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“I’, Zelandoni I can count nineteen years, if Iza was right about how many years I hen she found me,” Ayla said

“You certainly look younger than you are” A fleeting frown crossed Zelandoni’s face “But it shouldn’t matter You have a head start,” she said alhts, She is already a skilled healer, she won’t have to learn that before beco a Zelandoni

“A head start on what?” Ayla asked, puzzled

“Uh … you have a head start on your faun,” Zelandoni said “But I hope you don’t have too ood health, but too e her more quickly”

Ayla got a strong impression that Zelandoni did not want her to knohat she was thinking and quickly said so her It was her right, Ayla thought She could refrain fro if she chose, but it did make her wonder

Twilight had settled by the ti hard to see When they arrived at the fire

trench, people greeted thery; it had been a full and busy afternoon Zelandoni ate with theht, then iot into a discussion with Marthona and Joharran about the upco hunt and the Search the zelandonia wouldthem, which they seemed to think was entirely appropriate, but it made Ayla feel uneasy She did not want to become one of Those Who Served The Mother, but circu her in that direction and she wasn’t happy about it

“We should get there early I need to arrange to set up soets and step off the distances,” Jondalar said as they walked out of the lodge the nextthe cup ofon the end of the wintergreen twig she had recently peeled, to prepare it for him to clean his teeth

“I want to check on Whinney and Racer first I hardly saw thes ready I’ll keep Wolf with me and meet you later,” Ayla said

“Don’t take too long People will be gathering early, and I’d really like you to show the forway, but when they see that a wo a spear farther than any of the men, that will make them interested,” Jondalar said

“I’ll be there as soon as I can, but I want to brush theot so in it I may want to treat it,” Ayla said

“Do you think he’s all right? Should I come with you?” he said, full of concern

“It didn’t look that bad I’o on, I won’t be long,” she said

Jondalar nodded as he scrubbed at his teeth, then swished out his mouth with the mint tea He drank down the balance and smiled “That always makes me feel better,” he said

“It does make your mouth feel clean, and wakes you up,” Ayla said She hadsince shortly after sheritual “I noticed it especially when I was sick in the ”