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“I approve without question!” Dalanar added

“Who has the authority to approve the joining of this woman with this man?” Zelandoni asked

“I, Ayla of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii, forhter of the Mammoth Hearth, have the authority to speak on iven to me by the Mamut of the Mammoth Hearth, eldest and most respected of all the marmiti, by Talut, headman of the Lion Camp, and by his sister, Tulie, headwo with Jondalar of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii,” Ayla said That had been the part she was most nervous about, to memorize and repeat the words she was supposed to say

“Mamut of the Mammoth Hearth, the One Who Serves The Mother for the Mahter of his Hearth the freedom to decide for herself As One Who Serves The Mother for the Zelandonii, I can also speak for Mamut Ayla has chosen to mate with Jondalar, therefore her decision is the sa her voice so all could hear, “Who speaks for this couple?”

“I, Joharran, Leader of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii, speak for this couple, and welcome Jondalar and Ayla to the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii,” Jondalar’s older brother said Then he turned to face the people gathered behind him in the audience

“We of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii welcome them,” they said in unison

Then Zelandoni held out both her ar to embrace everyone there “All the Caves of the Zelandonii,” she said, her tone co attention “Jondalar and Ayla have chosen each other It has been agreed, and they have been accepted by the Ninth Cave What do you say to this joining?”

There was a roar of approval If anyone had disagreed, the objection would have been drowned out The donier waited for the noise to subside, then she said, “Doni, the Great Earth Mother, approves this joining of Her children By Blessing Ayla, She has snal, Ayla and Jondalar held hands and extended them toward the Zelandoni Who Was First She took a si, wrapped it around their joined hands, and tied it with a knot When they returned fro whole, not cut, and in exchange they would be given ift fro was sanctioned and other gifts could now be given

“The knot has been tied You arecouple circled around to face outward toward the people, and Zelandoni announced, “They are now Jondalar and Ayla of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii”

They all stepped away together, including the One Who Was First To Serve The Great Earth Mother, to make room for the next couple While everyone else moved back farther into the audience to make room for the family of the next couple, Ayla and Jondalar walked to where the other couples who had thongs tied around their wrists aiting They were not quite through

Thoughthis pair who had been so favored make their commitments and have their wrists bound, there were a few for whos entirely One was a beautiful woray eyes that were so dark, they were nearly black Most reeable frown, but she ignored them

Marona was not s with pure hatred at the foreign woman and the man who had once Promised himself to her She was supposed to have been the center of attention that year, but instead he went on a Journey and left her stranded with no man to e-looking black-haired wo to ot all the attention Yes, she had found a reasonably acceptable man to mate before the summer was over, but he wasn’t Jondalar, the et They were both happy to sever the knot a few years later It had been the worst Su Marona had ever endured, until now

This year, Jondalar had finally returned, but with a foreign wo animals around her and didn’t even care if she wore boys’ underwear Now they were nant, already Blessed It wasn’t fair And where did she get that outfit she earing, open, and showing off her breasts? Marona wouldn’t have hesitated to wear an outfit like that, if she had thought of it first, but she never would now, even if all the other women did, and she knew they would Someday, Marona said to herself Someday I’ll find a way to show them Someday he’ll be sorry, they’ll both be sorry Someday

There were others ere not particularly pleased with the pairing Laramar just didn’t like either one of them Jondalar always looked at hi his barma, and that woman Ayla, with that wolf, who a thinking she was so wonderful Lanoga wasn’t even there to fix hi around with those other women just like that baby was hers, and she wasn’t even a woht even turn out to be a decent-looking wo than that slovenly old woman as her e, Lara I wonder what she’d be like full of barma at a Mother Festival? Who knows? Someday

There was another person atching that wished the couple less than happiness My naht, and I wish they’d re, all dressed up in that white tunic,all those newly mated women smile He was surprised when he found out I am part of the zelandonia now He never expected it, he didn’t think I could do it, but I’m a lot smarter than he thinks And I will beco up to Jondalar’s foreign woman like she’s already Zelandoni