Ocean's Breath Plateau oil lamps

no posting order!

"matteo, come and eat with us," chakliux encouraged. he was not ignorant to how the perfume in the lodge might affect a growing boy, but matteo must conquer himself. he would enjoy meeting dutch, the seal hunter was sure.
from his peripherals he had watched dutch observe one of the women, but until he turned to serve each person in the lodge portions of fish, he did not know it had been marina.
she was displeased; he knew her silences, her coolness, and for a moment he was glad that dutch would only stay for a night.
despite this, the seal hunter's eyes were appreciative upon her, pleased with her presence and her beauty. quietly he crossed the lodge to bring her fish and the ugyuun root upon a wide leaf. he wanted to be near her, to bask in the warm scent of her, but more than that chakliux wanted marina to know that she was safe here, that he would invite no man beneath this roof who was not.
tullik spoke; chakliux went back to the food-area and made a second serving for her, smiling into the pleasantry of her lovely face, and offering a grin to her comment. "dutch is indeed a teller of many stories, a hunter, a warrior. the monster is wounded and your husband alive because of him!" wisely he did not mention the bear, and nudged tullik playfully.
dutch was served a large portion, and then the boys each, chakliux snorting over raiyuk's muddled coat but his gaze touched with pride. he must rest! but to see that he had been working for the others pleased the seal hunter. he ate last, taking large mouthfuls and speaking of the prey they had seen, the places of the rising sun which he wished to visit, and at length he quieted, eating again and wondering if dutch would tell them a tale.