That could be as many as thirty, or more, Ayla thought, mentally using the special techniques she had learned in her training to count larger numbers. Counting with fingers and hands was more complicated than the simple counting words, if one understood how to do it, but as with most things associated with the zelandonia, it was even more complex than that. It could mean something entirely different. All signs had more than just one meaning.
After she told the First, Ayla followed Proleva to the other end of the large overhanging ledge, bringing some additional wood. Acquiring and supplying fuel for fire was a chore that required constant attention and effort. Everyone, including children, gathered anything that would burn: wood, brush, grasses, the dry dung of grazing animals, and the fat of any animal they hunted, including the random carnivore. In order to live in cold environments, fire was indispensable for both heat and light, not to mention using it to cook food to make it easier to chew and more digestible. Although some fat was used in cooking, most often it was used for the fire that provided light. Maintaining fire was demanding, but it was essential to maintain the life of the two-legged tropical omnivores who had evolved in warmer climes and walked their way around the world.
'There you are, Ayla! I thought we'd give the visitors the place next to the spring-fed creek that separates the Ninth Cave from Down River, but I've been wondering about the horses. Their place is so close to the area the visitors would be using, do you think they should be moved?' Proleva said. 'The visitors might find it disconcerting to have horses so close.'
'I was thinking the same thing, not only because of the visitors. The horses would not be happy to have so many strangers close by. I think I'll move them to Wood Valley for now,' Ayla said.
'That would be a good place for them,' Proleva said.
After the visitors arrived, were introduced, settled into their temporary living space, and had eaten, the people broke into several groups. An assemblage of the zelandonia, which included the First and Ayla, the Zelandoni of the visitors plus her acolytes, the Zelandonia of the Third, the Fourteenth, and the Eleventh Caves, plus a few others walked back to the gathering space at the other end of the huge abri. A fire had been built and banked before the group of travellers left to eat, and was stoked up again by one of them, who put water into a large container and cooking stones into the fire. People brought out their personal drinking cups in anticipation of a fresh cup of hot tea, and conversations started or continued.
The visitors talked about their travels and they all exchanged ideas about rituals and medicine. When the First mentioned the contraceptive drink, there was great interest. Ayla told them what herbs to use, in some cases describing them carefully so there would be no confusion with similar plants. She talked a little about her long Journey from the land of the mammoth hunters, and they understood that she was a foreigner from a long distance. Her accent wasn't quite as strange to the visitors because they also spoke with an accent, although they thought it was the northern Zelandonii who did. Ayla thought their way of speaking was similar to, but not the same as, the way the people they had met on her Donier Tour spoke, and the way Kimeran's mate Beladora had said certain words.
When the evening was drawing to a close, the Zelandoni of the visitors said, 'I have been pleased to get better acquainted, Ayla. Word of you has travelled even to our region, and I think we are probably the most distant Cave who still call themselves the Children of Doni. And who recognise the First Among Those Who Serve The Mother,' she added, addressing the large woman.
'I suspect that you are counted as First among your group of Southern Zelandonii. I am too far away.'
'Perhaps I am, in our local territory, but we still acknowledge this region as our original homeland, and you as the First. It is in our histories, our legends, our teachings. That's one reason we wanted to come, to re-establish our ties.'
And to decide if you wanted to keep them, the First thought. She had noticed some facial expressions among some of the visitors that were, if not disdainful, then at least doubtful, and had overheard some quiet conversation in what was probably a local southern dialect questioning some of the northern zelandonia ways, especially from one young man. He very likely believed that no one there could understand the variation of Zelandonii they were speaking — few people they had met did — but the First had travelled quite a bit in her younger years, and more recently with Ayla, and she had welcomed many visitors from distant places. She was fairly adept at picking up languages, especially variations of Zelandonii. She glanced at Ayla, whom she knew had an almost uncanny knack for language, and could grasp even a strange one more quickly than anyone she knew.
Ayla caught the glance from her mentor, and the flick of her eyes toward the young man, and nodded slightly in an unobtrusive way, letting her know that she had also understood him. They would discuss it later.
'And I am pleased to know you,' Ayla said. 'Perhaps someday we can visit you.'
'You would be welcome, both of you,' the Zelandoni said, looking at the First.
The big woman smiled, but wondered how much longer she'd be able to make Journeys, especially long ones, and doubted that she would be the one to make a return visit. 'You have brought some interesting new ideas that I am pleased to learn about, and I thank you for them,' the large woman said.
'I have been very pleased to learn of your medicines,' Ayla added.
'I have learned much, as well. I am especially grateful to know about the way to dissuade the Mother from Blessing a woman. There are those women who just should not bear another child, for her health and the sake of her family,' the Zelandoni said.
'It was Ayla who brought that knowledge,' the First admitted.
'Then I have something I would like to give to her in return, and to you, First Among Those Who Serve The Mother. I have a mixture that has some remarkable qualities. I think I will leave it with you to try out,' the Southern Twenty-fourth said. 'I hadn't planned to, I have only one pouch of it with me, but I can make up more when I get back.'
She opened her travelling pack, took out her distinctive medicine box and removed a small pouch from it. She held it out, 'I think you will find this quite interesting and perhaps useful.' The First indicated that she should give it to Ayla. 'It's very powerful. Be careful when you experiment with it,' she said as she handed it to the younger woman.
'Do you prepare it as a decoction or infusion?' Ayla asked.
'It depends what you want,' the woman said. 'Each preparation gives it different properties. Later I'll show you what's in it, though I suspect you may have worked it out yourself by then.'
Ayla couldn't wait to find out what was in it. She examined the pouch. It was made of soft leather and tied with a cord that she thought was made from the long hairs of the tail of a horse. She undid some interesting knots in the cord, which had been threaded through holes cut around the top of the soft leather pouch, and opened it. 'One ingredient is certain,' she said as she sniffed the contents. 'Mint!' The scent also reminded her of the strong tea they had tried when they were visiting one of the Southern Zelandonii. Ayla retied it with her own knots.
The woman smiled. Mint was the scent she used to distinguish this particular mixture, but it was far more powerful than that innocuous herb. She hoped she would still be here when someone began to experiment with it. That would be a test of the skill and knowledge of the northern zelandonia, she thought.
Ayla smiled at Zelandoni. 'I may have another one on the way.' They had been talking about children, though it was the First who had brought it up, she realised.
'I wondered about that. You didn't look like you were getting fat, like me — I doubt that you ever will — but you seem to be filling out in places. How many moontimes have you missed?'
'Just one. My moontime was due a few days ago. And though I'm not really getting sick, I feel a little nauseous in the morning sometimes,' Ayla said.
'If I were to make a guess, I'd say you are going to have another baby. Are you happy about it?' Zelandoni asked.
'Oh, yes. I want another, although I hardly have time to take care of the one I have. I'm just glad Jondalar is so good with Jonayla.'
'Have you told him yet?'
'No. It's too soon, I think. You never know — things can happen. I know he would like another child at his hearth. I wouldn't want him to get excited only to be disappointed. And it's a long enough wait even after you start showing — no reason to make him wait so long.' Ayla thought about the night she came down from the cliff early, and how good it had been for both of them. Then she recalled the first time she had shared Pleasures with Jondalar. She laughed quietly, to herself.
'What's funny?' Zelandoni asked.
