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She sat back on her heels, looking at her small pile of similar stones There are firestones here! Noon’t have to be so careful with the ones we have, we can get more She could hardly wait to show Jondalar

She gathered them up and a few more that she noticed, then whistled for Whinney, who had strayed off toward a patch of succulent green But just before shein their direction Wolf at his side

“Jondalar!” she called out, running toward hi out several of the pieces of iron pyrite as she ran “Firestones! There are firestones around here They’re all over this stream!”

He hurried toward her, beaht as for the remarkable find “I didn’t know they were so close, but then I never much paid attention to this kind of stone, I was always looking for flint Shohere you found them”

She took him to the little pool at the foot of the waterfall, then trained her eyes on the rocks of the strea the sides of the diminutive ay “Look!” she said triu at a stone on the bank

Jondalar knelt down and picked it up “You’re right! This will make a difference, Ayla It could mean firestones for everybody If they are here, there may be other places nearby that have them, too No one even knows about them yet, I haven’t had a chance to tell anyone”

“Folara knows, and Zelandoni,” Ayla said

“How do they know?”

“Re tea Zelandoni made for Willamar when you told him about your brother? I made Folara nervous when I used a firestone to start the fire that had gone out, so I promised her I’d show her how they worked She told Zelandoni,” Ayla said

“So Zelandoni knows Sos first,” Jondalar said “But we’ll have to coht now, some people want to talk to you”

“About the Clan?” she guessed

“Joharran ca, before I really wanted to get up, but Iwith Guban and Yorga They’re very interested, but it’s hard for them to believe the Clan are people and not aniends more closely—she’s the one who knows about the history of the Zelandonii—trying to see if there are any hints about flatheads … the Clan … living around here before the Zelandonii When Raet you,” Jondalar said “He’s not the only one with a lot of questions”

Jondalar had brought Racer’s rope halter with hi playful With so of itchy places, the horse finally acquiesced The h the open woodlands of the small valley

Jondalar pulled up to ride beside Ayla and, after some hesitation, re, that she thought you were sick, perhaps not used to Lara?”

It’s going to be hard to keep secrets around here, Ayla thought “I’m fine, Jondalar,” she said