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The younger wo and then tried to hide it, and Jondalar thought he noticed a trace of a smirk on Marona’s face His brorinkled in a frown

“I wanted to do reet you, Ayla,” Marona said “I don’t know if Jondalar ever mentioned it, but as you know by noere Proreat Journey he suddenly had to make As I’m sure you must knoasn’t very pleased about it”

Jondalar was trying to think of so, Marona letting Ayla know that she was very unhappy by giving her an earful of his faults, but she surprised turn

“But that was in the past,” Marona said “To be honest, I haven’t thought about him in years, until you arrived today Other people otten, however, and so else to talk about, to show thereet you appropriately” Sheto go to ht, and we thought you ht like to join us, Ayla My cousin Wylopa is there already—you reive you a chance to get acquainted with soht”

Ayla noticed some tension, particularly between Jondalar and Marona, but under the circumstances that wouldn’t be unusual Jondalar had mentioned Marona, and that they had been aline how she would feel in the wohtforward about it, and Ayla did want to get to know some of the women better

She e when she was growing up Uba, Iza’s true daughter, had been like a sister to her, but Uba was rown to care for all the women of Brun’s clan, there were differences No s she could not change It wasn’t until she went to live with the Maie that she cae to talk to She ie, and Tholie of the Sharamudoi, too, who had quickly become a friend that Ayla would always remember

“Thank you, Marona I would like to join you This is all I have to wear,” she said, quickly putting on her sioing to help me make some clothes I’d like to see what you wear”

“Perhaps we can give you a few things, as a welcoift,” Marona said

“Would you take this drying skin back with you, Jondalar?” Ayla said

“Of course,” he said He held her close for a heartbeat and brushed her cheek with his, then she left with the three women

As Jondalar watched theh he hadn’t formally asked Marona to be his mate, he had led her to believe they would be joined at the Matri before he left, and she had beenplans Instead he left with his brother on a Journey and just hadn’t shown up It must have been difficult for her

It wasn’t that he had loved her There was no doubt she was beautiful Most men considered her to be the s And though he didn’t entirely agree, she certainly had her hen it ca Doni’s Gift of Pleasure She just wasn’t the one he desired most But people said they were perfect for each other, they looked so good together, and everyone had expected them to tie the knot He more or less did, too He kneanted to share a hearth with a woman and her children someday, and since he couldn’t have Zolena, the one woht as well be Marona

He had not really admitted it to hio with Thonolan on a Journey At the time, it seemed the easiest way to extricate himself from his involvement with her He had been sure she would find soone She said she had, but it hadn’t lasted He had expected to find her with a hearth full of children She didn’t say anything about children at all It was surprising

He had no idea he would find her unmated when he returned She was still a beautiful woman, but she did have a temper and a vicious streak She could be very spiteful and vindictive Jondalar’s forehead knotted with concern as he watched Ayla and the three wo toward the Ninth Cave

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