When Nuka turned fifteen, she immediately told her parents that she wished to marry Tinook son of Tiriaq. Father was overjoyed. He set her bride price lower than Kanna's, to reflect her status as the younger of the sisters, but not by much.

"Tinook thinks it will take his family three years to earn the money," Nuka told Kanna one evening as they laid in bed. "I think I can persuade him to wait for a few months after that for the wedding, but not much longer."

You have until then for your bride price to be paid, Kanna heard. Unless you want the shame of marrying after a sister two years your junior. According to Tupaarnaq, it would take her and Pakku another five years to save up Kanna's bride price.

"My father gives me a very generous allowance," Kanna told Pakku the next day. "He'll notice if I don't spend it, but he won't notice if don't spend all of it."

Pakku grimaced as she handed him a few coins. "This isn't the way it's supposed to work."

"No," Kanna said. "It's just the way it is."

Tupaarnaq revised her estimate down to four years.