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“I thought the fish was delicious,” Jondalar said to his brother, “but this stew is superb!”

“Jetamio says it’s traditional It’s flavored with the dried leaves of bogthe charows in marshes, particularly where the Sister joins the Mother It was lucky forit last fall, or they never would have found us”

Jondalar’s forehead creased as he recalled the tiht; ere lucky I still wish there was some way I could repay these people” His frown deepened when he re one of them

“This wine is Jetaift,” Serenio said

Jondalar reached for his cup, took a sip, and nodded “Is good Is ood”

“Very good,” Tholie corrected “It is very good” She had no co his speech; she still had a few problee herself, and she assumed he would rather speak properly

“Very good,” he repeated, s woman with the baby at her a nature that so easily overcame the shyness and reserve of others He turned to his brother “She’s right, Thonolan This wine is very good Even Mother would agree, and no one makes finer wine than Marthona I think she would approve of Jetamio” Jondalar suddenly wished he hadn’t said that Thonolan would never take his mate to ain

“Jondalar, you should speak Sharamudoi No one else can understand when you speak in Zelandonii, and you’ll learn much faster if youforith concern She felt she spoke from experience

Jondalar was ery Tholie was so sincere, and it had been ie no one else could understand He reddened, but smiled

Tholie noted Jondalar’s discoh outspoken, she wasn’t insensitive “Why don’t we learn each other’s language? We et our own if we don’t have someone else to talk to once in a while Zelandonii has such a musical sound, I would love to learn it” She smiled at Jondalar and Thonolan “We’ll spend a little tih everyone obviously agreed

“Tholie, you may want to learn Zelandonii, but they may not want to learn Mamutoi,” Markeno said “Did you think of that?”

It was her turn to blush “No, I didn’t,” she said, with both surprise and chagrin, realizing her presumption

“Well, I want to learn Maood idea,” Jetamio said firmly

“I, too, think good idea, Tholie,” Jondalar said

“What a ether The Ra to be part Zelandonii,” Markeno said, s tenderly at his mate

The affection between the tas evident They h he couldn’t help but sh not as ether, the sharp contrast emphasized each other’s physical traits: Tholie seemed shorter and rounder, Markeno taller and thinner

“Can someone else join you?” Serenio asked “I would find it interesting to learn Zelandonii, and I think Darvojourneys sometime”

“Why not?” Thonolan laughed “East or west, if you e helps” He looked at his brother “But if you don’t know it, it doesn’t stop you fro a beautiful wo blue eyes,” he said in Zelandonii, grinning

Jondalar sibe “Should speak Sharamudoi, Thonolan,” he said with a wink at Tholie He speared a vegetable out of his wooden boith his eating knife, still finding it not quite natural to use his left hand for the purpose, though that was the custom of the Sharamudoi “What is named this?” he asked her “In Zelandonii is called ‘mushroom’ ”