Of course his father would want these things! He could not begrudge the man for wishing a continuation of his lineage. Raiyuk listened. If this man called Nate-Ronan would be so welcoming, Raiyuk would certainly consider putting aside his travels.

Chakliux had become a man of the woods! This made Raiyuk raise his brows with humor, and smile wide. He thought of his Uncle, the one who had long ago been hunt-brother to his father—ah, but their name had slipped from his head—and Raiyuk posited, Does Walosi follow the caribou, or do they keep boars? I wonder about stags, too.

These were things a trader liked to know. It would be hard to turn off this way of thinking.

How many follow your Nate-Ronan? Perhaps I could meet him, and he could tell me of his women. This he said in good faith, and did chuckle and buffet his father good-naturedly, although some unknown feeling dried his tongue and thickened his throat.

Anxiety, over the changes. That must have been it.