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“For thather on a litter,” Dalanar volunteered “With four people, one on each corner, it would be easy She’s not heavy”
“And she could sit
up; she wouldn’t have to look backward I’et her, but I haven’t seen him yet Has he been with you, Dalanar?” Ayla asked
“No, I haven’t seen him all day He could be anywhere You kno it is at a Meeting like this,” Dalanar said “I haven’t even seen Bokovan all day”
“Bokovan? Are Joplaya and Echozar here? I thought Echozar said he’d never ca with Joplaya,” Ayla said
“It took a lot of persuading Jerika and I thought he should co to need to find a h Lanzadonii yet All the youngsters are raised like siblings, and you kno it is when children grow up together They don’t usually think of each other as potential mates I told Echozar that it was only a few people who objected, but he wasn’t convinced It wasn’t until this big Mao They helped most of all”
“What did they do?”
“That’s just it They didn’t do anything You kno people always seem to feel uncomfortable around Echozar when they first meet him—you never did, but you were an exception,” Dalanar said “I think that’s why he’s always had a special fondness for you Danug didn’t either, just started talking to hi S’Armunai didn’t seem terribly bothered by Echozar either Apparently they don’t think of the ones of onism as some of the Zelandonii”
“I think that’s true,” Ayla said “Mixtures seeh not entirely, especially when the look of the Clan is as strong as it is in Echozar He ht have some problem even there”
“Not with Aldanor All three of those young men accepted him as easily as anyone else They didn’t make him an exception, or make special efforts to be nice to hi man It made Echozar realize, I think, that not everyone would hate him, or object to him He couldcouple that mated the same time you did, Jondecam and Levela? They have all but adopted Bokovan He’s over there all the tisters, and all the rest of the children that always see around their ca so many children there all the time,” Dalanar said
“Levela has no end of patience,” Ayla said “I think she loves it” She turned to Danug “You will go with us back to the Ninth Cave, won’t you? We haven’t even started catching up on what everyone in the Lion Ca”
“We were rather hoping to winter with you I’d like to go all the way to the Great Waters of the West before I return Besides, I don’t think there is any e’re going to get Aldanor away fro at his friend
Ayla looked at hily “Why not?”
“When you see him around Jondalar’s sister, you’ll know”
“Folara?”