Hoshor Plains allowance

The panther allowed these words to soothe him, though he felt a little as if he'd forced her to speak comfort to him. And she was so young to be addressing such hurts! But she was a leader, too, and he felt a small stirring of pride and relief as her kindness washed over him once more. He remembered now what he had felt when he first met her, and what he had forgotten in his worry while he was away.

"If you say so, I must accept this," he replied, his smile warm once more. "Peace be, cloudwoman. And blessings of multitude upon your hearth."

Now his tone turned just a little sly — he meant to send her back to her husband, where he was sure Kaluktuk and she both wished her to be.