Ivory Carver 02 - My Sister the Moon by Sue Harrison

words light with laughter as she called back, "I do not think you will sleep, so I will only wish you a good night." 
    Kiin smiled and sat down at the top of the ulaq so she could see the beach. The men were still gathered at the fire, even though the flames were gone and glowing coals were all that were left of the crowberry heather and seal bones that had been stacked as high as her waist. Kiin pulled her knees up inside her suk and covered her bare feet with her hands. The wind coming from the sea was cold, and Kiin shivered. 
    She rested her arms on her upraised knees and dared to let thoughts of Samiq as husband come to her mind. This day had been the most beautiful in her life. Finally the spirits of Tugix rejoiced over her. Finally she had all things a new woman would want—a beautiful suk, a necklace, perhaps even the promise of a husband. 
    And though Kiin had hated the nights she was forced to spend with traders, it would be different with Samiq, with his arms around her, with his hands touching her. 
    Samiq had always been a friend. He often fought with Qakan to protect her from Qakan's sudden anger. And when her father beat her, it was usually Samiq who took her to Chagak or Crooked Nose to have her cuts washed, her bruises layered with wet willow leaves. 

    But to have Samiq as husband—to have him hold her during the night... 
    At first Kiin did not realize that her father was shouting. But when Qakan raised his voice, Kiin heard him, and she saw that her father and Qakan were striding away from the other men. 
    They are angry with me, Kiin thought. I did not bring enough food. 
    She slid down the side of the ulaq and hid in the heather and long grasses that grew at the back of the sod mound. Kiin held her breath as her father and brother climbed the ulaq and went inside. The other men were also leaving, and they walked by without seeing her. When Samiq passed she almost reached out to him. But no, Amgigh and Kayugh were with him, the three walking together to Kayugh's ulaq. Kayugh looked angry, and Kiin saw that even Amgigh's lips were pressed tightly together, his hands clenched into fists. 
    In a sudden panic, she wondered if in some way her father had been able to take away her name, if perhaps she was again without her soul, but she felt the fullness of her spirit moving within her, and its quiet inside voice said, "Wait. Stay where you are; I am here." 
    She reached for the amulet that hung at her neck. Since Kiin now had name and soul, she knew she could lift her thoughts to the spirits of grandmothers who lived in the place of Dancing Lights. 
    Please, let me keep my spirit, she begged. Please don't let my father take it from me. 
    She moved back to lean against the ulaq, her head pressed against the grass. The sky was streaked with the beginning of morning. I will wait until my father goes to his sleeping place, she thought, and carefully crept to the top of the ulaq, where she crouched, listening, trying to tell whether Gray Bird and Qakan were in the main part of the ulaq. 
    She heard her father's voice, still sharp in his anger, and was surprised to realize that his anger was directed at Qakan. "If you were a hunter, you could pay for your own woman. Kayugh is a fool and has offered a good price for the girl. What  else can I do? Tell him no? I will not refuse his offer." 
    "Then give me the sealskins he trades for her," Qakan said. "I will take them to the Whale Hunters and get a woman for myself." 
    "You do not want a Whale Hunter woman. They are more like men than women. They think they own their husband's ulaq. Go to the Walrus People. Get a good wife. A woman who knows how to please a man." 
    "You will give me the skins to trade?" 
    "I need the skins." 
    Kiin heard her brother snarl, heard his words grating at the back of his throat. "I will take Kiin, then," he said. "I will trade her." 
    Kiin heard her father laugh, and the long low sound caught in her teeth, making them