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“Why are a bison and a horse opposing kinship signs?” Ayla asked

“Probably because in this world they tend to cover the saround at different times, so there is some overlap, some competition for food Aurochs, on the other hand, eat the tender new greens, or just the green tops of the grasses, leaving behind the stalks and roughage, which horses see power animals are bison and aurochs, but when you think about it, it is logical Most plant-eaters tolerate each other, but bison and aurochs can’t stand to be in the saht, especially when females come into the season of their Pleasures They are too similar Aurochs bulls are affected when they smell a bison feo after a fen should never n,” Zelandoni said

“What is your power animal, Zelandoni?” Ayla asked

“You should al “I ao, Ayla, you will not look the sao as your power animal That’s when you will find out what it is”

Ayla wasn’t sure she liked hearing Zelandoni talking about her going into the spirit world, but Marthona wondered why Zelandoni was being so forthcoo into such detailed and in-depth answers Jondalar’sto tee that were available only to those in the zelandonia

Then she understood Ayla was already considered by most people to be some kind of zelandoni, and the First wanted her on the inside where she could exercise some control, not out of her reach where she could create probleet mated and have children and be like everyone else She didn’t want to join the zelandonia, and knowing her son, Marthona realized that he wouldn’t particularly want her to be zelandoni, either But he did have a tendency to be attracted to woame to watch

They were getting ready to go, but as they were leaving, Ayla turned back “I have another question,” she said “When you were talking about babies, and causing nancy, why did you not say so in the first place?”

“There is no way Only Doni has the power to begin life, and only She can prevent it fro,” Zelandoni of the Fourteenth said She had been standing nearby, listening to the conversation

“But there is!” Ayla said

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The First gave the young woman a sharp look Perhaps she should have spoken with Ayla earlier, in more depth Was it possible she knew of a way to thwart the will of Doni? This was the wrong way to bring it up, but it was too late now The zelandonia ere standing nearby were talking loudly and gesticulating aitated as the Fourteenth A feere saying it rong The rest were co on Ayla didn’t know her statement would cause such a stir

The three wo Marthona looked on with sardonic ah her expression remained neutral Joplaya was astounded that the esteemed zelandonia could quarrel so ardently, but was just as shocked as they were Jerika listened with great interest, but she had already decided to speak with Ayla in private Her announcement to the zelandonia could be the solution to a serious proble the woman for some time

When she first met him, Jerika had fallen coiant of a man as so char woentle man and consummate lover in spite of his size, and she reveled in their Pleasures When he asked her to be his mate, she accepted without hesitation, and when she discovered that she was pregnant, she was delighted But the baby she carried was too big for her tiny frahter It daain, ret, and relief

Now her daughter had chosen ah Joplaya was tall, she was thin and rather delicate with, Jerika had carefully noticed, narrow hips Frohter would probably end up choosing, and therefore be the one whose spirit would most likely be chosen by the Mother to start any children she ht have, she worried that Joplaya would suffer her fate, or worse She suspected that Joplaya was already pregnant, since she had started having violent bouts of gestion to end the pregnancy

Jerika knew there was nothing she could do about it It was the Great Mother’s decision Joplaya would be Blessed or not, when She wished, and live or the at Her discretion, but Jerika suspected that with the hter would the young and painfully in childbirth, if not with the first, then later, with another one Her only hope was that her daughter would live through this first one and, like herself, as painful as it was, be daain … until she heard Ayla say that she kne to prevent life frohter had as h the birth of her first, to save her life, she would ain