to White
Bear. "You must give her the benefit of your wisdom. Because you
yourself are a shaman, your responsibility to her is all the greater."

Then Owl Carver stood before the fire, between the bride and the groom,
and raised his arms. "O Earthmaker, bless this man and this woman. May
they walk with honor on the path they follow as one."

Redbird sang a wedding song to White Bear. Her voice rose clear and pure
into the night air, and it seemed to White Bear that even the crackling
fire quieted itself to listen.

"I will build a lodge for you,
I will grind the corn for you.
I have no home but where you are;
The trail you walk is also mine."

Then White Bear got up and went around the fire to Redbird. He handed
Redbird a bouquet of pink roses that Sun Woman had carefully collected,
dried and preserved. The orange glow of the fire danced in her black
eyes, and White Bear felt an answering love blaze up within himself.

He was so much taller than Redbird that he had to bend his knees deeply
so that Redbird could throw her braids over his shoulders, and he heard
some chuckles and giggles from the watching people. But as her braids
fell lightly on him he thought that he had never in his life been
happier than at this moment.

Together they walked sunwise around the marriage fire, keeping it on
their right: and on the east, south, west and north sides White Bear
said loudly, "Redbird is now my wife!"

Eyes gleamed at him out of the darkness when he came back to the east
side. Standing to the side and just a little behind Black Hawk was Wolf
Paw. White Bear could not resist feeling a little thrill of triumph at
the realization that he had won Redbird despite the best efforts of this
mighty warrior, this chief's son, this man who owned many horses.

_Not because I deserve it_, he reminded himself. _Only because Redbird
would have it so._

_And now, because she would have it so, we will be together forever._

Owl Carver bade them depart with the good wishes of the tribe, and
White Bear and Redbird walked to the new wickiup they had built on the
edge of the camp. Eagle Feather would live there with them, but tonight
Eagle Feather would stay with his grandmother, Sun Woman.

Tonight they would have it to themselves.

* * * * *

Next day, in mid-afternoon, White Bear stood again in the center of the
camp wearing the same black bearskin he had worn six years ago. Owl