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“Is everyone ready?” Jondalar said, and when the three aiting nodded, the others began to snuff out the small flames No one spoke as each one went out The shadows deepened until the encroaching darkness overtook every gli an eerie sense of close, iible air It was as dark as a cave, bu

t in the dwelling, which low, the effect was eerie, unnerving, and, curiously,than in the cold deeps Darkness was expected there It wasn’t that fires did not go out inside a dwelling, but that all the illumination was not purposely put out It felt as if they were te chance The mystic impact was not lost on the First

But as time passed and eyes adjusted to the darkness, Zelandoni noticed that the deep black was slightly less She still could not see the shape of her own hand in front of her eyes, but above the roofless dwelling, on the underside of the overhanging shelf, the light fro spaces It wasn’t much, but it was not quite as dark as a cave She would have to reht

Her thoughts were distracted by a light nearby that was startling to eyes grown accustohting Ayla’s face, then went out, but a

“How did you do that?” she said

“Do what?” Jondalar said, grinning widely

“Start that fire so fast” Zelandoni could see that everyone was s now

“It’s the firestone!” Jondalar said, and held one out to show her “When you strike it with flint, it ood dry tinder, if you aiht, it will catch and make a flame Here, let me show you hoorks”

He made up a tinder bundle with fireweed fuzz and soot up from her padded seat and sat down on the floor near the fireplace She preferred to sit on raised seats or chairs because it was easier to get up, but that didn’t et down if she wanted to or felt it was i trick was Jondalar deave the stones to her She tried it a few ti deeper with each attempt

“You’ll get the technique,” Marthona encouraged “Ayla, why don’t you show her”

Ayla took the flint and iron pyrite, set the fire bundle just so, and carefully showed the woman the position of her hands Then she struck off a spark that landed on the tinder It sent up a thin wisp of save the stones back to Zelandoni

The woman held them in front of her and started to strike, but Ayla stopped her and changed the position of her hands She tried again This tied her own hand position slightly, and struck This time the spark found the tinder She knehat to do then She picked up the bundle, held it close to her face, and blew The tiny start turned bright red The second breath of air turned the fireweed down into a sht the shaved wood on fire The donier put it down and started feeding it ser ones Then she sat back and smiled, pleased with her accomplishment

Everyone else was s coht on fast,” Folara said “I knew you could do it,” Jondalar said “I told you, it’s just a matter of technique,” Marthona said “Well done!” Willaood idea,” Marthona said

The One Who Was First A Those Who Served The Mother dutifully did as she was directed She made fire the second time, but then had trouble the third tiood spark and how to strike the stones at a different angle After the third successful try, she stopped, got up, and sat down again on her padded seat and looked at Ayla

“I ork on this at home,” she said “The first time I do it in public, I want to be as sure as you But tell me, where did you learn to do this?”