The Land of Painted Caves - Jean M. Auel [39]
After she greeted Marthona and the others, Ayla joined the One Who Was First. “Do you have everything you need?” she asked quietly.
“Yes, though I wish I had time to prepare a fresh foxglove mixture properly, but I’ll have to use the dried preparation I have,” the woman said.
Ayla noticed that Marthona’s legs seemed a little swollen. “She needs to rest, doesn’t she? Not visit with those people who just want to be sociable,” Ayla said. “I’m not as good as you at letting people know they should let her be for a while, without embarrassing her. I don’t think she wants people to know how tired she feels. Why don’t you tell me how to make the tea for her.”
Zelandoni smiled and said almost inaudibly, “That was perceptive of you, Ayla. They are friends from the Third Cave whom she hasn’t seen recently.” Then she quickly explained how to make the infusion she wanted, and approached the chatting friends.
Ayla was concentrating on the instructions she had been given, and when she looked up, she saw that Zelandoni was walking away with Marthona’s friends, and Marthona had closed her eyes. Ayla nodded to herself; that will discourage others from stopping to talk, she thought. She waited awhile to let the hot drink cool, and just as she was bringing it to Marthona, Zelandoni returned. They both hovered around the former leader of the Ninth Cave, making a point of showing their backs while she sipped her tea, blocking the view of passersby. Whatever was in Zelandoni’s mixture, after a while it seemed to help, and Ayla thought that she would ask the Donier about it later.
When Manvelar started out again, leading the way up the incline, Zelandoni followed, but Ayla stayed seated beside Marthona. Willamar had joined them, and was seated on the other side of his mate. “Why don’t you wait with us and let Folara go ahead,” she said. “Jondalar has volunteered to stay until the last, to make sure everyone gets started in the right direction. Proleva has promised to save something for us to eat whenever we get to the camp.”
“I will,” Willamar said, without hesitation. “Manvelar said from here, it’s straight west for the next few days. How many days depends on how fast someone wants to go. No one has to be in a hurry. But it’s good if someone follows along at the end just to make sure no one is delayed because they got hurt or ran into some other problem.”
“Or has to wait for a slow old woman,” Marthona said. “There may come a time when I won’t be going to Summer Meetings.”
“That’s true for all of us,” Willamar said, “but not yet, Marthona.”
“He’s right,” Jondalar said, holding a sleeping baby in one arm. He had just arrived after talking to a family group with several young children, making sure they got started in the right direction. The wolf was following behind, keeping watch on Jonalya. “It doesn’t matter if we take a little longer to get there. We won’t be the only ones.” He motioned toward the family starting the climb. “And once we get there, people will still be wanting your counsel and advice, mother.”
“Do you want me to take Jonayla in my carrying blanket, Jondalar?” Ayla said. “We seem to be the last ones.”
“I’m fine with her, and she seems comfortable. She’s sound asleep, but we have to find an easy way for the horses to get to the top of that waterfall,” he said.
“I’m looking for the same thing. An easy way. Perhaps I should follow your horses,” Marthona said, not entirely in jest.
“It’s not so much the horses—they are good climbers—it’s getting up there with the heavy pole-drags and the loads on their backs,” Ayla said. “I think we need to traverse our way up, making wide turns to allow for the poles they are dragging behind them.”
“So you want an easy way with a gentle slope,” Willamar said. “As Marthona said, that’s what we want. If I’m not