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“You havefeasts as you have become,” Marthona said

Ayla noticed the very specific reference tofeasts and recalled that Marthona’s “specialty” had not been organizing feasts and gatherings Her organizing skills had been utilized as the leader of the Ninth Cave before Joharran

“I hope you let me help you next time, Proleva,” Ayla said “I would like to learn from you”

“I’d be happy to have your help next ti for you to start, can I serve you so reindeer roast?”

“What about your wolf-animal?” Marthona asked “Would he like some meat?”

“He would, but he doesn’t need tender young meat He would probably be happy with a bone, if there is one with a little meat left on it that isn’t needed for soup,” Ayla said

“There are several by the cooking fires over there,” Proleva said, “but do take a slice of this reindeer and some daylily buds for yourself first”

Ayla held out her eating bowl to accept the piece of etables, then Proleva called another woman to co hearths, staying on her left side, away froe hearth and helped Ayla pick out a broken long bone with a shiny knob at one end The marrow had been extracted, b

ut pieces of brownish drying rawto it

“This will do fine,” Ayla said, while the wolf eyed her with tongue-lolling anticipation “Would you like to give it to him, Proleva?”

Proleva frowned nervously She didn’t want to be impolite to Ayla, especially after Marona’s trick, but she wasn’t eager to give a bone to a wolf

“I would,” Marthona said, knowing it would make everyone less fearful to see her do it “What should I do?”

“You can hold it out to him, or you can toss it to hi Jondalar, had joined them He had an amused smile on his face

Marthona took the bone and held it out toward the anie of eneral direction of the wolf He jurabbed it in the air with his teeth, a trick that drew appreciative comments, then he looked at Ayla expectantly

“Take it over there, Wolf,” she said, signaling hie of the terrace The wolf carried the bone like a prized possession, settled hinaw on it