Hoshor Plains allowance

Dutch nodded along with this words, resentful of them despite having spoken them to Chakliux in almost the same tone. She spoke true, though, and he accepted even her praise with grace — or he appeared to, at least.

Something ate at him, then. He looked down at Sulukinak, but the girl slept deep; it made him wonder if she wasn't sleeping well at other times. Either way, it served him now.

"I thank you," he said, accepting the meat with an unusually grave look on his face. "There is one thing: when we hunted this man, he summoned a bear to repel us so that he might escape. We thought you and moonwoman might make us talismans to carry — something to keep him from calling on this power."

He spoke quietly; it would be for nothing is Sulukinak was awake after all, but he hoped to keep this unpleasant truth from her, for now.

"Can this be done?" he asked, burnished gaze searching her fine features for answer.