Shadowwyn Moor Hydrurga

Her uncle had claimed this woman knew of things because of her connection with her people. Sulukinak had her suspicions and by now, in this brief conversation, she had seen the truth of it. Now Suliya sought recompense: information in exchange for what was spared to Sulukinak.

They regard one-another with the same shrewd expression and it is the shadow girl who breaks away first.

My mother is—was...?—Anatkuk. Finally the truth of it. Kiviuq lost in the dark would find her. Sometimes ask for magic. Sometimes ask for spirit-talking. She traded with them. There was a deeper understanding there, one that perhaps the other woman would understand.

Meat was hard to come-by. So was warmth (in whatever form a man might seek).

She hid us from them. Me, my brothers... There wasn't a softening of her gaze as she spoke of these things, these people. They had been far-removed from her life for so long now! Sulukinak had moved on. Do you know conclave? Her eyes went to the caribou; a stag faced some elders with heavy crowns, and from this distance Sulukinak could see their rising ire in the puff of breaths between them.

She called it harvest. Said, 'We give to Sedna, Sasuma, and sea.' Her voice wavered slightly, and then she was silent; it was the most she had told anyone of these things, even her Dutch man, even to Uncle. Now she shared in the hope her secrets might not be secret; maybe Suliya and her people knew more.