The Land of Painted Caves (Earth's Children 6)

Ayla stepped forward with both of her hands out. “In the name of Doni, Mother of All, I greet you, Zelandoni of the Fourth Cave of the South Land Zelandonii,” she said.

The man struggled not to show his surprise at the way she spoke. It was obvious that she came from someplace far away. It was rare that a foreigner was accepted into the zelandonia, yet this foreign woman was acolyte to the First!

With her ability to detect nuances of gesture and expression, Ayla could clearly see his surprise, and his attempt to hide it. The First also noted his surprise, and repressed a smile. This was going to be an interesting Journey, she thought. With horses, a wolf, and a foreign acolyte, people were going to talk about their visitors for some time. The First thought she would give the Zelandoni a bit more information to show Ayla’s status and introduce him to the rest of their party. She motioned to Jondalar, who had also picked up on the reactions of this Cave’s Zelandoni and the First’s response.

“Jondalar, please greet the Zelandoni of the Fourth Cave of the South Land Zelandonii.” She turned to the man. “This is Jondalar of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii, Master Flint-Knapper of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii, brother of Joharran, leader of the Ninth Cave, son of Marthona, former leader of the Ninth Cave, born to the Hearth of Dalanar, leader and founder of the Lanzadonii,” she said, “and mated to Ayla of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii, acolyte to the First, and mother of Jonayla, Blessed of Doni.”

The two men clasped both hands and greeted each other in the formal way. The few people who had gathered to meet them were rather overwhelmed by all the high-status names and ties. The Ninth Cave itself had a high position in the ranking of the Caves. Though su

ch formality was seldom used in normal encounters, the First had the impression that this particular Zelandoni would not hesitate to tell stories of this meeting. And the reason she had wanted to take Ayla on a Donier Tour was not just to show her some of the Sacred Sites in Zelandonii territory, but to introduce her to many of the Caves. She had plans for Ayla that no one else was aware of, not even Ayla. She signaled Jonokol next.

“Since we were making this trip, I thought I should include my former acolyte. I never took him on a tour when he was just Jonokol, my artistic acolyte. Now he is not only a talented painter, with an exceptional new Sacred Place in which to work, but an intelligent and important Zelandoni,” the First said.

The tattoos on the left side of his face had already announced that he was not an acolyte any longer. Zelandonia tattoos were always on the left side of the face, usually on the side of the forehead or the cheek, and sometimes quite elaborate. Leaders had tattoos on the right side, and other important people, like the Trade Master, had symbols that were in the middle of the forehead and generally smaller.

Jonokol stepped up and made his own introduction. “I am the Zelandoni of the Nineteenth Cave of the Zelandonii, and I greet you, Zelandoni of the Fourth Cave of the Zelandonii who live in the land south of Big River,” he said, and reached out with both hands.

“Greetings, and you are welcome here, Zelandoni of the Nineteenth Cave” was the response.

Willamar came forward next. “I am Willamar of the Zelandonii, mated to Marthona, former leader of the Ninth Cave, who is the mother of Jondalar. I am known as the Trade Master of the Ninth Cave, and I have brought my two apprentices, Tivonan and Palidar.”

The Zelandoni welcomed the Master Trader. When he saw the tattoo symbol in the middle of his forehead, he knew the man held an important position, but it was only when he saw it more closely that he knew Willamar was a Trader. He then welcomed the two young men, who returned formal greetings to him.

“I have stopped here before and have seen your remarkable Sacred Site. But this is my last trading mission. It is these two men that you will likely see from now on. I knew the Zelandoni before you. Is he still Zelandoni?” The question was Willamar’s tactful way to ask if he was still alive. The former Zelandoni had been Willamar’s contemporary, perhaps a little older, and this new one was young.

“Yes, he went to the Summer Meeting, but it was not easy for him. He is not well. Like you, he is giving up his calling. He said this will likely be his last Summer Meeting. Next year he plans to stay here to help care for those who can’t go. But you seem to be in good health. Why are you passing your profession on to these young men?” the young Zelandoni asked.

“It is one thing to continue if you generally stay close to one region, but a Trade Master travels, and to be honest, I’m getting tired of traveling. I want to spend more time with my mate and her family.” He motioned toward Jondalar, then continued. “This young man was not born to my hearth, but I feel as though he was. He lived there from the time he was a toddler. For a while I thought he’d never stop growing.” Willamar smiled at the tall blond man. “And his mate, Ayla, feels like mine, too. Marthona, his mother, is a grandam and has some remarkable young ones, this pretty little one among them. I am grandfa to her,” Willamar said, indicating Jonayla. “Marthona also has a daughter, who is the child of my hearth. She is of mating age. Marthona would be grandma and I am looking forward to being grandda to her children. It’s time for me to stop traveling.”

Ayla listened with interest to Willamar’s explanation. She had guessed that he wanted to spend more time with Marthona, but she hadn’t realized how strongly he felt about the children of his mate, and their children, and Folara, the child of his hearth. She realized then how much he must still miss Thonolan, the son of his hearth, who had died on the Journey he made with Jondalar.

The First continued with the last introductions. “We also have a young woman who is traveling with us, returning to her Cave. Her mate was a man whose home was near ours. He met her on a Journey and brought her back with him, but he now walks the next world. He was climbing a high cliff and fell. This is Amelana of the Southern Zelandonii,” the First said.

The Zelandoni of the Fourth Cave of the South Land Zelandonii looked at the young woman, and smiled. She is quite lovely, he thought, and guessed that she was probably pregnant, not that she showed much yet, but he felt he had a good sense about those things. What a shame that she had lost her mate so young. He reached for her outstretched hands. “In the name of Doni, you are welcome, Amelana of the Southern Zelandonii.”

His warm welcoming smile was not lost on her. She responded politely and smiled sweetly. He wanted to find a place for her to sit, but he felt he had to complete the introductions, and presented, in a general way, the people of his Cave who had not gone to the Summer Meeting, because it seemed that introductions were necessary.

“Our leader is not here. She’s with the others at the Summer Meeting,” the Zelandoni said.

“I assumed as much,” the First said. “Where is your Summer Meeting this year?”

“Three or four days to the south, at the confluence of three rivers,” volunteered one of the hunters who was there to help out those who had stayed behind. “I can take you there, or go and get her. I know she would hate to miss your visit.”

“I am sorry. We can’t stay long now. I have planned a very extensive Donier Tour for my acolyte and the Zelandoni of the Nineteenth Cave, all the way to the end of the central highland and then quite a ways east,” the Zelandoni Who Was First explained. “We want to visit your Sacred Cave—it is a very important one—but we have many others to see and our Journey will be extensive. Perhaps on our way back … Wait, did you say at the confluence of three rivers? Isn’t there an important Sacred Site near there, a large and richly painted cave?”

“Yes, of course,” the hunter said.

“Then I think we will see your leader. I had planned to go there next,” the First said, thinking how opportune it was that some of the South Land Caves had decided to have their Summer Meeting there this year. It would give her a chance to introduce many more Caves to Ayla, and arriving at the Meeting with the wolf and horses, and so many important people from the north side of Big River, should make quite an impression.

“You can join us for a meal and will spend the night, I hope,” the Zelandoni was saying.

“Yes, yes, and thank you for inviting us. It is welcome after a long day of traveling. Where would you like us to set up our camp?” the First said.

“We have a visitors’ lodging place, but I should check it out first. With only a few of us here, we haven’t had to use it. I don’t know what condition it’s in.”

In winter when the Cave, the semi-sedentary group of people who lived together, typically an extended family, were in residence at the stone shelter they thought of as home, they tended to break up into smaller households, thus spreading out to some extent. But the few who stayed behind during the summer liked to gather closer together. The other constructions used as dwellings, or as the rudiments of what would be finished into living places, were left alone, which tended to invite small creatures like mice and voles, newts, toads, and snakes, and various spiders and insects.

“Why don’t you just show it to us. I’m sure we can clear it out and make do,” Willamar said. “We’ve been setting up tents every night. Just having a shelter will be a welcome change.”