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“Along with everyone else,” he said, “but I haven’t really been introduced”

“Ayla, of the Mamutoi, this is Laramar of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii It is true No one makes barma better than his,” Jondalar said

Ayla thought it seemed a rather limited formal introduction, but the man smiled at the praise She handed Jondalar her cup to free both of her hands and held thereet you, Laramar of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii,” she said

“And I welco them only briefly, almost as if he was embarrassed “Rather than a formal one, let me offer you a better welcome”

Laramar proceeded to open the container First he unwrapped a waterproof piece of cleaned intestine frole vertebra from the backbone of an aurochs Extraneous roove cut around the outside Then it had been inserted into a natural opening of the sto cord tied around the skin that encircled the bone so that it was pulled into the groove, to hold it in place and ht connection Then he pulled out the stopper, a thin leather thong that had been knotted several ti the central hole It was much easier to control the flow of liquid froh the natural hole in the center of the solid section of spine

Ayla had retrieved her cup from Jondalar and held it out Laramar filled it somewhat more than half-full Then he poured soood,” she said, s “When I lived with the Mamutoi, the headman, Talut, used to rains and other ingredients, but I must admit, this is better”

Laramar looked around at the people nearby with a smirk of satisfaction

“What is this et the taste

“I don’t always make it the same way It depends on what’s available So evasive “Can you guess what’s in it?”

She tasted again It was harder to guess ingredients when they were ferrains, perhaps birch sap or sap fro else, soh, how much of each is used,” Ayla said

“You have a good sense of taste,” he said, evidently impressed “This batch does have fruit, apples that were left on a tree through a frost, whichis honey”

“Of course! Now that you mention it, I can taste honey,” Ayla said

“I can’t always get honey, but when I can, it er,” Laraenuine There were notof his brew

Most people had a craft, so in which they developed the skill to excel Laramar knew that he could make barma better than anyone He considered it his craft, the one thing he could do well, but he felt that few gave hiht he deserved

Many foods ferrew; even animals who ate them were soes, as l