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“I don’t like Marona, but I am sorry for her if she can’t have children Iza knew sos that could be done tospirit,” Ayla said
“I know of a few, too, but she hasn’t asked for help, and if she is really unable to conceive, nothing will help,” the woman said
Ayla heard the tone of sorrow in her voice She would be sorry, too, if she couldn’t have children Then her froas replaced by a radiant s to have a child?” she said
Zelandoni smiled back Her speculation about Ayla was confirmed “I’ has been blessed?”
“Yes I told him He’s very pleased”
“He should be Have you told anyone else?”
Only Marthona, and Proleva, and now you”
“If it’s not generally knoe can surprise everyone at your Matriood news, if you like,” Zelandoni said “There are special words that can be part of the ceremony if the woman is already Blessed”
“I think I would like that,” Ayla said “I’ve stoppedhas stopped, but I’ain, to keep track of thehtwords, but I don’t kno to count that far”
“Do you find the counting words difficult, Ayla?” –
“Oh, no I like using counting words,” she said “Jondalar surprised h Just fro I lived in the valley He said it was easier because I cut an extra line above the marks on the days when my moon time started, so I would be prepared for it I see I think ani always ca moon reached the same shape, so I didn’t have to make the marks, but I made them anyway You can’t always see the moon if it’s stormy or cloudy”
Zelandoni thought she was getting accustomed to the surprises Ayla could co Butthe connection tofor someone to make by herself
“Would you like to learnwords, and different ways to use them, Ayla?” the woman said “They can be used to knohen seasons are ready to change, before the changes are apparent, for example, or to count the days until your baby is born”
“Yes, I would,” Ayla said, s broadly “I learned how to h I think it made him nervous when I did it Most women of the Clan, or men, for that matter, couldn’t count-ur, but he didn’t have words for counting”
“I’ll show you how to count larger nu your children nohen you are young Youchildren when you are older There is no telling what you may decide to do”