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“I am Jondalar of the Zelandonii,” he said “The wo with is Ayla”

So about the darkfro Jondalar closely for cues upon which to base her own behavior But the body language of people who depended on words was so estures to communicate, that she didn’t trust her perceptions yet These people seemed to be both easier and more difficult to read, as with this sudden shift in Jondalar’s attitude She kneas angry, but she didn’t knohy

The man took both of Jondalar’s hands, and shook them firmly “I am Ranec, my friend, the best, if only, carver of the Lion Ca smile, then added, “When you travel with such a beautiful companion, you must expect her to attract attention”

Noas Jondalar’s turn to be embarrassed Ranec’s friendliness and candor ht to mind his brother Thonolan had had the same friendly self-confidence, and had always made the first moves when they encountered people on their Journey It upset Jondalar when he did so out a relationship with new people in the wrong way He had displayed bad manners, at best

But his instant anger had surprised hiuard The hot stab of jealousy was a new emotion to hi it was unexpected He would have been quick to deny it, but the tall and handsome man, with an unconscious charisma, and a sensitive skill in the furs, wasjealous over his attentions

Why should it bother hiht Ranec was right, as beautiful as she was, he should expect it And she had the right to make her own choice Just because he was the first man of her kind she had met didn’t mean he would be the only one she would ever find attractive Ayla saw him smile at Ranec, but noticed that the tension across his shoulders had not eased

“Ranec always speaks lightly of it, though he isn’t in the habit of denying any of his other skills,” Talut was saying as he led the way to the unusual cave which see out of the bank “He and Wymez are alike in that way, if not many others Wymez is as reluctant to admit to his skill as a maker of tools as the son of his hearth is to speak of his carving Ranec is the best carver of all the Mamutoi”

“You have a skilled toolmaker? A flint knapper?” Jondalar asked with pleased expectation, his hot flash of jealousy gone with the thought of eable in his craft

“Yes, and he is the best, too The Lion Camp is well known We have the best carver, the best toolmaker, and the oldest Mamut,” the headman declared

“And a headree, whether they believe it or not,” Ranec said, with a wry grin

Talut grinned back, knowing Ranec’s tendency to turn aside praise of his carving skill with a quip It didn’t stop Talut fro, however He was proud of his Camp, and didn’t hesitate to let everyone know

Ayla watched the subtle interaction of the twored hair and pale blue eyes, the other dark and compact—and understood the deep bond of affection and loyalty they shared though they were as different as any two men could be They were both Mammoth Hunters, both members of the Lion Camp of the Mamutoi

They walked toward the archway Ayla had noticed earlier It seemed to open into a hillock or perhaps a series of thee river Ayla had seen people enter and leave She knew itof some kind, but one which seerowing in patches out of it, particularly around the bottoround so well that, except for the entrance, it was hard to distinguish the dwelling fros

On closer inspection she noticed that the rounded top of the mound was the repository of several curious implements and objects Then she saw a particular one just above the archway, and caught her breath

It was the skull of a cave lion!

Read on for an excerpt from

The Plains of Passage

Book Four in the Earth’s Children® Series