Again the fresh trees that were used as poles yielded as the First put her weight on the thinner logs that had been lashed together to form the step, but Ayla steadied the mare, and Jondalar's shoulder offered support to her. She reached for the seat, turned herself around, and sat on the cushion with a sigh of relief.
'Are you ready?' Ayla called back.
'Are you?' Jondalar asked the Donier quietly.
'As ready as I'll ever be, I suppose.'
'Go ahead,' Jondalar said, raising his voice a bit.
'Take it slow, Whinney,' Ayla said, going forward while holding the lead.
The horse started walking, pulling the sturdy pole-drag and the First Among Those Who Served The Great Earth Mother behind her. The woman grabbed the front edge of the seat as she felt herself being moved, but once Whinney got started, it wasn't bad, though she didn't let go of the seat. Ayla looked back to see how things were going, and noticed Wolf, sitting on his haunches, watching them. Where have you been? You've been gone all day, she thought.
The ride wasn't smooth; there were a few bumps and dips along the way, and one place where one leg dropped into a ditch caused by a creek run-off, making the rider sway to the left, but the conveyance was soon righted when Ayla turned Whinney slightly. They headed toward the horse enclosure.
It was a strange sensation to move without using her own feet, Zelandoni thought. Of course, children who were carried by their parents were used to it, she realised, but she hadn't been small enough to be carried by anyone for many years, and riding on this pole-drag moving seat wasn't the same. For one thing, she was facing backward, looking at where she had been, not where she was going.
Before they reached the horse enclosure, Ayla started a wide turn that led them back to the Ninth Cave's camp. She saw a track that led in a direction different from the one they usually took to the main camp. She had noticed it before and wondered where it led, but never seemed to have time to follow it. This seemed like a good time. She started toward it, then looked back and caught Jondalar's eye. She indicated the unknown trail with a slight gesture and he nodded imperceptibly, hoping that their passenger wouldn't notice and object. Either she didn't notice or didn't object as Ayla continued. Wolf had been trotting beside Jondalar bringing up the rear, but loped to the front when Ayla changed direction.
She had draped the lead rope across Whinney's neck; the horse would follow the woman's signals more easily than a lead rope attached to a halter. Then she put Jonayla in her carrying blanket on her back where the child could look around but wasn't a constant weight on her mother's arm. The trail led to the waterway known to the Ninth Cave as West River, and followed it for a short distance. Just as Ayla was wondering if she should turn back, she saw several familiar people ahead. She stopped the horse and walked back to Jondalar and Zelandoni.
'I think we've reached Sun View, Zelandoni,' she said. 'Do you want to go ahead and visit, and if so, do you want stay on the pole-drag?'
'Since we're here, we might as well visit. I might not get here again for some time. And I'm ready to get off. It's not bad sitting on the moving seat, but it can be a bit bumpy sometimes.' The woman stood up, and using Jondalar for a bit of balance and support, stepped down.
'Do you think you would find it convenient to use when we go to visit the sacred sites you want Ayla to see?' Jondalar asked.
'I think it could be useful, at least for part of the Journey.'
Ayla smiled.
'Jondalar, Ayla, Zelandoni!' a familiar voice called out. Ayla noticed a smile on Jondalar's face as she was turning around. Willamar was walking toward them along with Stevadal, the leader of the Twenty-sixth Cave.
'How nice that you decided to come,' Stevadal said. 'I didn't know if the First would be able to visit Sun View.'
'Summer Meetings are always full for the zelandonia, but I do try to make at least one courtesy visit to the Cave that hosts the Meeting, Stevadal. We do appreciate the effort,' she said.
'It is an honour,' the leader of the Twenty-sixth said.
'And our pleasure,' said a woman who had just arrived and was standing beside Stevadal.
Ayla was sure the woman was Stevadal's mate, though she hadn't met her, and didn't remember seeing her at the Meeting Camp. It made her look closer. She was younger than Stevadal, but there was something else. Her tunic hung on her thin frame, and she seemed wan and frail. Ayla wondered if she had been ill, or had suffered some grievous loss.
'I'm glad you're here,' Stevadal said. 'Danella was hoping to see the First, and to meet Jondalar's mate. She hasn't been able to go to the Meeting Camp, yet.'
'You didn't tell me she was ill, or I would have come sooner, Stevadal,' the First said.
'Our Zelandoni has been here for her,' Stevadal said. 'I didn't want to bother you. I know how busy you are at Summer Meetings.'
'Not too busy to see your mate.'
'Perhaps later, after everyone else has seen you,' Danella said to the First, then turned to the tall blond man, 'but I would like to meet your mate, Jondalar. I've heard so much about her.'
'Then you shall,' he said, beckoning to Ayla. She approached the woman with both hands out, palms up, in the traditional greeting of openness, showing she had nothing to hide. Then Jondalar began.
'Danella, of the Twenty-sixth Cave of the Zelandonii, mate of the leader, Stevadal, may I present to you Ayla of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii …' He continued with her usual introduction until he got to 'Protected by the spirit of the Cave Bear.'
'You forgot 'Friend of horses and the four-legged hunter she calls Wolf',' Willamar added, chuckling.
He had joined them along with the rest of the men who had come to help make the new pole-drag.
Ayla glanced at Zelandoni, who was looking at her. Their eyes met and while nothing was said, she felt that the First was thinking the same thing.
'My names and ties are not nearly so interesting, but in the name of Doni, the Great Earth Mother, you are welcome here, Ayla of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii,' Danella said.
'And I greet you, Danella of the Twenty-sixth Cave of the Zelandonii,' Ayla said as they took each other's hands.
'The sound of your speech is as interesting as your names and ties,' Danella said. 'It makes one think of faraway places. You must have some exciting stories to tell. I would like to hear some of them, Ayla.'
Ayla couldn't help but smile. She was more than aware that her speech was different from that of other Zelandonii. Most people tried to hide it when they noticed her accent, but Danella had such a charming and forthright manner that Ayla was immediately drawn to her. She reminded Ayla of the Mamutoi.
Ayla wondered again what illness or difficulty had caused Danella's physical frailty, which contrasted so sharply with her warm and winning personality. She glanced at Zelandoni and understood that the First also wanted to know, and would find out before they left the camp. Jonayla was squirming, and Ayla thought she probably wanted to see what was going on, and who her mother was talking to. She shifted the carrying blanket around so her baby could ride on her hip.
'This must be your 'Blessed of Doni' infant, Jonayla,' Danella said.
'Yes.'
'That's a beautiful name. After Jondalar and you?'
Ayla nodded.
'She is as beautiful as her name,' Danella said.
Although it wasn't obvious, Ayla knew how to read the nuances of body language and detected a hint of sadness in the fleeting frown and slight wrinkling of her brow. And suddenly the reason for both Danella's weakness and sadness came to her. She has miscarried quite late, or had a stillborn baby, Ayla thought, and probably had a difficult pregnancy, and very hard birth, and now had nothing to show for it. She is recovering from the strain on her body and grieving for her lost child. She looked toward the First, who was surreptitiously studying the young woman. Ayla thought she had likely guessed the same thing.
She felt Wolf push against her leg and looked down. He was looking up at her, making a slight whine, which let her know that he wanted something. He looked at Danella, then back at her and whined again. Did he sense something about the leader's mate?
