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Ayla looked at her, thinking it was a strange co,” she said
“You command that wolf He is motivated to please you by the love he feels for you It’s not that you try to beguile or entice, but you draw it to you And those who love you, love you profoundly I see it in your animals I see it in Jondalar I know him He has never loved anyone the way he loves you, and he never will Perhaps it is because you give of yourself so fully and so openly, or perhaps it is a Gift froreat fervor, but one must be wary of the Mother’s Gifts”
“Why do people say that, Zelandoni?” Ayla asked “Why should someone be concerned about a Gift fro?”
“Perhaps it’s because Her Gifts are too good Or because they are too powerful How do you feel if soreat value?” the donier asked
“Iza taughtof equal value back,” Ayla said
“The row to respect them,” said the One Who Was First “When the Great Earth Mother bestows a Gift, Sheof equal value When iven, much may be expected, but how can one knohat that is until the time comes? So people are leery Sometimes Her Gifts are too iven back Tooany h”
“Even too much love?” Ayla asked
“The best example to answer that is Jondalar He was definitely favored by the Mother,” said the woiven too much He is so remarkably handsome and well made, he can’t help but draw attention Even his eyes are such an exceptional color, one can hardly keep fro at him He has a natural charm, people are drawn to him, but women in particular—I don’t think there is a woman alive who could refuse hihts in pleasing woent, and exceptionally skilled at flint-knapping, and with it all he was given a caring heart, but he cares too ive
“Even his love for working the stone, fortools, is for his for whatever he loves is so strong, it can overwhelhts to keep it under control, but it has occasionally gotten away from his are And all his Gifts didn’t make him happy, at least not until now, they have often aroused more envy than love”
Ayla nodded with a thoughtful frown “I have heard several people say Jondalar’s brother Thonolan was a favorite of the Mother and that’s why he was taken so young,” Ayla said “Was he exceptionally handsoiven many Gifts?”
“He was a favorite of everyone, not only the Mother Thonolan was a fine-looking… I’m tempted to say beauty—masculine beauty, to be sure—of Jondalar, but he had such a warm and open nature that wherever he went, people loved him, men and women alike He made friends, easily and naturally, and no one resented him, or was envious of him,” the woman said
They had been standing and talking, with the wolf crouched at Ayla’s feet As they started walking again toward the ca about the donier’s words
“Now that Jondalar has brought you home, many men are even more envious, and many women are jealous of you, because he loves you,” Zelandoni continued “That hy Marona tried to make you look foolish She was jealous, envious of both of you, I think, because you have found happiness in each other Soiven much, but all she ever had was an unusual beauty, and beauty alone is the most deceptive of Gifts It doesn’t last She is an unpleasant woman, who seems to think of little besides herself, with few friends and no real talents When Marona’s beauty fades she will have nothing, I’m afraid, not even children, it seems”
They walked together a few steps, then Ayla stopped and turned toward the woman “I haven’t seen Marona lately, not for several days before we left and not on the trek here”
“She went back to the Fifth Cave with her friend and ca at their camp,” the donier said