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Laramar frowned and looked around “Everybody knows that”

“How do they know that?” the First asked

“Because people say so,” he said

“What people say so?” she pressed

“Everybody,” he said

“If everybody said the sun will not rise to, would that make it so?” the donier asked

“Well, no But people have always said so,” Laramar said

“I think I re it from the zelandonia,” one of the onlookers said

The First glanced around to look at the person who had spoken; she had recognized the voice “Are you saying it is a teaching of the zelandonia that a child of mixed spirits is an abomination, Marona?”

“Well, yes,” she said defiantly “I’m sure I heard it from the zelandonia”

“Marona, did you know that even a beautiful woly when she lies?” the First said

Marona flushed and glared at the First with a malicious look Several people turned to stare at her to see if what the First said was true, and so wonized beauty She looked away, but mumbled under her breath, “Hoould you know, you fat old woman!”

Several people nearby heard her and gasped at the insult to the First A Those Who Served The Great Earth Mother Ayla, as on the other side of the large roo was almost supernaturally acute A few others had heard Marona, aood as well

“Look closely at this fat old woman, Marona, and remember that, like you, I was once considered theBeauty is atwoone, you will be very unhappy if you don’t have soretted the loss of beauty, because what I have gained in knowledge and experience is ,” the One Who Was First said

Then she continued to the rest of the group, “Marona has said, and Laraht by the zelandonia that children who are born as the result of the blending of the spirits of one of us with one of those e call flatheads are aboone into deep ends, and all the lore that is known only to the zelandonia, to try to find out where this idea caht in one respect It is so that ‘everybody’ thinks they know” She paused and looked around the gathering “That idea has never been a teaching of the zelandonia”