Bramblepoint suli ∏

a slight furrowing of her brow, which soon smoothed into a flat plane of icewhite. "i had not thought of this until your words, sialuk," the isle-wife began softly, "but i think that yes. i saw birth-times when i was a child. you must also." 

one of the earlier passage rites, the duck supposed. there were three memorable ones before marriage: the first time a girl saw new life brought into the world. her first ugi. the silent waiting when later, at the ulaq of your father, the man who wanted you for wife arriving with the asked bride-price. it was then that a woman could refuse or accept, demand more. the first time her voice was raised in the speaking of her own wants.

and the first, by the blessing of the gods, she could give to sialuk. "it is a very tight time," kukutux warned all the same in soft tones.