The Land of Painted Caves - Jean M. Auel [31]
“I think you’ll get some use out of that,” Zelandoni said, recognizing the versatility of the sleeping roll. “I came to talk to you about the Summer Meeting, or rather, about after the early ceremonial part of it. I was going to suggest that you make sure you have adequate traveling equipment and supplies with you. There are some sacred sites in this area you should see. Later, in a few years, I want to show you some of the sacred sites and take you to meet some of the zelandonia that live farther away.”
Ayla smiled. She liked the idea of seeing new places, so long as it wasn’t too far. She’d done enough long-distance traveling. She remembered just seeing Whinney and Gray, and an idea occurred to her that could make traveling with the First easier. “If we use the horses, we could travel much faster.”
The woman shook her head and took a sip of tea. “There is no way I could get up on the back of a horse, Ayla.”
“You wouldn’t have to. You can ride on the pole-drag behind Whinney. We can make a comfortable seat on it.” She had been thinking of how to convert the travois so that it could be used to carry passengers, especially Zelandoni.
“What makes you think that horse could pull someone my size on that dragging thing?”
“Whinney has pulled much heavier loads than you. She’s a very strong animal. She could take you and your traveling things, and medicines. In fact, I was going to ask if you would like her to carry your medicines along with mine to the Summer Meeting,” Ayla said. “We won’t be taking passengers on the way there. We won’t even be riding ourselves. We’ve promised several people that Whinney and Racer would carry certain things to the Meeting. Joharran wanted us to haul some poles and other building parts for some of the Ninth Cave’s summer dwellings. And Proleva wanted to know if we could take some of her special large cooking baskets, and bowls and serving equipment for feasts and shared community meals. And Jondalar wants to lighten Marthona’s load.”
“It appears that your horses are going to be put to good use,” the First said, taking another sip of her tea, her mind already formulating plans.
The First had various journeys planned for Ayla. She wanted to take her to meet some of the Zelandonii Caves that were farther away and visit their sacred places, and perhaps meet some of the people who were neighbors of the Zelandonii who lived near the boundaries of their territory. But Zelandoni had a feeling that the young woman, after coming so far to get here, might not be especially interested in making the extended trip she had in mind for her. She hadn’t really mentioned anything about the Donier Tour that acolytes were expected to make.
She began to think that, perhaps, she ought to agree to allowing the horses to pull her on that thing; it might encourage Ayla to make the excursions. The large woman wasn’t really interested in being dragged around by horses, and if she were honest with herself, she’d have to admit that the idea actually frightened her, but she had faced worse fears in her life. She knew the effect Ayla’s control of the animals would have on people; they likely would be a little frightened, and very impressed. Maybe one day she ought to see what it would be like to sit on this pole-drag thing.
“Perhaps sometime we’ll try to see if your Whinney can pull me,” Zelandoni said, and watched a large grin expand across the young woman’s face.
“This is as good a time as any,” Ayla said, thinking it might be best to take advantage of the woman’s agreeable mood before she changed her mind, and watched the startled look appear on the face of the One Who Was First.
Just then, the drape covering the entrance was pulled back and Jondalar strode in. He could see Zelandoni’s startled expression and wondered what had brought it on. Ayla stood