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“It’s all your fault, Willarin, then looked at his brother “Don’t you re stories about his travels and adventures, Joharran? I always thought he was better thanStory-Tellers Did you ever show Joharran the gift he just brought you, mother?”
“No, Joharran and Proleva haven’t seen it yet,” Marthona said “I’ll go get it” She went into her sleeping rooave it to Joharran It was carved with two strea They were fishlike, but not fish “What did you say these were, Willamar?”
“They’re called seals,” he said “They live in the water, but they breathe air, and coive birth”
“This is remarkable,” Proleva said
“Yes, it is, isn’t it?” Marthona said
“We saw some animals like those on our Journey They live in an inland sea far to the east,” Jondalar said
“Some people think they are spirits of the water,” Ayla added
“I saw another creature that lives in the Great Waters of the West that is thought of as a special spirit helper of the Mother by the people who live nearby,” Willaive birth in the sea, but it is said they breathe air and nurse their young They can stand on top of the water on their tails—I saw one do it—and it’s said they speak their own language The people who live there call theuage Theysounds to show me
“They tell ends about them,” Willa them into nets, and they have saved the lives of people whose boats have capsized far froends say that all people once lived in the sea Some of them returned to the land, but the ones who stayed behind became dolphins Some call them cousins, and their Zelandoni says they are related to people She’s the one who gave this plaque to me They venerate the dolphin almost as much as the Mother Every family has a donii, but everyone also has so like that, or a part of the animal, a bone or tooth It is considered very lucky”
“And you said I had interesting stories to tell, Willamar,” Jondalar said “Fish that breathe air and stand on their tails on top of the water It alo with you”
“Maybe next year when I go to trade for salt, you can co Journey, especially compared to the one you made,” Willamar said
“I thought you said you didn’t want to travel again, Jondalar,” Marthona said, “and here you are, ho another trip Have you developed a traveling urge? Like Willamar?”
“Well, trading missions aren’t exactly Journeys,” Jondalar said, “and I’, but a year is a long way off”
Folara and Jaradal, curled up with Wolf on Folara’s bed, tried to stay awake They didn’t want toto the stories and the soft buzz of conversation, they both fell asleep
The next day daith a gray drizzle, but the summer shower didn’t da trek Despite staying up late the night before, the members of Marthona’s household were up early They ht before and then finished packing The rain eased up, and the sun tried to burn off the clouds, but ht’s accuy, cool, and damp