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“Who do you know that is absolutely not related to either you or your Promised?” the Fourteenth asked

Ayla thought for a moment “What about Lanidar? Marthona, is he related to Jondalar in any way?” she asked

“No … no, he is not I know that I a they visited that he had been selected for the boy’s grandmother’s First Rites,” Marthona said “So he’s not”

“That’s true,” the Nineteenth said “I remember that Denoda was quite … overwhelet over him He handled it well He was tactful, considerate, but kept his distance I was impressed”

“Always,” Marthona said, alhts, he alas entirely correct, did exactly the right thing

The Nineteenth wasn’t going to let it go “Alhat? Tactful? Considerate? Impressive?” she asked

Marthona smiled “All of them,” she said

“And Jondalar is the child of his hearth,” the First said

“Yes,” Marthona said, “but there are differences The boy doesn’t have quite the tact of the man, but perhaps more heart”

“No matter whatof the mother, too,” the Zelandoni Who Was First said

Ayla listened carefully to the rather oblique conversation, especially after Jondalar was mentioned, and detected the mannerisms of voice and body that communicated even more than words She understood that the Nineteenth’s comment about Denoda was less than complimentary, and sensed that the older Zelandoni had been quite attracted to Dalanar There was also an implication that Marthona’s son had not shown the same refinement as her former mate—they all knew about his youthful indiscretions, of course Marthona are of the old wo toward both of them, and let her know that she knew Dalanar better and wasn’t quite as impressed with him

The First told theested that Jondalar was just like Dalanar and had the same attractive qualities, not less She also paid an implied compliment to Marthona because Dalanar’s spirit and the Mother had chosen her toaware that a woman as chosen to have children by the spirit of the her esteem Marthona made it clear to the zelandonia, especially to the Zelandoni of the Nineteenth, that while her son ht not have all of Dalanar’s fine qualities, he had soreed with her, but said that his better qualities came from his mother It was obvious that the former leader and the Zelandoni of the Ninth Cave had a close personal relationship and great respect for each other

There were subtleties within subtleties that addedthe understanding of facial expressions and postures as well as gestures and even soe that employed every nuance of voice, tone, and inflection as well as facial expressions, unconscious postures, and ancillary gestures conveyed even rasp it Ayla was very fae and was learning how they were expressed by the Others, but she was also beco more consciously aware of spoken words and the manner in which they were used

“Can someone find Lanidar,” Ayla said, “so I can ask him to find Jondalar?”

“No, you can’t ask him, Ayla,” Marthona said “But I will,” she looked at the zelandonia ere gathered in the lodge that had becoo and look for him”