The Shelters of Stone

AylaandJondalarhavereachedhome:theNinthCaveoftheZelandonii,theoldstoneagesettlementintheregionknowntodayassouth-westFrance.AylahasmuchtolearnfromtheZelandoniiaswellasmuchtoteachthem.Jondalar'sfamilyareinitiallywaryofthebeautifulyoungwomanhehasbroughtback,withherstrangeaccentandhertamewolfandhorses.SheisdelightedwhenshemeetsZelandoni,thespiritualleaderofherpeople,afellowhealerwithwhomshecansharehermedicinalskills.Aftertherigoursanddangersthathavecharacterisedherextraordinarylife,Aylayearnsforpeaceandtranquillity;tobeJondalar'smateandtohavechildren.Butheruniquespiritualgiftscannotbeignored,andevenasshegivesbirthtotheireagerly-awaitedchild,sheiscomingtoacceptthatshehasagreaterroletoplayinthedestinyoftheZelandonii.