The Land of Painted Caves - Jean M. Auel [358]
“You can thank Ayla for that. When she heard that you might have found someone that you really care about, she suggested that someone go and get me. A young woman needs her mother if serious plans are being made,” Marthona said.
“She’s right,” Folara said, and her smile was radiant, which made Marthona know that the possibility was true. “But how did you get here?”
“I think that was Ayla’s idea, too. She told Dalanar and Joharran there was no reason that I couldn’t be carried here on a stretcher by strong young men, so several of them came and got me. Ayla wanted me to come with her when she came, riding on Whinney’s back, and I probably should have, but as much as I like the horses, the thought of riding one of them frightens me. I don’t know how to control horses. Young men are easier. You just tell them what you want, and when you want to stop,” Marthona said.
Folara hugged her brother’s mate. “Thank you, Ayla. It takes another woman to understand. I did want my mother here, but I didn’t know if she was well enough, and I knew she couldn’t walk here.” She turned to her mother. “How are you feeling?”
“Ayla took very good care of me when she was staying at the Ninth Cave, and I feel much better now than I did last spring,” the woman said. “She really is a very good healer, and if you look closely, you will see that she is now a Zelandoni.”
Marthona had noticed the mark on the side of her forehead, Ayla realized. It was healing and there was no pain, although it itched sometimes, and she had almost forgotten about it, unless someone mentioned it or made a point of staring.
“I know she is, mother,” Folara said. “Everyone knows, even if they haven’t announced it, but like all the rest of the zelandonia lately, she’s been so busy, I haven’t seen much of her. They’re planning some kind of ceremony, but I don’t know if it will be before or after the Second Matrimonial.”
“Before,” Ayla said. “You’ll have time to talk to your mother and plan.”
“So you are serious about someone,” Marthona said. She paused and was quiet for a moment, thinking. Then she said. “Well, where is this young man? I’d like to meet him.”
“He’s waiting outside,” Folara said. “I’ll get him.”
“Why don’t I go out and meet him,” Marthona said. It was dark in the summer lodge. There were no windows, only the entrance with its covering drape pulled back and tied, and the smoke hole in the middle of the roof, which was often left completely open during the day when the weather was nice. Her sight wasn’t what it used to be and she wanted to get as good a look at this young man as she could.
When the three women went out of the entrance, Marthona saw three young men whom she didn’t know, dressed in unfamiliar clothing, one of them a veritable giant with bright red hair. When Folara approached him first, Marthona took a deep breath. She had rather hoped he would not be the one her daughter had chosen. It wasn’t that there was anything wrong with him. It was Marthona’s aesthetic sense, which wasn’t a deciding factor in any case, just that she always had hoped that the man Folara chose would fit well with her, that they would complement each other, and a man that big would make her tall and elegant daughter seem small. Folara began the introductions.
“Danug and Druwez of the Mamutoi are Ayla’s kin. They came all this way to visit her. On their way they met another man and invited him to travel with them. Mother, please welcome Aldanor of the S’Armunai.”
Ayla watched as a young man with the dark good looks of the S’Armunai came forward. “Aldanor, this is my mother, Marthona, former leader of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii, Mated to Willamar, Trade Master …”
Marthona breathed a sigh of relief when Folara started to formally introduce her to Aldanor, not the young red-haired giant, and began to recite the strange names and ties of the young man to the older woman.
“In the name of the Great Earth Mother, you are welcome here, Aldanor of the S’Armunai,” Marthona said.
“In the name of Muna, Great