"You've learned a lot about them, Ayla," Jondalar said.

"I had to learn everything I could, so I could get you out of there," she said. "But maybe I learned too much."

"Too much? How could you learn too much?"

"When I first found you, I only thought about getting you out of that place, and then getting away from here as soon as we could, but now we can't go."

"What do you mean we can't go? Why not?" Jondalar said, frowning.

"We can't leave those children living in such terrible conditions, or the men, either. We have to get them out of that Holding," Ayla said.

Jondalar became worried. He had seen that determined look before. "It's dangerous to stay here, Ayla, and not just for us. Think what easy targets those two horses would make. They don't run away from people. And you don't want to see Wolf's teeth hanging around Attaroa's neck, do you? I want to help those people, too. I lived inside that place, and no one should have to live like that, especially children, but what can we do? We are only two people."

He did want to help them, but he feared that if they stayed, Attaroa might harm Ayla. He thought he had lost her, and now that they were back together he was afraid that if they stayed, he might really lose her. He was trying to find a strong reason to convince her to leave.

"We are not alone. There are more than the two of us who want to change things. We have to find a way to help them," Ayla said, then paused, thinking. "I think S'Armuna wants us to come back – that's why she offered her hospitality. We must go to that feast tomorrow."

"Attaroa has used poison before. If we go back there, we may never leave," Jondalar cautioned her. "She hates you, you know."

"I know, but we have to go back anyway. For the sake of the children. We won't eat, except what I bring, and only if it doesn't leave our sight. Do you think we should change our camp or stay here?" Ayla said. "I have a lot to do before tomorrow."

"I don't think moving will help. They will just trail us. That's why we should leave now," Jondalar said, clasping both her arms. He looked into her eyes, concentrating as if trying to will her to change her mind. Finally he let her go, knowing she wouldn't leave and that he would stay to help her. In his heart it was what he wanted to do, but he had to be convinced that he couldn't persuade her to go. He vowed to himself that he would let nothing harm her.

"All right," he said. "I told the men you would never stand for anyone being treated like that. I don't think they believed me, but we will need help to get them out. I admit I was surprised to hear S'Armuna suggest that we stay with her," Jondalar said. "I don't think she does that very often. Her lodge is small and out of the way. She is not set up to accommodate visitors, but why do you think she wants us to go back?"

"Because she interrupted Attaroa to ask. I don't think that head-woman was happy about it. Do you trust S'Armuna, Jondalar?"

The man stopped to think. "I don't know. I trust her more than I trust Attaroa, but I guess that's not saying much. Did you know S'Armuna knew my mother? She lived with the Ninth Cave when she was young, and they were friends."

"So that's why she speaks your language so well. But if she knows your mother, why didn't she help you?"

"I wondered that myself. Maybe she didn't want to. I think something must have happened between her and Marthona. I don't remember that my mother ever talked about knowing someone who came to live with them when she was young, either. But I have a feeling about S'Armuna. She did treat my injury, and though that's more than she's done for most of the men, I think she wants to do more. I don't think Attaroa will allow it."

They unpacked Racer and set up their camp, although both of them felt uneasy. Jondalar started the fire while Ayla began to prepare a meal for them. She started with the portions she usually estimated for both of them, but then she remembered how little the men in the Holding had been given to eat and decided to increase the quantity. Once he started eating again, he was going to be very hungry.

Jondalar hunkered near the heat for a while after he had the fire blazing, watching the woman he loved. Then he walked over to her. "Before you get too busy, woman," he said, taking her into his arms, "I've greeted a horse and a wolf, but I haven't yet greeted the one who's most important to me."

She smiled in the way that always evoked a warm feeling of love and tenderness. "I'm never too busy for you," she said.

He bent down to kiss her mouth, slowly at first, but then all his fear and anguish at the thought of losing her suddenly overcame him. "I was so afraid I would never see you again. I thought you were dead." His voice cracked with a sob of strain and relief as he held her close. "Nothing Attaroa could have done to me would be worse than losing you."

He held her so tight she could hardly breathe, but she didn't want him to let her go. He kissed her mouth, then her neck, and he began to explore her familiar body with his knowing hands.

"Jondalar, I'm sure Epadoa is following us…"

The man pulled back and caught his breath. "You're right, this is not the right time. We'd be too vulnerable if they came upon us." He should have known better. He felt a need to explain. "It's just that… I thought I'd never see you again. It's like a Gift from the Mother to be here with you, and… well… the urge came over me to honor Her."

Ayla held him, wanting to let him know that she felt the same. The thought occurred to her that she had never heard him try to explain why he wanted her before. She didn't need an explanation. It was all she could do to keep herself from forgetting the danger they were in and giving in to her own desire for him. Then, as she felt her warmth for the man growing, she reconsidered their situation.

"Jondalar…" The tone of her voice caught his attention. "If you really think about it, we are probably so far ahead of Epadoa, it will take a while for her to track us here… and Wolf would warn us…"

As Jondalar looked at her and began to perceive her meaning, his frown of concern slowly eased into a smile, and his compelling blue eyes filled with his wanting and his love. "Ayla, my woman, my beautiful loving woman," he said, his voice husky with need.

It had been a long time, and Jondalar was ready, but he took the time to kiss her slowly and fully. The feel of her lips parting to give access to her warm mouth encouraged thoughts of other parting lips and warm moist openings, and he felt the strivings of his manhood in anticipation. It was going to be difficult to hold back enough to Pleasure her.

Ayla held him close, closing her eyes to think only of his mouth on hers, and his gently exploring tongue. She felt his turgid heat pressing against her, and her response was as immediate as his; an urge so strong that she didn't want to wait. She wanted to be closer to him, to be as close as only the feel of him within her could be. Keeping her lips on his, she slipped her arms down from around his neck to untie the waist closure of her fur leggings. She dropped them down, then reached for his ties.

Jondalar felt her fumbling with the knots he had had to tie in the leather thongs that had been cut. He straightened up, breaking their contact, smiled into eyes that were the blue-gray color of a certain fine-quality flint, unsheathed his knife, and cut through his lacings again. They needed to be replaced anyway. She grinned, then held up her lower garment long enough to take a few steps to the sleeping rolls, then dropped down on top of them. He followed her while she unlaced her boots, then untied his own.

Lying on their sides, they kissed again, as Jondalar reached beneath her fur parka and tunic for a firm breast. He felt her nipple harden in the middle of his palm, then pushed up her heavy garments to expose the tantalizing tip. It contracted with the cold, until he took it in his mouth. Then it warmed but did not relax. Not wanting to wait, she rolled to her back, pulling him with her, and opened to receive him.