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“See?” Zelandoni said, turning to look at Jondalar “I told you if she was right for you, I couldn’t hurt her”

“Did you think Marona was right for inning to feel as though between theht to make up his own mind “You never objected when I was promised to her”

“That didn’t matter You didn’t love her She couldn’t hurt you”

Both woh they bore no resemblance to each other, their expressions were so sihed “Well, I’ to be friends,” he said

Zelandoni raised an eyebrow and gave hi to be friends?” she said, but she smiled to herself as she left

Jondalar felt a strange set of mixed emotions as he watched Zelandoni leave, but he was pleased that the powerful wo to accept Ayla His sister had been friendly toward her, too, and his mother All the women that he really cared about seeht His mother had even told her she would do whatever she could to make Ayla feel at home

The leather drape across the entrance le of surprise when he saw hisabout her Marthona entered, carrying the preserved stomach of soh the nearly waterproof container enough to stain it a deep purple Jondalar’s face lit up with a grin

“Mother, you brought out some of your wine!” he said “Ayla, do you remember the drink that we had e stayed with the Sharaet a chance to taste Marthona’s wine She’s known for it No matter what fruit most people use, their juice often turns sour, but mother has a ith it” He smiled at her and added, “Maybe someday she’ll tell me her secret”

Marthona smiled back at the tall man, but made no comment From her expression, Ayla sensed that she did have a secret technique, and that she was good at keeping secrets, not only her own She probably knew many There were layers and hidden depths to the woht and honest in what she said And for all that she was friendly and welco her

Suddenly Ayla was reminded of Iza, the woman of the Clan who had been like a mother to her Iza also knew many secrets, yet, like the rest of the Clan, she didn’t lie With a language of gestures, and nuances conveyed by postures and expressions, they couldn’t lie It would be known ih itwas held back, it was allowed, for the sake of privacy

This was not the first time she had been reminded of the Clan recently, she realized The Ninth Cave’s leader, Jondalar’s brother Joharran, had reminded her of Brun, her clan’s leader Why did Jondalar’s kin remind her of the Clan? she wondered

“Youboth of thelance

Jondalar sry! We haven’t eaten since early this et here, and ere so close, I didn’t want to stop”

“If you’ve brought all your things in, sit and rest while I prepare some food for you” Marthona led them to a low table, indicated cushions for them to sit on, and poured some of the deep red liquid into cups for each of them She looked around “I don’t see your wolf-aniht him in Does he also need food? What does he eat?”

“I usually feed hiht him in so he would knohere his place is, but he came with me the first time I went back down to the valley where the horses are, and decided to stay He cooes on his own, unless I want him,” Ayla said