Chapter 4
When Durc woke up the next day, Goov summoned him.
"Durc, do you remember what Brun told you about your mother? She is here. The death curse was defeated and you need not fear the sight of her. She wants to see you. She is at her old hiding place," Goov told him. Durc looked outside with a wild hope in his eyes. He thanked Goov, and then ran to where his mother was supposed to be. He saw her talking to a man of the Others. At first all he could do was stare in shock. He uttered a word he had not used in years, "Mama." She started, turned, and ran to Durc with water leaking from her eyes. She embraced him tightly, murmuring his name over and over. Finally she managed to let go so that she could speak properly.
"Durc, my baby, my son. For so long I have missed you. You have grown up in that time, though. You cannot imagine how I longed to hold you in my arms every night while I was alone and cursed. My baby, how I have missed you. My heart overflows with joy at the sight of you," Ayla gestured.
Although Durc's eyes did not water, he felt her joy as much. It showed in his eyes and face. "Mama. Brun told me you weren't really dead. Even before that I would never allow you to be dead in my mind. Where have you been these years?"
Ayla told him of her time traveling, living in the valley, and finally ending with how she left the Mamutoi. Some of the words she used were strange, and he noticed that the quality of her speech was not what he remembered. But he was glad that she had found people of her own kind. "Durc, may I introduce you to Jondalar?" Ayla gestured. She pointed to the man of the Others. "Jondalar, this is Durc, my son."
"I am glad to meet you, Don-dah. You are the mate of my mother?" Durc motioned.
"In my heart, she is my mate, Durc. She had told me much about you," Jondalar replied. Durc noticed that he spoke without most of the finer nuances of the language, but for a man of the Others he spoke well. There was an awkward pause. Ayla asked Jondalar to wait at the cave while she took a walk with her son. He agreed, and his face reflected the joy that shone from mother and son. Ayla and Durc walked slowly, hands moving rapidly.
"The Clan seems unhappy. Has Broud improved at all in his leadership?"
"No, Mama. He does not think of the Clan, only his whims and desires. That man is sick in his mind, I believe. As a medicine woman, have you seen such a thing?"
"No, never, but I understand what you say. I could always see some strange light in his eyes. Not a light of happiness, but one of cruelty and violence. He was given an appropriate totem. But we should not talk about Broud. I want to know how you have been."
"I have been well, Mama. At the Clan Gathering this summer we brought back Ura, who I am to mate when the time comes. She is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. We both have new ideas and our minds work the same way. But Broud has not let me have my manhood hunt. We cannot mate until we have both become adults. Uba is well. She had a daughter last winter. Goov named her Iza after Uba's mother-and your mother."
Ayla smiled at this news. Durc was surprised at first, but then he remembered gamed he had played with her in secret where they made a happy noise together and made that face often. "Mama, what is that called? You and I were the only ones who used to do that-and we make the sound when we are happy. Ura does too."
"In Jondalar's language it is called smile and laugh," Ayla replied.
Durc was curious. He could not pronounce those words, and he did not know the Others had a language.
"They have a language of sounds made by the mouth," Ayla continued, "just like the Clan has some spoken words, Others speak all words out loud. But they can also make words that are not true sometimes and are so blind to body language that they fool each other." She continued to tell him about the ways of the Others- her people.
They talked for most of the afternoon. The sun was starting to set when Ayla reluctantly told Durc that he should head back to the cave.
"I am going now, Mama," he said and then he left. As he walked back to the cave, his mind was spinning. So many new things that she told him could help the Clan! As he approached the mouth of the cave, he saw Broud striding toward him with a face full of rage.
"Durc, you insolent boy! Where have you been all day? You should have been at the cave. You are not excused from helping the Clan," Broud fumed. He was visibly shaking with rage. "Answer me, boy! Where have you been for the afternoon?"
"I have been walking in the field by the practice area," he answered truthfully. Broud slapped him on the face, leaving a mark in the shape of his hand. The watching Clan was shocked. A man never hit a boy for a reason like that, especially one so close to manhood. Durc did not cry out, just simply stared. Broud raised his fist again, intending to do some serious damage when he heard a strangely familiar voice.
"BROUD!" A yellow-haired woman whom Broud thought he would never see again stepped out from behind some bushes. Broud's eyes rolled skyward and he fainted.