The design carved into the straightened tusk was a geometric abstraction of the Great Earth Mother, formed by concentric ovals to shape the pendulous breasts, rounded belly, and voluptuous thighs. The circle was the symbol for all, everything, the totality of the known and unknown worlds, and symbolized the Great Mother of All. The concentric circles, especially the way they were used to suggest the important motherly elements, reinforced the symbolism.
The head was an inverted triangle, with the point forming the chin, and the base, curved slightly into a domelike shape, at the top. The downward pointing triangle was the universal symbol for Woman; it was the outward shape of her generative organ and therefore also symbolized motherhood and the Great Mother of All. The area of the face contained a horizontal series of double parallel bars, joined by laterally incised lines going from the pointed chin up to the position of the eyes. The larger space between the top set of double horizontal lines and the rounded lines that paralleled the curved top was filled in with three sets of double lines that were perpendicular, joining where eyes would usually be.
But the geometric designs were not a face. Except that the inverted triangle was placed in the position of a head, the carved markings would not even have suggested a face. The awesome countenance of the Great Mother was too much for an ordinary human to behold. Her powers were so great that Her look alone could overwhelm. The abstract symbolism of the figure on Attaroa's Speaking Staff conveyed that sense of power with subtlety and elegance.
Ayla remembered from the training she had begun with Mamut the deeper meaning of some of the symbols. The three sides of the triangle – three was Her primary number – represented the three major seasons of the year, spring, summer, and winter, although two additional minor seasons were also recognized, fall and midwinter, the seasons which signaled changes to come, making five. Five, Ayla had learned, was Her hidden, power number, but the three-sided, inverted triangles were understood by everyone.
She recalled the triangular shapes on the bird-woman carvings, representing the transcendent Mother changing into Her bird shape, that Ranec had made… Ranec… Suddenly, Ayla remembered where she had seen the figure on Attaroa's Speaking Staff before. Ranee's shirt! The beautiful, creamy white, soft leather shirt that he had worn at her adoption ceremony. It had been stunning partly because of its unusual style with its tapered body and wide flaring sleeves, and because the color looked so good with his brown skin, but mostly because of its decoration.
It had been embroidered with brightly dyed porcupine quills and threads of sinew with an abstract Mother figure that could have been copied directly from the carving on the staff that Attaroa held. It had the same concentric circles, the same triangular head; the S'Armunai must be the distant relatives of the Mamutoi that Ranee's shirt had originally come from, she realized. If they had taken the northern route that Talut had suggested, they would have had to pass by this Camp.
When they had left, Nezzie's son, Danug, the young man who was growing into the image of Talut, had told her that someday he would make a Journey to the Zelandonii to visit her and Jondalar. What if Danug did decide to make such a Journey when he got a few years older, and what if he came this way? What if Danug, or any other Mamutoi, got caught by Attaroa's camp and came to harm? The thought strengthened her resolve to help these people put an end to Attaroa's power.
The headwoman pulled back the staff Ayla had been studying and turned to her with a wooden bowl. "Since you are our honored visitor, and since you have provided an accompaniment to this feast that is collecting so many compliments," Attaroa said, her tone heavy with sarcasm, "let me offer you a taste of the specialty of one of our women." The bowl was full of mushrooms, but since they were cut up and cooked, there was no way to identify the variety.
S'Armuna translated, adding a cautionary, "Be careful."
But Ayla needed neither the translation nor the warning. "I don't want any mushrooms right now," she said.
Attaroa laughed when she heard Ayla's words repeated, as though she had expected such an answer. "Too bad," she said, dipping into the bowl with her hand and lifting out a large mouthful. When she had swallowed enough to speak, she added, "These are delicious!" She ate several more mouthfuls, then handed the bowl to Epadoa, smiled knowingly, and downed her cup of birch brew.
As the meal progressed, she drank several more cups and was beginning to show the effects; she was becoming loud and insulting. One of the Wolf Women who'd been left guarding the Holding – they had exchanged places with other guards so that everyone could share in the feast – approached Epadoa, who then came to Attaroa and spoke to her in a whisper.
"It seems Ardemun wants to come out and bring thanks from the men for this feast," Attaroa said, and she laughed with derision. "I'm sure I am not the one they want to thank. It is our most honored visitor." She turned to Epadoa. "Bring the old man out."
The guard went back and soon Ardemun was limping toward the fire from the gate of the wooden fence. Jondalar was surprised at how glad he was to see him, and he realized that he hadn't seen any men since he had left the Holding. He wondered how they all were.
"So the men want to thank me for this feast?" the headwoman said.
"Yes, S'Attaroa. They asked me to come and tell you."
"Tell me, old man, why do I have trouble believing you?"
Ardemun knew better than to reply. He simply stood there, looking down at the ground, as though he wished he could disappear.
"Worthless! He's worthless! No fight in him at all," Attaroa spat with disgust. "Just like all of them. They're all worthless." She turned to Ayla. "Why do you keep yourself tied to that man?" she said, indicating Jondalar. "Are you not strong enough to be free of him?"
Ayla waited until S'Armuna translated, which gave her time to consider her answer. "I choose to be with him. I lived alone long enough," Ayla replied.
"What good will he be to you when he becomes weak and feeble like Ardemun there," Attaroa said, casting a sneering glance at the old man. "When his tool is too limp to give you Pleasure, he'll be as worthless as the rest of them."
Again Ayla waited for the older woman, though she understood the headwoman. "No one stays young forever. There is more to a man than his tool."
"But you should get rid of that one; he won't last long." She motioned toward the tall blond man. "He looks strong, but it's all show. He did not have the strength to take Attaroa, or perhaps he was just afraid." She laughed and swallowed another cupful of brew, then turned to Jondalar. "That was it! Admit it, you fear me. That's why you couldn't take me."
Jondalar also understood her, and it made him angry. "There is a difference between fear and lack of desire, Attaroa. You cannot force desire. I did not share the Mother's Gift because I did not want you," Jondalar said.
S'Armuna glanced at Attaroa and cringed before she began the translation, almost forcing herself not to modify his words.
"That's a lie!" Attaroa screamed, incensed. She stood up and hovered over him. "You feared me, Zelandonii. I could see it. I've fought men before, and you were even afraid to fight me."
Jondalar stood up, too, and Ayla with him. Several of her women closed in around them.
"These people are our guests," S'Armuna said, also getting up. "They were invited to share our feast. Have we forgotten how to treat visitors?"
"Yes, of course. Our guests," Attaroa said scornfully. "We must be courteous and hospitable to visitors, or the woman won't think well of us. I'll show you how much I care what she thinks of us. You both left here without my permission. Do you know what we do to people who run away from here? We kill them! Just like I will kill you," the headwoman screeched, as she lunged for Ayla with a sharpened pointed fibula of a horse in her hand, a formidable dagger.