Ouroboros Spine Honesty is the best policy

When the man made the bold assertion that Sakhmet be present, Kigipigak paused and looked to her; no man should order an Issumatar less of all, a subordinate to their matriarch. Kigipigak bristled but said nothing. They would be a united front regardless.

Then Cerne went on to say he would be departing Natigvik, and that he would be a father because of this passed spring; it was enough to set Kigipigak fully against him.

From the start Kigipigak did not find this man trustworthy - a good hunter, but a soothsayer too, and someone he could not understand on a fundamental level. To learn that Cerne had bedded someone without permission from either of his leaders was a slap in the face. It showed Cerne for who he truly was: disloyal, untrustworthy; aspects Kigipigak would be glad to be rid of.

But without the extra body, could Natigvik survive? Kigipigak was angry with the news and angrier still, feeling that his children were now at greater risk with only the three remaining adults. They had grown but not enough.

Who was it? Who is this wife you intend to leave us for? The edge to Kigipigak's voice was hard to ignore.