Barrow Fields pavva mauragak

once it would have hurt her to hear this.

"i do not need to be your issumatar to ask your respect, kigipigak. to ask that even if a man of tartok comes to see what he might take from moonglow, that you would not stand with him after all this. i do not need to be your issumatar to ask your loyalty to this village."

she swallowed. "you have a chance to be man of your own clan. to find this woman for yourself. you have the choice to be in moonglow, to be secondhunter, to have status here. will you live all your life for men who did not do anything for you? will you give your best years in waiting?"

kuktutux was tired. she had watched zane squander himself as well. moonwoman pulled from the winterhawk. but she would not return to aiolos, not now. she wished to be alone. she wished to understand.