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“If we’re all going to say e think, and get it out in the open,” Jondeca, Ayla It takes a little getting used to, but I like it It makes people take notice and listen You h”

“Farther away than you can iine,” Jondalar said

“And I want to ask one ,” Jondecam added “Where is that wolf? Other people have talked aboutto meet him”

Ayla shtforward and honest, she couldn’t help but like him, and so relaxed and comfortable with himself, he made everyone else feel the saht be easier on him and everyone else if he stayed away But if you stop by the Ninth Cave’s camp, I’ll be happy to introduce hi he will like you, too,” she said “All of you are welco couple, ere actually s in a natural and relaxed way

“Yes, by all means,” Jondalar added He liked these couples that they hadyoung woman, and Jondecam, who reminded him of his brother Thonolan

They noticed that the First was standing in the center of the lodge, silently waiting for everyone’s attention When she had it, she spoke to the the, repeating so them some instructions on as expected of them at the Matrimonial Then some of the other zelandonia told them where they were supposed to stand and explained where to walk and what to say They went through a rehearsal of the steps and movements

Before they left, the First spoke to theain “Most of you know this, but I want to say it now so it is clear After the Matrimonial, for a period of half of awords—the newly mated couples are not allowed to speak to anyone except each other Only in the case of dire eency are you to communicate with anyone else, and then only to a donier, ill decide if it was ih to break the ban I want you to understand why this is done It is a way of forcing a couple together to see if they can really live with each other At the end of the ti is incompatible, any couple can decide to break the tie with no consequences It would be as if they had never mated”

The Zelandoni Who Was First knew hted with the idea of spending tiether totally involved with only each other But at the end, she knew, there would likely be one or two couples ould quietly decide to go their separate ways She looked carefully at each person trying to judge which couplesto assess which of the couples would not last even fourteen days Then she wished them all well and told the

Ayla and Jondalar were not concerned that their time alone would prove their union incompatible They had already spent the better part of a year with only each other for co the route of their Journey They both looked forward to their period of forced intimacy, especially since there would be no pressures to keep traveling

After leaving the lodge, the four couples walked together toward their camps Janida and Peridal turned off first Before they left, Janida held out both hands to Levela “I want to thank you,” she said, “for including us andus welco at us, and I didn’t knohat to do But I noticed e left, that people were looking at Joplaya and Echozar, and Ayla and Jondalar, and even you and Jondeca at everyone else, but you were the one who , not separate and outside of it” She leaned forward and brushed Levela’s cheek with hers

“Janida is an intelligent young woman,” Jondalar said after they continued on “Peridal is lucky to get her, and I hope he appreciates her”

“There does seem to be some real affection between the?”

“I would guess the resistance was more from his mother than from him,” Jondecam said

“I think you are right,” Ayla said “Peridal is very young His mother still has a lot of influence on him But so is Janida How many years can each of them count?”

“I think both can count thirteen years She just barely, he is some moons older, closer to a fourteen-year,” Levela said