The Plains of Passage - Jean M. Auel [382]
Jondalar looked at her with his amazingly vivid blue eyes, and he wished they were staying long enough to participate in the Losadunai summer rituals. He genuinely wanted to help her to overcome her fears, and was truly attracted to her, which brought out the full power of his charm, his sheer male magnetism. The handsome and sensitive man smiled at her then and left her nearly breathless.
Madenia had never experienced a feeling like it before. Her whole being felt warm, almost on fire, and she had an overwhelming urge to touch him, and to have him touch her, but the young woman had no idea what to do with such feelings. She tried to smile; then, embarrassed, she opened her eyes wide and gasped at her audacity. She backed away and almost ran to her dwelling space. Her mother saw her leaving and followed after her. Jondalar had seen Madenia’s reaction before. It was not unusual for shy young women to respond to him that way, and it only made her more endearing.
“What did you do to that poor child, Jondalar?”
He looked at the woman who had spoken, and turned his smile on her.
“Or need I ask? I remember a time when that look very nearly overpowered me. But your brother had his charm, too.”
“And left you blessed,” Jondalar said. “You are looking well, Filonia. Happy.”
“Yes, Thonolan did leave a piece of his spirit with me, and I am happy. You seem happy, too. Where did you meet this Ayla?”
“It’s a long story, but she saved my life. It was too late for Thonolan.”
“I heard a cave lion got him. I’m sorry.”
Jondalar nodded, and closed his eyes with the inevitable frown of pain.
“Mother?” a girl said. It was Thonolia, holding hands with Solandia’s eldest daughter. “Can I eat at ‘Salia’s hearth and play with the wolf? He likes children, you know.”
Filonia looked at Jondalar with an apprehensive frown.
“Wolf won’t hurt her. He does like children. Ask Solandia. She uses him to entertain her baby,” Jondalar said. “Wolf was raised with children and Ayla has trained him, and you’re right. She is a remarkable woman, particularly with animals.”
“I guess it’s all right, Thonolia. I don’t think this man would let you do anything that might harm you. He is the brother of the man you’re named after.”
There was a loud commotion. They looked to see what the trouble was, as the girls ran off together.
“When is someone going to do something about that … that Charoli? How long does a mother have to wait?” Verdegia complained to Laduni. “Maybe we need to call a Council of Mothers, if the men can’t handle it. I’m sure they would understand the feelings in a mother’s heart, and pass judgment fast enough.”
Losaduna had joined Laduni, to lend him support. Calling a Council of Mothers was usually a last resort. It could have serious repercussions and was used only when no other way could be found to solve a problem. “Let’s not be hasty, Verdegia. The messenger we sent to talk to Tomasi should be back any time. Certainly you can wait a little longer. And Madenia is much better. Don’t you think so?”
“I’m not so sure. She ran away to our hearth and won’t tell me what’s wrong. She says it’s nothing, and tells me not to worry about it, but how can I help it?” Verdegia said.
“I could tell her what’s wrong,” Filonia said under her breath, “but I’m not sure Verdegia would understand. She’s right, though. Something does have to be done about Charoli. All the Caves are talking about him.”
“What can be done?” Ayla asked, joining the two.
“I don’t know,” Filonia said, smiling at the woman. Ayla had come to see her baby and had obviously enjoyed holding him. “But I think Laduni’s plan is a good one. He thinks all the Caves should work together to find and bring the young men back. He would like to see the members of that band separated from each other, and away from Charoli’s influence.”
“It does seem like a good idea,” Jondalar said.
“The problem is Charoli’s Cave, and whether Tomasi, who is related