"The only one who made an offer was Frebec. He didn't have much to offer" – Fralie smiled – "but he offered everything he had. I wasn't sure about him at first. He never had much status, and he doesn't always know how to act – he embarrasses Mother. He wants to be worthwhile, so he tries to make himself important by saying nasty things about… other people. I decided to go away with him for a trial. Mother was surprised when we came back and I told her I wanted to accept his offer. She never has understood…"
Fralie looked at Ayla, and smiled gently. "Can you imagine what it was like being joined with someone who didn't want you, and never did care about you from the beginning? Then finding a man who wanted you so much he was willing to give everything he had, and promise everything he would ever get? That first night, after we went away together, he treated me like… a special treasure. He couldn't believe he had the right to touch me. He made me feel… I can't explain it… wanted. He's still like that when we're alone, but he and Mother started fighting right away. When it became a matter of pride between them over whether I would see you, I couldn't take away his self-respect, Ayla."
"I think I understand, Fralie."
"I kept trying to tell myself that things weren't so bad, and your medicine did help me. I always believed he would change his mind when the time came, but I wanted it to be his idea, not something I forced him to do."
"I'm glad he did."
"But I don't know what I would have done if my baby had…"
"We can't be sure yet, but I think you are right. She does seem stronger," Ayla said.
Fralie smiled. "I've decided on a name for her, I hope it makes Frebec happy. I've decided to call her Bectie."
Ayla was standing by an empty storage platform sorting through a variety of dried vegetation. There were small piles of barks, roots, and seeds, little stacks of stems, bowls of dried leaves, flowers, fruits, and some whole plants. Ranec approached her, trying to be inconspicuous about hiding something behind his back.
"Ayla, are you busy?" he said.
"No, not really, Ranec. I've been going through my medicines, to see what I will be needing. I was out today with the horses. Spring is really coming – it's my favorite season. Green buds are starting, and pussy willows – I've always loved those fuzzy little flowers. Soon everything will be greening."
Ranec smiled at her enthusiasm. "Everyone is looking forward to the Spring Festival. That's when we celebrate new life, new beginnings, and with Fralie's new baby and Latie's new womanhood, we have much to celebrate."
Ayla frowned slightly. She wasn't sure if she was looking forward to her part in the Spring Festival. Mamut had been training her, and some very interesting things had been happening, but it was a little frightening. Not as much as she thought it would be, though. Everything would be fine. She smiled again.
Ranec had been watching her, wondering what was going through her mind, and trying to think of a way to approach the subject he had come for. "The ceremony could be especially exciting this year…" He paused, searching for the right words.
"I suppose you're right," Ayla said, still thinking about her part in the festival.
"You don't sound very excited," Ranec said, smiling.
"Don't I? I really am looking forward to Fralie naming the baby, and I'm so pleased for Latie. I remember how happy I was when I finally became a woman, and how relieved Iza was. It's just that Mamut is planning something and I'm not sure about it."
"I keep forgetting that you haven't been Mamutoi very long. You don't know what a Spring Festival is all about. No wonder you're not anticipating it like everyone else." He shifted his feet nervously and looked down, then back at her. "Ayla, you might anticipate it more, I would, too, if…" Ranec stopped, decided to change his approach, and held out the object he'd been hiding. "I made this for you."
Ayla saw what he held. She looked up at Ranec, her eyes wide with surprise and delight when she saw it. "You made this for me? But why?"
"Because I wanted to. It's for you, that's all. Think of it as a spring gift," he said, urging her to take it.
She took the ivory carving, holding it carefully, and examined it. "This is one of your bird-woman figures," Ayla said with awe and pleasure, "like the one you showed me before, but it's not the same one."
His eyes lit up. "I made it especially for you, but I should warn you," he said with mock seriousness, "I put magic in it, so you will… like it, and the one who made it."
"You didn't have to put magic in it for that, Ranec."
"You like it, then? Tell me, what do you think of it?" Ranec asked, though he usually didn't ask people what they thought of his work; it didn't matter to him what they thought. He worked for himself, and to please the Mother, but this time he wanted, more than anything, to please Ayla. He had put his heart, his yearning, and his dreams into every notch he cut, every line he etched, hoping this carving of the Mother would work magic on the woman he loved.
She looked closely at the figure and noticed the downward pointing triangle. It was the symbol of woman she had learned, and one reason three was the number of generative power and sacred to Mut. The angle was repeated as chevrons, on what would be the front of the carving, if it were a woman, or the back, if it were a bird. The whole object was decorated with rows of chevrons and parallel lines in a fascinating geometric design, which was pleasing to look at by itself, but suggested more.
"It's beautifully made, Ranec. I especially like the way you did these lines. The pattern reminds me of feathers, in a way, but it also makes me think of water, like on the maps," Ayla said.
Ranec's smile turned into a delighted grin. "I knew it! I knew you would see it! The feathers of Her spirit when She becomes a bird and flies back in spring, and the birth waters of the Mother that filled the seas."
"It's wonderful, Ranec, but I can't keep it," she said, trying to give it back.
"Why not? I made it for you," he said, refusing to take it.
"But what can I give you back? I have nothing to equal the value of this."
"If that is what's worrying you, I have a suggestion. You have something I want that is worth much more than this chunk of ivory," Ranec said, smiling, his eyes flashing with humor… and love. He became more serious. "Join with me, Ayla. Be my woman. I want to share a hearth with you, I want your children to be the children of my hearth."
Ayla was reluctant to answer. Ranec could see her hesitation, and kept on talking, trying to persuade her. "Think how much we have in common. You're a Mamutoi woman, I'm a Mamutoi man, but both of us were adopted. And if we join, neither of us would have to move to another Camp. We could both stay in Lion Camp, and you could still take care of Mamut, and Rydag, and that would make Nezzie happy. But most important, I love you, Ayla, I want to share my life with you."
"I… don't know what to say."
"Say yes, Ayla. Let's announce it, include a Promise Ceremony in the Spring Festival. Then we can formalize the union at the Matrimonial this summer, when Deegie does."
"I'm not sure… I don't think…"
"You don't have to answer yet." He had hoped she was ready to agree immediately. Now he realized it might take more time, but he didn't want her to say no. "just tell me you'll give me the chance to show you how much I love you, how much I want you, how happy we can be together."
Ayla remembered what Fralie had said. It did make her feel special to know a man wanted her, that there was a man who cared about her and didn't keep avoiding her all the time. And she liked the thought of staying here where people loved her, people she loved. The Lion Camp were like her family, now. Jondalar would never stay. She had known that for a long time. He wanted to go back to his own home, and he had wanted to take her with him, once. Now he didn't seem to want her at all.