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It was not the only sacred site in the region Most caves had some measure of sanctity attached to them, and some places outside of caves were also blessed, but the deep cave in Fountain Rocks was one of the most exalted Jondalar knew of a few others that equaled Fountain Rocks, but none was more important As they continued up the cliff with Jonokol, Jondalar felt a combination of excitement and dread and, as they approached the terrace, a frisson of fearful anticipation This wasn’t so he really wanted to do, but for all his apprehension, he did wonder if Zelandoni could find the free spirit of his brother, ould be expected of him, and hoould feel

When they reached the high terrace in front of the caves, two more acolytesjust insi

de the ht Ayla paused for a moment and turned around to see where she had come from The lofty stone porch overlooked Fountain Creek Valley and part of Grass Valley with its river, and the panorae, the closer vieithin the dark cavity were

Especially in daytiht an immediate transformation, a shift in perspective from an open, expansive view to a close, narrow corridor, froe went beyond the physical or external Especially to those who understood and accepted the inherent power of the place, it was a metamorphosis that went from easy familiarity to apprehensive fear, but also a transition into so rich and wondrous

Only a few feet of the ingress could be seen froht outside, but as eyes becaht at the entry, the rock walls of the constricted passage suggested the way into the shadowy interior A shted stone la piece of the wall, and several unlit lamps In a natural stone niche beloere torches Jonokol and the other young man picked up a lamp, then a thin, dry stick, which they held to the flanited With it, they each lit the e of the bowl of a laealed fat The woman lit a torch and beckoned to them

“Watch your footing,” she said, holding the torch lower to show the uneven floor and the wet, glistening clay that filled in so up “It can be slippery”

When they started into the passage, picking their way carefully across the uneven floor, there was still a suggestion of light fro more than a hundred feet the darkness was coh ofair strayed down fro a chill of fear as the tiny lights of the lamps flickered They knew that once into the depths, if the fire went out, a blackness ht would obscure all vision Only hands and feet on cold, daht lead only to a dead-end passage rather than the way out

A deeper black on the right, no longer reflecting the small flames off damp stone walls, indicated that the distance to that side had increased; perhaps a niche or another passageway Behind thelooly thick The wisp of air was the only manifestation of a corridor that led back to the outside Ayla wished she could reach for Jondalar’s hand

As they proceeded, the laht Several shallol-shaped stone la the dark corridor, casting a light that seeht in the darkness within the cave A couple of the, however They either needed more fat to melt into the bowl or a new moss wick, and Ayla hoped someone would tend to them soon

But the laave Ayla an eerie sense that she had been in this place before, and an irrational fear that she would be again She didn’t want to follow the woht of herself as one who feared caves, but there was so about this one that made her want to turn around and run, or touch Jondalar for reassurance Then she re the s Creb and the other -urs She shivered at the memory and suddenly realized that she was cold

“You ,” the wo up the lamp for Ayla and Jondalar “It’s rather cold deep in a cave, especially in summer In winter, when it’s snowy and icy outside, it actually feels rather warm The deep caves stay the same all year”

The stop for so-sleeved tunic had steadied Ayla Although she had been ready to turn around and run out of the cave, when the acolyte started walking again, Ayla took a deep breath and followed her

Although the long passageway had seeressively colder, after another fifty feet the rocky corridor closed in even reater humidity in the air was verified by a sheen of moisture reflected off the walls, the stalactite icicles projecting down fro up frohtly more than two hundred feet into the dark, daeway ascended, not blocking the way, butto turn back here, to think this was far enough, and many a faint-heart had It tested determination to continue beyond this point

Holding the torch, the woman in front cliher up Ayla watched the wavering light as she climbed, then breathed deeply and started up over sharp stones until she reached the wo overthat descended into the heart of the stone cliff

The nearly sublie of air in the first section was noticeable now only for its lack After the confined gap, no movement of air could be detected at all The first indication that someone had come this way before was three red dots painted on the left-hand wall Not long afterward, Ayla saw soht of the torch the woman in front held She couldn’t quite believe her eyes and wished the acolyte would stop for a ht closer to the left wall She stopped and waited for the tall man behind her to catch up