weight; she had used the summer hides of megaceros, which were large and didn't require as much piecing together. An extra hide or fur could be thrown on top if it cooled down, or if it got really cold, additional furs could be put inside and the sides laced up.
'I think you'll get some use out of that,' Zelandoni said, recognising the versatility of the sleeping roll. 'I came to talk to you about the Summer Meeting, or rather, about after the early ceremonial part of it. I was going to suggest that you make sure you have adequate travelling equipment and supplies with you. There are some sacred sites in this area you should see. Later, in a few years, I want to show you some other sacred sites and take you to meet some of the zelandonia that live farther away.'
Ayla smiled. She liked the idea of seeing new places, so long as it wasn't too far. She'd done enough long- distance travelling. She remembered just seeing Whinney and Grey, and an idea occurred to her that could make travelling with the First easier. 'If we use the horses, we could travel much faster.'
The woman shook her head and took a sip of tea. 'There is no way I could get up on the back of a horse, Ayla.'
'You wouldn't have to. You can ride on the pole-drag behind Whinney. We can make a comfortable seat on it.' She had been thinking of how to convert the travois so that it could be used to carry passengers, especially Zelandoni.
'What makes you think that horse could pull someone my size on that dragging thing.'
'Whinney has pulled much heavier loads than you. She's a very strong animal. She could take you and your travelling things, and medicines. In fact, I was going to ask if you would like her to carry your medicines along with mine to the Summer Meeting,' Ayla said. 'We won't be taking passengers on the way there. We won't even be riding ourselves. We've promised several people that Whinney and Racer would carry certain things to the Meeting. Joharran wanted us to haul some poles and other building parts for some of the Ninth Cave's summer dwellings. And Proleva wanted to know if we could take some of her special large cooking baskets, and bowls and serving equipment for feasts and shared community meals. And Jondalar wants to lighten Marthona's load.'
'It appears that your horses are going to be put to good use,' the First said, taking another sip of her tea, her mind already formulating plans.
The First had various journeys planned for Ayla. She wanted to take her to meet some of the Zelandonii Caves that were farther away and visit their sacred places, and perhaps meet some of the people who were neighbours of the Zelandonii who lived near the boundaries of their territory. But Zelandoni had a feeling that the young woman, after coming so far to get here, might not be especially interested in making the extended trip she had in mind for her. She hadn't really mentioned anything about the Donier Tour that acolytes were expected to make.
She began to think that, perhaps, she ought to agree to allowing the horses to pull her on that thing; it might encourage Ayla to make the excursions. The large woman wasn't really interested in being dragged around by horses, and if she were honest with herself, she'd have to admit that the idea actually frightened her, but she had faced worse fears in her life. She knew the effect Ayla's control of the animals would have on people; they likely would be a little frightened, and very impressed. Maybe one day she ought to see what it would be like to sit on this pole-drag thing.
'Perhaps sometime we'll try to see if your Whinney can pull me,' Zelandoni said and watched a large grin expand across the young woman's face.
'This is as good a time as any,' Ayla said, thinking it might be best to take advantage of the woman's agreeable mood before she changed her mind, and watched the startled look appear on the face of the One Who Was First.
Just then, the drape covering the entrance was pulled back and Jondalar strode in. He could see Zelandoni's startled expression and wondered what had brought it on. Ayla stood up and they greeted each other with a light embrace and a touching of cheeks, but their strong feelings for each other were obvious and did not escape their visitor's attention. Jondalar glanced toward the baby's place and noticed that she was sleeping, and then he walked to the older woman and greeted her in a similar fashion, still wondering what had disconcerted her.
'And Jondalar can help us,' Ayla added.
'Help you with what?' he said.
'Zelandoni was talking about making some trips this summer to visit other Caves, and I thought it would be easier and faster using horses.'
'It probably would, but do you think Zelandoni could learn to ride?' Jondalar asked.
'She wouldn't have to. We could make a comfortable seat on the pole-drag for her and Whinney could pull her.' Ayla said.
Jondalar's forehead wrinkled as he thought about it, then he nodded his head. 'I don't see why not,' he said.
'Zelandoni said sometime she'd be willing to try to see if Whinney could pull her, and I said, 'this is as good a time as any.' '
Zelandoni glanced at Jondalar and detected a glint of enjoyment in his eyes, then looked at Ayla and tried to think of a way to put it off. 'You said you would have to make a seat. You don't have one made yet,' she said.
'That's true, but you didn't think Whinney could pull you. You don't need a seat to try it and see if she can. I don't have any doubt, but it might reassure you, and give us a chance to think about how to make a seat,' Ayla said.
Zelandoni felt that somehow she had been snared. She didn't really want to do this, especially not right away, but she didn't think she could get out of it now. Then, recognising that in her eagerness to have Ayla begin her Donier Tour, she had done it to herself, she heaved a big sigh and stood up. 'Well, let's get it over with then,' she said.
When she lived in her valley, Ayla had thought of a way to use her horse to transport things of considerable size and weight, such as an animal she had hunted — and once, Jondalar, wounded and unconscious. It consisted of two poles attached together at the shoulders of the horse with a kind of strap made of thongs that went across Whinney's chest. The opposite ends of the poles spread out and rested on the ground behind the horse. Because only the very small surface area of the ends of the poles were dragged on the ground, it was relatively easy to pull them, even over rough terrain, especially for the sturdy horses. A platform made of planks or leather hides or basketry fibres was stretched across the poles to carry the loads, but Ayla wasn't sure if the flexible platform would hold the large woman without bending down to the ground.
'Finish your tea,' Ayla said as the woman started to get up. 'I need to find Folara or someone to watch Jonayla. I don't want to wake her up.'
She returned quickly, but not with Folara. Instead Lanoga, Tremeda's daughter, followed Ayla in, carrying her youngest sister, Lorala. Ayla had tried to assist Lanoga and the rest of the children almost since she arrived. She couldn't ever remember being so angry with anyone as she was with Tremeda and Laramar because of the way they neglected their children, but there was nothing she could do about it — nothing anyone could do — except help the young ones.
'We won't be gone long, Lanoga. I should be back before Jonayla wakes up. We're just going to the horse shelter,' Ayla said, then added, 'There's some soup behind the fireplace with several good pieces of meat left and a few vegetables, if you or Lorala are hungry.'
'Lorala might be. She hasn't eaten since I brought her to Stelona to nurse this morning,' Lanoga said.
'You have something, too, Lanoga,' Ayla said as they were leaving. She thought Stelona had probably given her something to eat, but was sure the girl hadn't eaten since the morning meal either.
When they were some distance from the dwelling, and Ayla was sure she wouldn't be overheard, she finally voiced her anger. 'I'm going to have to go over there and check to see if there's any food for the children.'
'You brought food over there two days ago,' Jondalar said. 'It shouldn't be all gone yet.'
'You must know that Tremeda and Laramar are eating it, too,' Zelandoni said. 'You can't prevent them. And if you bring grain or fruit, or anything that will ferment, Laramar will take it and add it to the birch sap for his barma. I'll stop by on the way back for the children and take them with me. I can find someone to give them an evening meal. You shouldn't be the only one feeding them, Ayla. There are enough people in the Ninth Cave to make sure those children get enough to eat.'
When they reached the horse shelter, Ayla and Jondalar gave Whinney and Grey some individual attention. Then from the end of a post, Ayla got the special harness she used for the pole-drag and led the mare outside.
