Moonsong Glacier ayagaa

his brow deepened once more. how could this be? tullik and nasamik would not be married to ariadne unless it was agreed, as with sialuk and elentari. "only if you speak this with them. otherwise, they are wife to chakliux. and i am husband to moonsong head."
but perhaps it was only this: a sunshine island woman wanted a husband, and not a man who would marry others.
it was not the way of her mother, after all.
"i cannot marry in the way you want, ariadne," chakliux said after a long moment, pain in his berrytone eyes and the set of his mouth. "but do not think it is for lack of feeling. i think of you always. i am — eager to be called by you. to bring you pleasure. to be chosen, ariadne, in any way that is your desire."
their people were only different. and he would not put aside his wives for the sunshine ways. he could no more see her as third wife than she could see herself, and chakliux was suddenly without hunger as he regarded ariadne across the fresh fish and glistening berries. 
"kilgitsuk is not a sunshine man. and he is not a seal hunter." the scarred shoulders lost some of their tension. "perhaps he knows how we best can be bonded together, ariadne."