The Land of Painted Caves - Jean M. Auel [315]
“Tricie’s little girl is a beauty. Her skin is dark, but not brown like Ranec’s. Her hair is black as night, but her curls are softer. She has black eyes. Serious eyes. She’s a quiet, delicate little thing, but I swear that there’s not a man who sees her that isn’t entranced by her. She’ll have no trouble finding a mate.
“The baby is as dark as Ranec, and though it’s hard to tell yet, I think his features are going to be more like Tricie’s.”
“It seems as though Tricie is a good addition to the Lion Camp, Danug. I wish I could see her children. I have a little girl, too,” Ayla said, and suddenly remembered that she could have been having another one soon, were it not for her “call” to the deep cave. I would like to tell him that it is more than a blending of spirits that makes children, she thought.
“I know. I’ve met Jonayla. She looks just like you, except she has Jondalar’s eyes. I wish I could take her back with me and let her meet everyone. Nezzie would love her. I’ve already fallen in love with her, just like I fell in love with you when I was a boy,” Danug said with a delighted laugh.
Ayla looked so surprised, he laughed harder, and she could hear Talut’s big, booming laughter coming from Danug. “In love with me?”
“I’m not surprised you didn’t notice. Between Ranec and Jondalar, you had enough to think about, but I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I dreamt about you. In fact, I still love you, Ayla. How would you like to come back to the Lion Camp with me?” There was a broad smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye, but something more, too. A hint of wistful longing, a wish that he knew would never be fulfilled.
She looked away for a moment, then changed the subject. “Tell me about the rest. How are Nezzie and Talut, Latie and Rugie?”
“Mother’s fine. Getting older, that’s all. Talut is losing his hair, and he hates it. Latie is mated, has a girl, and still talks about horses. Rugie is looking for a mate, or rather, the young men are looking at her. She’s had her First Rites; Tusie did too, at the same time. Oh, and Deegie has two sons. She told me to give you her love. You never got to know her brother, Tarneg, did you? His mate has three little ones. You know they built another earthlodge nearby; Deegie and Tarneg are headwoman and headman. Tulie is pleased that she can see her grandchildren nearly every day. And she has taken another mate. Barzec says she’s too much woman for only one man.”
“Do I know him?” Ayla asked.
Danug smiled. “In fact, you do. It’s Wymez.”
“Wymez! You mean the man of Ranec’s hearth, the flint-knapper Jondalar admires so much?” Ayla asked.
“Yes, that Wymez. He surprised us all, even Tulie, I think. And old Mamut has gone to the next world. We have a new one, but it’s hard to get used to having someone else at the Third Hearth.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I loved that old man. I’ve been training to be One Who Serves The Mother, but he’s the one who started it. My training is almost over,” Ayla said. She didn’t want to say too much until she talked to Zelandoni.
“That’s what Jondalar said. I always thought you would Serve The Mother. Mamut would never have adopted you if he didn’t think so. There was a time when the Lion Camp thought you might be their Mamut, after the old man left this world. Ayla, you may be Zelandonii here, but you are still Mamutoi, still numbered among the Lion Camp.”
“It makes me happy to hear that. No matter