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“I don’t think it’s so we have to worry about now,” Proleva said, “and I’et to know Ayla better” She paused, turning her head toward Jaradal’s sleeping place, and listened She had heard a sound, but he was quiet now Probably a dreaht, and turned back to her mate “You know, they want to make her a Zelandonii woman before we leave, so it will be done before she and Jondalar are mated”
“Yes, I know Don’t you think it’s a little too soon? It seeer than we have, but it wasn’t that long ago that they arrived,” Joharran said “I don’t usually estions often, for all that she’s stài a powerful wo I hadn’t thought of, but makes sense When the leadership was turned over to ive it up, but she wanted me to take it as much as the rest, and she has always been very careful not to interfere But I can’t see a good reason to acknowledge Ayla so quickly She’ll be considered one of us when she mates Jondalar anyway”
“But not in her own right, only as the mate of Jondalar,” Proleva said “Your , Joharran Remember Shevonar’s burial? As an outsider, Ayla should have walked at the back, but Jondalar insisted he would ith her, wherever she walked Your ive the i had little status Then Zelandoni said she belonged with the healers, that’s why she was up front, but Laramar didn’t like it and he embarrassed Marthona”
“I didn’t know that,” Joharran said
“The problee Ayla’s rank,” Proleva said “Apparently she was adopted by high-ranking Mamutoi, but how much do we know about them? It’s not like they’re Lanzadonii, or even Losadunai I never even heard of theh some people claim they have And she was raised by flatheads! What kind of position does that give her? If a high rank isn’t recognized for her, it could bring down Jondalar’s status and
that would affect all our ‘names and ties,’ Marthona’s, yours, mine, all his kin”
“I hadn’t thought of that,” Joharran said
“Zelandoni is pushing to get her recognized, too She is treating Ayla as though she is zelandonia, and an equal I’m not sure what her reasons are, but she also see” Proleva turned her head again in the direction of her son at a sound he wasIt was an auto lively dreaht
Joharran was considering her co rather pleased that his woman was both accomplished and astute She was a real help to him, and he valued her talents Just noas her talent to clarify his ood listener and communicator in his oay, that was one reason why he was a skillful leader, but he didn’t have her innate sense of the repercussions and innuendos of a situation
“Will it be enough to have just us declaring acceptance?” Marthona asked, leaning forward
“Joharran is leader, you are former leader and adviser, Willamar is Trade Master…”
“And you are First,” Marthona said, “but in spite of rank, we’re all kin, except you, Zelandoni, and everybody knows that you are a friend”
“Who would object?”
“Laramar would” Marthona was still vexed and soht her in a breach of etiquette, and her face showed her irritation “He’d make an issue of it, just to make trouble He did it at the burial,” she said
“I wasn’t aware of that What did he do?” the large wo tea and chatting quietly The donier was glad her latest patient had finally gone ho her back her privacy, where she could meditate in solitude and speak privately