him, and I didn’t knohat to say You didn’t seeone I still don’t knohat to say I never expected to see you again; it’s hard to believe you’re back It rong for you to touch a weapon, and I can’t understand why you wanted to hunt, but I’lad you did I can’t tell you how o, but I’m happy you’re back”
“I areement
Ayla was overwhelled to control tears that wanted to flow much too easily She was afraid the women would be uncomfortable if her eyes watered
“I’lad to be back,” she motioned, and the tears escaped her control Iza no her eyes watered when she felt strongly about sorown accustomed to that peculiarity of hers and had co of her tears They only nodded with understanding
“Hoas it, Ayla?” Oga asked, her eyes full of troubled coht for a moment