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Ayla was quiet for a tihts had taken with her next comment “You didn’t tell me there were solives here,” she said “And you seem to know them all I’m not sure if I ever will”

“Don’t worry You will It won’t take you long,” he said, trying to work out a particularly irksole “Oh, sorry, did I pull too hard?”

“No, it’s fine I’lad I finally met your Zelandoni She knows medicine; it will be wonderful to have someone to talk with about it”

“She’s a powerful woman, Ayla”

“That’s obvious How long has she been Zelandoni?”

“Letafter I left to live with Dalanar, I think I still thought of her as Zolena then She was beautiful Voluptuous I don’t think she was ever thin, but she is growing to look more and more like the Great Mother I think she likes you” He stopped coh

“What’s so funny?” Ayla asked

“I was listening to you tell her how you foundyouher expression Every time you answered a question, she probably wanted to ask you three more You just made her more curious You do it every time You are a mystery, even to me Do you know just how remarkable you are, woman?”

She had turned around, and he was looking at her with loving eyes

“Give me a little time and I’ll show you how remarkable you can be,” she answered, a lazy, sensuous s across her face Jondalar reached over to kiss her

They heard a laugh and they both jerked around

“Oh, did we interrupt anything?” said a woht-haired, dark-eyed woman who had listened to Folara tell her friends about the newly arrived travelers Two other women ith her

“Marona!” Jondalar said, frowning slightly “No, you are not interrupting anything I’m just surprised to see you”

“Why should you be surprised to see me? Did you think I had left on an unexpected Journey?” Marona said

Jondalar squir at the wouess I’m just surprised”