the little boy smiled. "Sa tah?" he laughed.
90 As the little girl pulled his hand and led him into the other room
The Lady Hawk turned to her mate. "Husband," she commanded, "leave!"
91 "What?" asked The Hawk.
92 "Take a walk," she insisted. "Go find something to do, but leave us
alone for a while."
93 "As soon as you answer one question for me," insisted The Hawk.
"What did the little boy call our daughter?"
94 The Lady Hawk looked afraid. "He called her 'beloved sister.'"
95 "And she called him 'brother,' said The Hawk, "but each in their own
language."
96 The Lady Hawk took her husband by the hand and led him out the door.
"Come back about bed time," she ordered, "give us a while to talk."
97 The Hawk knew better than to argue with his Lady. He spent the
evening checking with his men. The other women were accepting their
situation well, though some were very frightened. When The Hawk
returned.to his quarters, he found their sleeping room quite different.
It was now divided by a heavy curtain.
98 The Lady Hawk sat on her cushions in her sleeping dress. She barely
looked up when her husband entered. Both children slept on their
cushions near her bed. "The agreement is made," she announced. "You
will fulfill her needs, and, mine, but you will sleep with me, or
sometimes we will all sleep together." She pointed to the children.
"She is used to her husband not sleeping with her, and she understands
my need, selfish as it is. Now, go to her, and treat her very gentle,
for she is still terribly frightened."
99 "What of the promise I made to you?" insisted The Hawk.