The Plains of Passage (Earth's Children 4)

Several people had noticed their approach and stared in consternation, too shocked to move. One man, however, was aiming a spear at them.

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I think we'd better get off the horses and approach them on foot," Jondalar said, watching several more spear-carrying men and women warily coming forward. "You'd think by now I would remember that people are scared and suspicious of riding on horses. We probably should have left them out of sight and walked in, then gone back for them after we had time to explain about the animals."

They both dismounted, and Jondalar had a sudden and poignant memory of his "little brother," Thonolan, smiling his big, friendly grin and walking confidently up to a Cave or Camp of strangers. Taking it as a sign, the tall blond man smiled broadly, waved in friendliness, pushed back the hood of his parka so he could be more easily seen, then stepped forward with both hands outstretched, showing he was coming to them openly, with nothing to hide.

"I'm looking for Laduni of the Losadunai. I am Jondalar of the Zelandonii," he said. "My brother and I were traveling east on a Journey a few years ago, and Laduni asked us to stop and visit on the way back."

"I am Laduni," said a man, speaking a slightly accented Zelandonii. He walked toward them, holding his spear in readiness, looking closely to make sure the strange man was who he said he was. "Jondalar? Of the Zelandonii? You do look like the man I met."

Jondalar sensed the cautious tone. "That's because I am! It's good to see you, Laduni," he said with warmth. "I wasn't sure if I turned off at the right place. I've been all the way to the end of the Great Mother River, and beyond, and then, closer to home, I had trouble finding your Cave, but the steam from your hot wells helped. I brought someone I'd like you to meet."

The older man eyed Jondalar, trying to detect any hint that he was something other than what he seemed: a man he knew who happened to arrive in a most peculiar fashion. He looked a little older, which was reasonable, and even more like Dalanar. He had seen the old flint knapper again a few years before when he came on a trading mission and, Laduni suspected, to find out whether the son of his hearth and his brother had passed that way. Dalanar will be very glad to see him, Laduni thought. He walked toward Jondalar, holding his spear more easily, but still in a position from which it could be thrown quickly. He glanced toward the two unusually docile horses, and he saw for the first time that it was a woman who was standing near them.

"Those horses are not anything like the ones around here. Are eastern horses more docile? They must be much easier to hunt," Laduni said.

Suddenly the man tensed, brought his spear into position to throw, and had it aimed toward Ayla. "Don't move, Jondalar!" he said.

It happened so fast, Jondalar didn't have time to react. "Laduni! What are you doing?"

"A wolf has been trailing you. One fearless enough to come in plain sight."

"No!" Ayla shouted, throwing herself between the wolf and the man with the spear.

"This wolf travels with us. Don't kill him!" Jondalar said, rushing to interpose himself between Laduni and Ayla.

She dropped down and wrapped her arms around the wolf, holding him firmly, partly to protect him, and partly to protect the man with the spear. Wolf's hair was bristling, his lips were pulled back to show his fangs, and a savage snarl issued from his throat.

Laduni was taken aback. He had moved to protect the visitors, but they were acting as if he meant to harm them. He gave Jondalar a questioning look.

"Put down your spear, Laduni. Please," Jondalar said. "The wolf is our companion, just as the horses are. He saved our lives. I promise, he won't hurt anyone as long as no one threatens him, or the woman. I know it must seem strange, but if you'll give me a chance, I'll explain."

Laduni slowly lowered his spear, eying the large wolf warily. Once the threat was removed, Ayla calmed the animal, then stood up and walked toward Jondalar and Laduni, signaling Wolf to stay close to her side.

"Please excuse Wolf for raising his hackles," Ayla said. "He really likes people, once he gets to know them, but we had a bad experience with some people east of here. It has made him more nervous around strangers, and he has become more protective."

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Laduni noticed that she spoke Zelandonii quite well, but her strange accent branded her as a foreigner immediately. He also noticed ... something else ... he wasn't sure. It was nothing he could specifically define. He'd seen many blond, blue-eyed women before, but the set of her cheekbones, the shape of her features or face, something gave her a foreign look as well. Whatever it was, it did not detract in the least from the fact that she was a strikingly beautiful woman. If anything, it added an element of mystery.

He looked at Jondalar and smiled. Remembering his last visit, it didn't surprise him that the tall, handsome Zelandonii would return from a long Journey with an exotic beauty, but no one could have expected living, breathing souvenirs of his adventures, like horses and a wolf. He could hardly wait to hear the stories they had to tell.

Jondalar had seen the look of appreciation in Laduni's eyes when he saw Ayla, and, when the man smiled, he began to relax.

"This is the person I wanted you to meet," Jondalar said. "Laduni, hunter of the Losadunai, this is Ayla of the Lion Camp of the Mamutoi, Chosen by the Cave Lion, Protected by the Cave Bear, and Daughter of the Mammoth Hearth."

Ayla had raised both hands, palms up, in the greeting of openness and friendship, when Jondalar began the formal introduction. "I greet you, Laduni, Master Hunter of the Losadunai," Ayla said.

Laduni wondered how she knew he was the hunt leader of his people. Jondalar hadn't said it. Perhaps he'd said something to her before, but she was astute for mentioning it. But then, she would understand those kinds of things. With so many titles and affiliations, she must be a woman of high standing among her people, he thought. I might have guessed that any woman he brought back would be, considering that both his mother and the man of his hearth have known the responsibilities of leadership. The child will tell the blood of the mother and the spirit of the man.

Laduni took both her hands. "In the name of Duna, the Great Earth Mother, you are welcome, Ayla of the Lion Camp of the Mamutoi, Chosen of the Lion, Protected by the Great Bear, and Daughter of the Mammoth Hearth," Laduni said.

"I thank you for your welcome," Ayla said, still in a formal mode. "And if I may, I would like to introduce you to Wolf, so that he will know you are a friend."

Laduni frowned, not sure if he really wanted to meet a wolf, but under the circumstances he felt he had no choice.

"Wolf, this is Laduni of the Losadunai," she said, taking the man's hand and bringing it to the wolf's nose. "He is a friend." After he smelled the hand of the strange man, mixed with the smell of Ayla's hand, Wolf seemed to understand that this was someone to accept. He sniffed the man's male parts, much to Laduni's consternation.