Herbalists' Cache wooden doll

sun eater was surprised, but not without displeasure. he would have though she would want to keep her slave through the hard days to come, when she would be bound to a shelter. yet she spoke for him, and on impulse possessed for no other, he leant forward to stroke her forehead with a kiss.

"wolves of the moon." the richness of her feast lay around them in tendrils. he liked that she had eaten with such zeal. "the clan nuiruk. sunshine people, they are also called. they have many packs, but the women are sprung from one mother. kukutux."

his face twisted. "it was she who ordered that i be taken from moontide to moonglow. and it was she who chose what i suffered. but it was her daughter who carried it out. i do not want the old woman, except to kill. i want the one whose teeth my flesh remembers."

rage filled the small space. he jerked down its billow. "i want to keep her for myself, star eater. for a time," he went on, rolling his shoulders, "until i tire of her."

did his wife condone this also? he was asking, as much as he was able to make himself do so.