The Land of Painted Caves - Jean M. Auel [87]
Nuts and fruits, especially berries, were also in abundance, and an assortment of teas was provided. The steeping of leaves, stems, and flowers in hot water, or just letting them sit out in the sun for a while, was usually enough to make an infusion with the desired flavors and characteristics. But steeping was not a sufficiently rigorous process to extract the flavors and natural constituents from hard organic substances; barks, seeds, and roots usually required boiling to make the proper decoctions.
Other beverages were available, like fruit juices, including fermented varieties. Tree saps, particularly birch, could be boiled down to bring out the sugar and then fermented. Grains and, of course, honey could also be made into an alcoholic drink. Marthona provided a limited quantity of her fruit wine, Laramar some of his barma, and several others had brought their own varieties of drinks with variable alcoholic content. Most people brought their own eating utensils and bowls, although a supply of wood or bone platters, and carved or tightly woven bowls and cups, were offered for those who wanted to use them.
Ayla and Jondalar walked around greeting friends and sampling the foods and drinks offered by different Caves. Jonayla was often the center of attention. Some people were curious to see if the foreigner who had grown up with Flatheads, whom some still considered animals, had given birth to a normal child. Friends and relatives were just pleased to see that she was a happy, healthy, and very pretty little girl, with fine, almost white, soft curly hair. Everyone also knew immediately that it was Jondalar’s spirit that the Great Mother had selected to mix with Ayla’s to create her daughter; Jonayla had the same extraordinarily vivid blue eyes.
They passed by a group of people who had set up camp on the edge of the large communal area, and Ayla thought she recognized some of them. “Jondalar, aren’t those people Traveling Storytellers?” she asked. “I didn’t know they were coming to our Summer Meeting.”
“I didn’t know either. Let’s go and greet them.” They hurried to the camp. “Galliadal, how nice to see you,” Jondalar called out as they neared.
A man turned around and smiled. “Jondalar! Ayla!” he said, approaching them with both hands stretched out to them.
He clasped Jondalar’s hands. “In the name of the Great Earth Mother, I greet you,” Galliadal said.
The man was nearly as tall as Jondalar, somewhat older, and nearly as dark as the Zelandoni man was light. Jondalar’s hair was light yellow, Galliadal’s was dark brown but with lighter streaks, and thinning on top. His blue eyes were not as striking as Jondalar’s, but the contrast to his darker skin coloring made them intriguingly noticeable. His skin is not brown like Ranec’s, Ayla thought. It’s more like he has been out in the sun a lot, but I don’t think it fades much in winter.
“In the name of Doni, you are welcome to our Summer Meeting, Galliadal, and welcome to the rest of your Traveling Cave,” Jondalar replied. “I didn’t know you had come. How long have you been here?”
“We arrived before noon, but we shared a meal with the Second Cave before we set up camp. The leader’s mate is a far-cousin of mine. I didn’t even know she had two-born-together.”
“You’re related to Beladora? Kimeran and I are age-mates; we went through our manhood rites together,” Jondalar