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“And it always brings the Malaise,” a young wo up the thread of Laduni’s story
“Malaise?” Thonolan directed his question to her
“Evil spirits that fly on the wind They ht suddenly start arguing Happy people are crying all the time The spirits can make you sick, or if you are already sick, they can make you want to die It helps if you knohat to expect, but everyone is in a bad mood then”
“Where did you learn to speak Zelandonii so well?” Thonolan asked, s woman appreciatively
The young woman returned Thonolan’s look as frankly, but rather than answering, looked over to Laduni
“Thonolan of the Zelandonii, this is Filonia of the Losadunai, and the daughter of my hearth,” Laduni said, quick to understand her unspoken request for a forht well of herself and didn’t converse with strangers without proper introductions, not even handsoers on a Journey
Thonolan held out his hands in the for approval She hesitated a , then put her hands in his He pulled her closer “Filonia of the Losadunai, Thonolan of the Zelandonii is honored the Great Earth Mother has favored hirin
Filonia flushed slightly at the bold innuendo she knew he intended with his allusion to the Gift of the Mother, though his words were as forle of excitement from his touch, and the sparkle of invitation was in her eyes
“Now tell me,” Thonolan continued, “where did you learn Zelandonii?”
“My cousin and I went across the glacier on our Journey and lived for a while with a Zelandonii Cave Laduni had already taught us soet it He crosses every few years to trade He wanted me to learn more”
Thonolan still held her hands and serous Journeys What if Doni had blessed you?”
“It wasn’t really that long,” she said, pleased with his obvious adet back”
“It was as long a Journey as many men make,” he insisted
Jondalar, watching the interplay, turned to Laduni “He’s done it again,” he said, grinning “My brother never fails to single out the ht and have her charmed within the first three heartbeats”
Laduni chuckled “Filonia’s young yet She only had her Rites of First Pleasures last suh adain, and new to the Gift of Pleasure from the Great Earth Mother Not that I don’t enjoy it still, but I’e to seek new excitement often” He turned to the tall blondparty and don’t haveone of our blessed of Duna willing to share the Gift If none suits you, we have a large Cave, and visitors are always a reason for a festival to honor the Mother”
“I’ with you to your Cave We’ve just started Thonolan wants toPerhaps on our way back, if you’ll give us directions”
“I’—we haven’t had o?”
“Thonolan talks about following Donau all the way to the end But everyone talks about a long Journey when they begin Who can tell?”
“I thought the Zelandonii lived close to the Great Water; at least they did when Iest, and then south Did you say you just started out?”
“I should explain You’re right, the Great Water is only a few days from our Cave, but Dalanar of the Lanzadonii was mated to my mother when I was born, and his Cave is like hoht me my craft My brother and I stayed with them The only distance we’ve traveled since we left is across the glacier, and the couple of days to get there”
“Dalanar! Of course! I thought you looked familiar You must be a child of his spirit; you look so much like him And a flint knapper, too If you are as ood He’s the best I’ve ever seen I was going to visit hiet some flint from the Lanzadonii mine There is no better stone”
People were gathering around the fire ooden bowls, and the delicious s froer He picked up his backfraht “Laduni, I have so to use it to replace broken tools along the way, but it’s heavy to carry, and I wouldn’t ive it to you if you’d like it”