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Ayla finished tucking her last braid under itself, then went to stir up the fire to ht it to hi for pain so he could rest, she did not want to disturb him if he had already found so place and waited for him to open his eyes He didn’tlacked the regularity, and his forehead showed discomfort he would not have if he was deep in sleep

Jondalar had heard her con sleep He waited, e to open his eyes to see if she was there Why was she so quiet? Why didn’t she leave? The arle froo nu throbbed He wanted to shift it to ease the strain of holding it in one position so long His face itched with the stubble of new beard; his back burned Maybe she wasn’t even there Maybe she had gone and he just hadn’t heard herat him?

She had been watching him intently She had looked directly at this man more than she had ever looked at any man It wasn’t proper for woed in otten all the ht her, as well as proper care of a patient? She stared down at her hands holding the cup of datura in her lap That was the correct way for a woround with head boaiting for hie her with a tap on the shoulder Perhaps it was tiht

Jondalar opened his eyes a crack, trying to see if she was there without letting her knoake He saw a foot and quickly closed his eyes again She was there Why was she sitting there? What could she be waiting for? Why didn’t she go and leave hiain through lowered eyelids Her foot hadn’t ed She had a cup of liquid Oh, Doni! He was thirsty! Was it for hiive him some medicine? She could have shaken him; she didn’t have to wait

He opened his eyes Ayla was sitting with her head bowed, looking down She was dressed in one of those shapeless wraps, and her hair was tied up in multiple rows of braids She had a fresh-scrubbed look The sone; her as a clean, unworn skin She had such a guileless quality, sitting with her head bowed There was no artifice, no coy lances

Her tight braids contributed to the ies which caed her so well That was the trick, the artful concealing of her ripe woman’s body and rich lustrous hair She couldn’t hide her face, but her habit of looking down or aside tended to divert attention Why did she keep herself hidden? ItMost wonificent body, worn such golden glory to show off to its best advantage, given anything for a face so beautiful

He watched her without otten Why was she so still? Maybe she didn’t want to look at hi back his embarrassment and his pain as well He couldn’t stand it, he had to move

Ayla looked up when he rolled off his are her presence no matter hoell nal Jondalar was amazed to see contrite shame in her face, and the honest open appeal in her eyes There was no condemnation, no rejection, no pity Rather she seemed embarrassed What did she have to be embarrassed about?

She gave him the cup He took a sip, made a face at the bitterto wash the taste out of his et cohtened, sed the furs and skins He did not lie back down immediately

“Ayla, there’s so much about you I don’t know and wish I did I don’t knohere you learned your healing arts—I don’t even kno I got here I only know I’rateful to you You saved et back ho even if I had lived

“I’m sorry I made such a fool of myself, but you are so beautiful, Ayla I didn’t know—you hide it so well I don’t knohy you want to, but youfast Maybe when you can talk more you will tell me, if you are free to If not, I’ll accept that I know you don’t understand everything I’ain, Ayla I promise”

22

“Say ht … ‘Don-da-lah’ ”

“You say my name just fine”

“No Ayla say wrong” She shook her head veheht”

“Jondalar Jon-da-lar”

“Zzzon…”

“Juh,” he showed her, articulating carefully, “Jondalar”

“Zh … dzh …” She struggled with the unfamiliar sound

“Dzhon- da- larrr,” she finally got out, rolling the r