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Wylopa was surprised at Ayla’s unusual enunciation and was so unused to hearing any language other than her own, she had soer
“No,” Marona interjected “This is the home of my brother and his mate, and their three children Wylopa and I live here with them We share this room”
Ayla glanced quickly around at the space set off by panels, si was divided
“We were going to fix our hair and faces for the celebration tonight,” Portula said She glanced at Marona with an ingratiating smile, which becaht like to get ready with us”
“Thank you for asking me I would like to see what you do,” Ayla said “I don’t know Zelandonii ways My friend Deegie used to fix my hair sometimes, but she is Maain, and I miss her It’s nice to have women friends”
Portula was surprised and touched by the newcomer’s honest and friendly response; her smirk warmed to a real smile
“Since it’s a feast to welco to wear, too I asked ather so that had been placed around “You’ve found a good selection, Wylopa” Lorava giggled Portula looked away
Ayla noticed several outfits spread out on the bed and floor, pri-sleeved shirts or tunics Then she looked at the clothing the four wo
Wylopa, who see an outfit similar to the ones laid out, worn quite loose, Ayla noticed Lorava, as rather young, had on a short sleeveless leather tunic, belted around the hips, cut somewhat differently from the ones spread out Portula, as fairly plump, wore a full skirttop with a long fringe that hung over the skirt Marona, as thin but shapely, had on a very short sleeveless top, open in front, profusely decorated with beads and feathers, with a reddish fringe around the bottom that stopped just below her waist, and a loincloth skirt, similar to the kind Ayla had worn on hot days on her Journey
Jondalar had shown her how to take a rectangular strip of soft leather, pull it up between her legs, and rie it on with a thong around her waist Letting the long ends hang down both front and back, and pulling theether at the sides, made the loincloth reseed on both front and back ends She had left an open space on both sides, showing a long, bare, shapely leg, and tied the thong low, barely over her hips, causing the fringe in front and back to shen she walked Ayla thought Marona’s clothes—the very short top that did not meet in front and could never be closed, and the skih they had been made for a child, not a woht-haired woreat care
“Go ahead, pick so out,” Marona said, “and then we’ll fix your hair We want this to be a special night for you”
“All these things look so big, and heavy,” Ayla said “Won’t they be too warm?”
“It cools off at night,” Wylopa said, “and these clothes are supposed to be worn loose Like this” She lifted her arms and showed the loose blousy fit
“Here, try this on,” Marona said, picking up a tunic “We’ll show you how it’s supposed to be worn”
Ayla re from around her neck and put it on a shelf, and let the woh she was taller than any of the four wo sleeves fell below her fingertips