Ouroboros Spine Honesty is the best policy

Cerne did not appreciate that Sakhmet was not coming with the two men — this concerned her as much, no, perhaps more, than it did Kigipigak. He recalled their first meeting, and the promises that had been made — promises that had not been kept.

Cerne had never received a gift from Sakhmet. He had thus not begun training her. Clearly, it was not something she thought worthwhile after all.

Instead of walking off with Kigipigak, Cerne stayed firmly planted where he was. He decided to get it all of his chest now. Cerne took a deep breath, then loosed it slowly. "I am afraid I require both of your attention for this."

"I think the time has come for me to leave Natigvik." He had requested a month, to make up his mind, but it had clearly proven more difficult than that. "A woman of Winterglade might be carrying my children. I wish to do right by her." Of course there was more to it than that, but he did not feel a reason to voice his other issues at the present moment.