Moonsong Glacier aatkatik [m]

He waited. He listened, not that it was his place to do so, and heard some of what Kukutux spoke of; Kilgitsuk only showed real interest when he heard his son's name mentioned, and then the place Brecheliant which he had visited, and it was then that he learned of Kukutux' machinations for his blood. It should not have surprised him that the woman would matchmake — or that Kivaluk would fall in line with the traditions of the sunshine people — but he found his spine turning to iron as he listened, and a small flame of resentment flaring brightly in his heart.

Already they live as wife and husband.

It stung to learn in this way.

It stung also to know for certain that Kivaluk was not Tartok, as his father had once dreamed for him. That he had not only lost some time, but much tradition because of his roaming and his trading. It came as a deeper surprise than Kilgitsuk would've ever expected; and it felt unfair, above all. That he should lose first one son, then a wife, and then to grieve those losses in his way, only to return and find a great ocean of time between himself and Kivaluk! It was cruel of Kukutux to make it known in this way. That flame burned hotter — and he hated her for a moment with an intimate loathing he had once reserved for his own mother! And yet he knew it was not her fault. Because he knew to blame himself for all of this, the pain projected to those around him.

Kilgitsuk wanted to refuse Kukutux all of what she said. He wanted to claim Kivaluk as his son and seek him out immediately, and even looked to the door again, the doe hide forgotten, as if he might go in that instant. He knew the way to Brecheliant; he could go there and demand his son's wife to reconsider, or the parents of this girl to refuse the pairing; but again, it was only a jolt of pain that spurred this idea. As the wound subsided in his psyche and Kilgitsuk accepted it was not his place, he stayed firm where he was.

This village was his home now. He had given Kivaluk and Akkuma the choice to come to him if they wanted; if they had been in ear-shot, if their hearts were open... It was out of his control now, just as this marriage was out of his control.

It was a lot all at once.