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The si contrast to hers Marthona was certain that attempts would be made to copy Ayla’s outfit by h probably none would get it quite right She had examined it carefully when Ayla first showed it to her and knew the exquisite quality of the workmanship Her outfit displayed wealth in the only way that hadfor the Zelandonii: the time it took to make it From the quality of the leather to the amber and the shells and the teeth, to the several thousand individually hand-carved ivory beads, this h status Her son’s hearth would be a the first

Jondalar had eyes for no one but Ayla Her eyes were bright, herwith excite beautiful, or excited by the hunt, and Jondalar felt the blood draw to his loins She is a golden woht Golden like the sun He wanted her, and he could hardly believe that this sensuously beautiful wo to be his mate His mate … he liked the sound of that She would share the home he planned to surprise her with Would the cerein? Would it ever end? He didn’t want to wait, he wanted to run over to her, pick her up, and carry her off

The zelandonia had gathered around, and the First began a haunting chant Then another Zelandoni joined in with a steady tone, and then a third Each donier chose a sound, a tone with a pitch and timbre that sometimes varied in a repetitiveAs the Zelandoni ould join the first couple began to speak, a whole chorus was round, each one ht not be harot out of breath, another voice would join in, and then another, and another at randoue of tones that could go on indefinitely, if there were enough people to provide sufficient rest for those people who had to stop for a while

Though it was only in the background, the pleasant drone filled his mind as Jondalar stared, entranced, at the woman he loved He hardly heard the words spoken by the zelandonia for the first few couples Then he felt a slight poke fro his na Ayla co each other on opposite sides of the donier

Zelandoni looked approvingly at both of them Jondalar was the tallest of the ht he was by far the h he was hardly o, it was one reason she had chosen to teach him Doni’s Gift of Pleasure when it was his time to learn And he had learned well, almost too well He had al

She was glad now that circu at hiain why he had alotten the white tunic, no doubt on his Journey The color, of course, in, and its very lack of decoration made it exotic He matched the woman he had chosen She turned to look at Ayla

And she matched him No, she surpassed hiht The donier would have been disappointed had he chosen someone not up to her opinion of him, but Zelandoni had to adone one better She knew they were the center of attention, for many reasons Everyone knew them, or kneho they were, they had been the talk of the Su, and they were by far the handsomest couple there

It was right, fitting, that she, First A Those Who Served The Mother, should conduct the cere pair Zelandoni herself was a presence to be reckoned with The tattooed design on her forehead had been reinforced with stronger colors, her hair was carefully, if somewhat oudandishly, styled, which appeared to make the tall wo tunic was a work of art that almost needed a person of her size to be displayed adequately All eyes were drawn to the trio, and Zelandoni paused to heighten the dramatic impact

Marthona had stepped forward to stand beside her son, with her present ht and a pace behind On her left was Dalanar, and just behind him was Jerika They would have to wait until the very end before her daughter, Joplaya, and Echozar would be mated Arrayed beside Willamar were Folara and Joharran, Jondalar’s sister and brother Near Joharran was Proleva and her son, Jaradal Many other friends and relatives were in the audience nearby in a place set aside for the use of the couple during their ceree crowd on the slope before she began

“All Caves of the Zelandonii,” the donier said in a sole the joining of a woman and a man Doni, Great Earth Mother, First Creator, the Mother of All, She Who gave birth to Bali, who lights the sky, and She Whose ht in witness with Her She is honored by the sacred joining of Her children”

Ayla glanced up at the htly more than half-full, and she suddenly realized it was dark out The sun had set soe bonfire and ht as day

“The two standing here have pleased the Great Earth Mother by choosing to join together Jondalar of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii Son of Marthona, for Master of the Zelandonii, born to the Hearth of Dalanar, Founder and Leader of the Lanzadonii, Brother of Joharran, Leader of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii…”

Ayla’s mind couldn’t help but wander as Zelandoni continued with the long, full recitation of Jondalar’s names and ties, most of whom she didn’t know This was one of the few times when all his connections would be stated Her attention was caught again when the donier’s tone changed after the long litany

“ … do you choose Ayla of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii, Blessed of Doni, and Honored by Her Blessing…” There was an undercurrent of nant “ … forhter of the Mammoth Hearth, Chosen by the Spirit of the Cave Lion, Protected by the Cave Bear, Friend of the horses naed hunter, Wolf”

Ayla wondered where Wolf was He’d been gone all afternoon and evening, and she was disappointed She kneouldn’t mean much to hi