Azaria Read Online Free PDF

good boy. Just remember there are many young men out there, Azaria, and you haven't crossed path with all of them yet." He turned, gave her a wink and rose to help his son with the water.
    Watching him leave, Azaria wondered what his gesture meant. Was he trying to let me know he saw me at the Temple and not to worry about it? Or was that about Dogahn? She decided on the latter and let her thoughts linger on the boy she’d been friends with for as long as she could remember. The boy she only recently recognized as being very cute. She silently fumed at her brother for his rude admission. She’d never said she wanted to kiss Dogahn. It was her best girlfriend Daneel who’d suggested it. The thought of kissing Dogahn sickened her, although she didn’t know why. Then she realized it wasn’t the thought of her lips on Dogahn’s that was so distasteful. It was more the shock of her brother blurting out her deepest desires for everyone to hear. In fact, the thought of an intimate moment with him was somehow exciting. She smiled to herself and entertained another, even more shocking idea. And if he tries to steal a kiss at the Feast, perhaps I'll let him.

2
    By tradition, the Summer Solstice was celebrated on the closest new moon and consisted of two suns of games, the second ending with a magnificent feast. Azaria was up before the sun had woke, the morning filled with fervor and anticipation. The first event she would ever compete in, the Hare Hunt, would be held just after dawn’s light. She spent the morning inspecting her throwing spears, examining the shafts and sealing any cracks with cedar resin if they were minor enough. She also felt the tips to assure they were still sharp, removing ones that weren't and knapping new chips off to sharpen them. The ones she couldn't sharpen, she set aside and replaced with fresh tips her father had previously fashioned. His were always better than hers, although her technique had improved greatly over the past few winters. She also checked the feather fletchings to make sure they were intact and that her personal colored markings were identifiable. If the fletchings were loose or damaged, she tore them off and glued new ones on using a tar-like substance produced by heating birch bark. When she left her shelter, she had seven serviceable light spears and little wait left until the Hunt.
    Before she set out Azaria took care of one very important final touch. She attached her lucky blue and red feathers to the back of her head. Many wore such adornments, and bestowed upon them all sorts of supernatural capabilities. Azaria was no exception. Setting out one morning searching for grouse, she’d come upon the two feathers lying only paces apart. Because they were so close together, which was unusual since they were obviously from different species – and because she thought they were pretty – she took it as a sign and tied them to her hair and then forgot about them. It might have been just coincidence that she bagged so many of the plump ground birds that sun, but when she arrived back at her shelter and discovered the feathers again, it was obvious to her they were responsible. Since then, she’d never gone hunting without the bright charms.
    Now sure she was ready, Azaria jogged to the competition site, the sun's blazing intensity already producing a gleam on her brow. She took the southern path leading to the softly rolling prairie where most of the games were held and beyond to the steeper approach to the top of Hare Hill. As she ascended, descending toward her was a young woman with dark brown eyes. Azaria noticed the hint of mahogany in the girl’s wavy locks as the mild wind blew easily through them. She’d always admired the trace of red in her friend's hair. The other girl was shorter than Azaria by about three fingers and possessed a curvier figure, although by no means was she considered heavy. "Daneel!! You're out early!" she called.
    Daneel greeted her with a hug as