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“Let ? Are you sure you don’t want et Zelandoni?”

“Jondalar, you’ve seen babies born before, haven’t you? You don’t have to be so worried”

“Who says I’ to appear calm She stood still and held her hand to her stoo t

ell Zelandoni?” His forehead was pinched together with anxious worry

“All right, Jondalar You can go tell her, but only if you pro There’s no hurry,” she said

Jondalar dashed out He ca Zelandoni behind him

“I told you to tell her there was no hurry, Jondalar,” Ayla said, then looked at the donier “I’ed you over here so soon It’s barely started”

“I think it may be better if Jondalar went to visit Joharran for a while, and tell Proleva I may need her later I’m not busy I’ll stay and keep you company, Ayla Do you have a little tea?” Zelandoni asked

“I can have soht, Jondalar Why don’t you go visit Joharran?”

“On your way, you can stop off and tell Marthona, but don’t go dragging her back here,” Zelandoni said Jondalar rushed out “He stood there the whole time when Folara was born, as calm as you please But it’s always different when it’s a man’s own mate”

Ayla stopped again, waiting for the contraction to pass, then she started to prepare so she waited Then she sat on a large stool that Ayla hadshe did not like to sit on the ground or on cushions if she could help it Ayla had been using it herself recently

After they drank some tea and made some inconsequential conversation while Ayla had a few ested that she lie down so the donier could examine her Ayla complied Zelandoni waited for the next contraction and felt Ayla’s stomach

“Itafter all,” the healer said

Ayla got up, thought about sitting down on a floor cushion, changed herarea, had a sip of tea, and felt another contraction She wondered if she should lie down again This see faster than she expected

Zelandoni checked her again, giving her a closer exa woman keenly “This is not your first baby, is it?”