The Land of Painted Caves - Jean M. Auel [75]
While people fussed around making more tea, since they had drunk all there was, the First and her acolyte managed to get the Twenty-sixth aside and speak privately with him.
“We learned that Danella delivered a stillborn,” the First said, “but more happened, I’m sure. I’d like to examine her and see if there is anything I can do to help.”
He breathed a long sigh and frowned.
9
“Yes, you are right, of course. It wasn’t just a stillborn baby,” the Twenty-sixth said. “They were two-born-together, or would have been, but they were more than born together, they were joined together.”
Ayla remembered that the same thing had happened to one of the women of the Clan, two babies joined together with a monstrous result. She felt a great sadness for Danella.
“One was normal size, the other much smaller and not fully formed, and parts of the second were attached to the first one,” the Twenty-sixth continued. “I’m glad there was no breath in them, or I would have had to take it. It would have been too hard for Danella. As it was, she bled so much, I’m surprised she survived. We, her mother, Stevadal’s mother, and I decided not to tell either one of them. We were afraid it would make any later pregnancy even more distressing than a stillborn would. You can examine her if you want, but it happened some time ago, in late winter. She has healed well; she just needs to recover her strength, and get through her grief. Your coming to visit may have helped. I saw her holding Ayla’s baby, and I think that’s good. She seems to have made a friend of you, Ayla, and your wolf, too. Perhaps she’ll feel more inclined to go to the Summer Meeting now.”
“Jondalar!” Ayla said when she and the First arrived back at the camp of the Ninth Cave. “What are you doing here? I thought you were going to the Summer Meeting Camp.”
“I am going there,” he said. “I just decided to check on Racer and Gray while I was here. I haven’t spent much time with Racer, and they both seemed to enjoy the company. Why are you here?”
“I wanted to let Whinney feed Gray, while I nurse Jonayla. I was going to leave Whinney here, but then we thought this would be a good time for Zelandoni to ride into Camp on the pole-drag,” Ayla said.
Jondalar grinned. “Then I’ll wait,” he said. “In fact, why don’t I ride in with you on Racer?”
“We’ll have to take Gray with us, too,” Ayla said, frowning slightly. Then she smiled. “We can use the small halter you made for her; she’s getting used to wearing it. It might be good for her to get accustomed to being around people she doesn’t know.”
“That should make quite a show,” Zelandoni said. “But I think I like it. I’d rather be part of a bigger production than the only one for people to stare at.”
“We should bring Wolf, too. Most people have seen the animals, but not together. There are still a few who can’t quite believe that Whinney allows Wolf near her baby. If they see that he is no danger to Gray, it could help them realize that he’s no danger to them, either,” Ayla said.
“Unless someone attempted to harm you,” Jondalar said, “or Jonayla.”
Jaradal and Robenan came running into the summer dwelling of the leader of the Seventh Cave. “Weemar! ’Thona! Come and see!” Jaradal shouted.
“Yes, come and see!” Robenan echoed. The two boys had been playing just outside.
“They brought all the horses, and Wolf; even Zelandoni is riding! Come and see!” Jaradal exclaimed.
“Calm down, boys,” Marthona said, wondering what Jaradal meant. It did not seem possible that Zelandoni could be sitting on the back of a horse.
“Come and see! Come and see!” both boys were yelling, while Jaradal tried to pull his grandam up from the cushion upon which she was seated. Then he turned to Willamar. “Come and see, Weemar.”
Marthona and Willamar were visiting Sergenor and Jayvena to discuss their part in an upcoming ceremony that would involve all leaders and former leaders in a small way. They had taken Jaradal with them to keep him out from underfoot of his mother. Proleva, as usual, was