The Land of Painted Caves - Jean M. Auel [193]
“Greetings to The One Who Is First Among Those Who Serve The Great Earth Mother,” he said, approaching her with both hands open and extended in the usual manner to show candor and friendliness. “In the name of Doni, Great and Beneficent First Mother Who Provides For Us All, you are welcome.”
“In the name of Doni, Original And Most Generous Mother, I greet you, Zelandoni of the Fourth Cave of the South Land Zelandonii,” The One Who Was First said.
“What brings you this far south?” he asked.
“A Donier Tour for my acolyte,” the First said.
He watched a tall, attractive young woman approach with an especially pretty little girl. The Zelandoni smiled, and approached the young woman with his hands outstretched; then he noticed the wolf, and glanced around nervously.
“Ayla, of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii …” The First began the formal introduction with her important names and ties.
“Welcome, Ayla of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii,” he said, though he wondered about all her unusual animal names and ties.
Ayla stepped forward with both of her hands out. “In the name of Doni, Mother of All, I greet you, Zelandoni of the Fourth Cave of the South Land Zelandonii,” she said.
The man struggled not to show his surprise at the way she spoke. It was obvious that she came from someplace far away. It was rare that a foreigner was accepted into the zelandonia, yet this foreign woman was acolyte to the First!
With her ability to detect nuances of gesture and expression, Ayla could clearly see his surprise, and his attempt to hide it. The First also noted his surprise, and repressed a smile. This was going to be an interesting Journey, she thought. With horses, a wolf, and a foreign acolyte, people were going to talk about their visitors for some time. The First thought she would give the Zelandoni a bit more information to show Ayla’s status and introduce him to the rest of their party. She motioned to Jondalar, who had also picked up on the reactions of this Cave’s Zelandoni and the First’s response.
“Jondalar, please greet the Zelandoni of the Fourth Cave of the South Land Zelandonii.” She turned to the man. “This is Jondalar of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii, Master Flint-Knapper of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii, brother of Joharran, leader of the Ninth Cave, son of Marthona, former leader of the Ninth Cave, born to the Hearth of Dalanar, leader and founder of the Lanzadonii,” she said, “and mated to Ayla of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii, acolyte to the First, and mother of Jonayla, Blessed of Doni.”
The two men clasped both hands and greeted each other in the formal way. The few people who had gathered to meet them were rather overwhelmed by all the high-status names and ties. The Ninth Cave itself had a high position in the ranking of the Caves. Though such formality was seldom used in normal encounters, the First had the impression that this particular Zelandoni would not hesitate to tell stories of this meeting. And the reason she had wanted to take Ayla on a Donier Tour was not just to show her some of the Sacred Sites in Zelandonii territory, but to introduce her to many of the Caves. She had plans for Ayla that no one else was aware of, not even Ayla. She signaled Jonokol next.
“Since we were making this trip, I thought I should include my former acolyte. I never took him on a tour when he was just Jonokol, my artistic acolyte. Now he is not only a talented painter, with an exceptional new Sacred Place in which to work, but an intelligent and important Zelandoni,” the First said.
The tattoos on the left side of his face had already announced that he was not an acolyte any longer. Zelandonia tattoos were always on the left side of the face, usually on the side of the forehead or the cheek, and sometimes quite elaborate. Leaders had tattoos on the right side, and other important people, like the Trade Master, had symbols that were in the middle of the forehead and generally smaller.
Jonokol stepped up and made his own introduction. “I am the Zelandoni of the Nineteenth Cave of the Zelandonii, and