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Thonolan and Jetamio smiled at each other and, when the Shanal for the feast to begin The young couple were first brought a mildly alcoholic drink made of dandelion blossoms and honey that had fere was passed around to everyone

Tantalizing odors made everyone realize how hard they had worked that day Even those who had stayed back at the high terrace had been busy, as was obvious when the first wonderfully aroht in fish traps thatand baked near the open fire, was presented to Thonolan and Jetamio by Markeno and Tholie, their counterpart fay wood sorrel that had been boiled and beaten to a pulp was served as a sauce

The taste, new to Jondalar, was one he immediately enjoyed and found a wonderful complement to the fish Baskets of small edibles were passed around to accompany the dish When Tholie sat down, he asked her what they were

“Beechnuts, collected last fall,” she said, and went on to explain in detail how they were stripped of their leathery outer skins with sharp little flint blades, then carefully roasted by shaking the to prevent scorching, and finally rolled in sea salt

“Tholie brought the salt,” Jetaift”

“Many Mamutoi live near sea, Tholie?” Jondalar asked

“No, our Camp was one of the closest to Beran Sea Most Mamutoi live farther north The Mamutoi are mammoth hunters,” she said with pride “We traveled north every year for the hunts”

“How you mate Mamutoi women?” the blond Zelandonii asked Markeno

“I kidnapped her,” he replied, with a wink at the plu woman

Tholie sed”

“Weexpedition to the east We traveled all the way to the delta of the Mother River It was my first trip I didn’t care if she was Sharamudoi or Mamutoi, I wouldn’t come back without her”

Markeno and Tholie told about the difficulties their desire to otiations to work out the arrangements, and then he’d had to “

kidnap” her to get around certain custo could not have taken place without her consent But there were precedents Though not cos had occurred before

Populations of hued on each other’s territories, which tended to er a novelty If a little wary at first, people were usually not hostile, and it wasn’t unco peoples were accustoratory herds with seasonal regularity, andtraditions of individual Journeys

Frictions developed more often from familiarity Hostilities tended to be intramural—confined within the community—if they existed at all Hot tempers were kept in check by codes of behavior, and h these customs were not calcified The Shara teres To the former, the Great Earth Mother was Mudo, to the latter, She was Mut, but She was still the Godhead, Original Ancestor, and First Mother

The Mae, which caroup, they feared no one—they were, after all, the enuous, and convinced that everyone saw theh the discussions had seemed interminable to Markeno, it had not been an insur

Tholie herself was typical of her people: open, friendly, confident that everyone liked her In truth, few people could resist her forthright ebullience No one even took offense when she asked the most personal questions, since it was obvious there was no malicious intent She was just interested and saw no reason to curb her curiosity

A girl approached the an infant, “Shary”

The mother nodded her thanks and put the baby to her breast, with hardly a break in the conversation or feasting Other small edibles were passed: pickled ash keys that had been soaking in brine, and fresh pignuts The sroundnut Jondalar was familiar with, and the first taste was nutty, but the hot aftertaste of radish was a surprise Its zesty flavor was a favorite of the Cave, but he wasn’t sure if he liked it or not Dolando and Roshario brought the next offerings to the young couple—a rich chamois stew and a deep red bilberry wine