Malta was a little wench as a ‘human’ and yet she had the seemingly perfect temperament for an Elderling queen (I couldn’t, and still can’t, stand her though, regardless of her role!). As some of you have noted, Kyle most likely acted as he did due to his Chalcedean upbringing more than from a cruel personality but, even taking that into account, I still didn’t/don’t like him, just as I don't like certain aspects of Kerlew.

Kerlew and the wolves heard a howling off into the distance while they were all near the seite. This howling caused the wolves to turn aside from Kerlew and no doubt saved his life. I had a feeling that the 'howling' may actually have been from Heckram who is out looking for him, but his calling sounded like a wolf howling to Kerlew and the wolves' ears? How else could he be calling out to Kerlew and remain undetected to Joboam's ears, who is also out searching for Kerlew?

For me, this theory was then strengthened when the story switched to Heckram's POV when Heckram began calling out Kerlew's name but there had been no reply...and yet Kerlew must have been quite close by with the seite in close proximity to both he and Heckram? From what I can gather, Kerlew has not replied because he has not heard Heckram's calling as a 'human voice' but as that of a wolf's howl? Heckram simply believes he is calling with his human voice, unknowing of how it sounds to others.

Continuing on to see if my hunch is correct...!

Oh, it's interesting that Kerlew fears the seite (and I think there has been mention of Carp sharing that fear also?) but I can't yet come up with a reason why. Shamans, though they may have many spirit guides and even a spirit brother, are not quite powerful enough to control those spirits...possibly the stone is imbued with the spirits and there is a reason why it is off-limits to a shaman? The past najd of The Reindeer People certainly didn't have any luck when he gave sacrifice there!

I'm still not sure of the whole Heckram/Kerlew thing yet. I've got a niggly feeling that Heckram is not Wolf's brother, like I thought he may be, but is rather 'Wolf'. I would not have thought that this was possible, otherwise he would have had to have made a deal with himself, so it seems unlikely? He also told Joboam that he needn't concern himself with him as he was "Wolf's meat" anyway...which is kind of a silly threat if Heckram himself is Wolf? Then again, possibly he IS Wolf's brother and it is Kerlew who will be Wolf. I just don't know (obviously!!)...I guess a guardian can have as many humans to guide as they like so it is possible that Kerlew and Heckram could both be Wolf's brother and therefore brothers to each other, sharing kinship?

Kerlew did name Heckram 'Wolf brother' but was he naming him this because Heckram was Wolf and Kerlew the brother, because they were brothers both bound by their binding with Wolf, or because Kerlew was Wolf and Heckram his brother? Then again, possibly humans simply go by their guardian's name as they are guided by them so, in essence, ARE kind of them in human form?

What do we have then? Kari is Owl, Carp is Bear (I'm pretty sure it's mentioned somewhere early on that Carp wished Kerlew would find Bear as his guardian as Carp also had Bear as his guardian, but Kerlew went 'up' and not 'down' as Carp had directed him? On an altogether different tangent, this levelling could be likened to 'Heaven' and 'Hell'...Carp chose to go down or onto the 'evil' path and take the temperament of Bear whereas Kerlew instinctively chose to go up or onto the path of 'good' and take the temperament of...Wolf??...though he is still yet to choose), Heckram is Wolf and Joboam is obviously Wolverine in every way possible.

I have no idea what this means in the whole scheme of things but I expect there will be a clash in the end...but between whom? Most likely Joboam will align himself with Carp as it sounds like Carp has settled something with him (possibly allowing Joboam to take over the Herdlord mantle if Carp is well rewarded as being the najd of the herdfolk? Maybe even Carp knows of Elsa's death so will blackmail Joboam into acting out things on his behalf?). These two will clash with Heckram, if they don't try to outdo or kill each other first!

What of Kerlew though? Ah, I'd like to think that Kerlew will see sense and choose Heckram over Carp in the end, acknowledging and sealing their 'Wolf' kinship, I suppose? This was hinted at with the events at the seite when Kerlew's mind rejected both Carp and Tillu and focused on Heckram as the one person who had never expected anything from him, or who had never mistreated him. Hard to say what he will do after having been under Carp's wing though...

As for what's happening with Ketla, Rolke and Capiam, I am guessing that they have been poisoned by Joboam, most likely under the direction of Carp? It will serve both their purposes now to be rid of the Herdlord and his family line. Not sure of what Carp's plans are for Kari, unless she will just act as a willing servant who is present to do the woman's work for him and, in this, he undermines her status as possible Herdlord anyway (ah, only if women are allowed that title)?! I really thought she would end up with Lasse who, like Heckram, "followed the herds". I have a suspicion that she, like Tillu, has been raped or at least physically hurt by a man in the past (I get the feeling that her hatred of Joboam and her adamant lack of agreement in being joined with Pirtsi stems from this...possibly both of these men have forced themselves on her at some point?) so I find it difficult to believe that she is having a physical relationship with Carp. Anyway, Carp would not have given up so easily on Tillu, would he?

I also keep having odd thoughts that Kari is a lot like Kerlew and so must wonder if she would wait and be later joined with him when he reaches a suitable age? Not sure how this kind of age gap works with the herdfolk but there you have it. Of course, all of this is not to say that Kari will not simply choose to go it alone as an independent woman! Her sudden obsession with Carp does make me a little nuts however as I really, really don't like him...he's up to something! Her link with the spirit world is no doubt a powerful reason for her persuing him I suppose, much like Kerlew.

It's amusing that Tillu feels that Capiam and Ketla should not force Kari, as their daughter, into joining with Pirtsi as they wish her to do but she feels that she is right in forcing Kerlew, as her son, to do what she wishes he does.

What else? I am totally mystified as to what would be going on with Joboam that would make him act as he did when Heckram hit him in the chest...possibly it has to do with his relationship with Carp and somehow he is being drained of something, possibly by his attachment to the spirit world?

The contents of Kerlew's pouch in Kerlew: The Vision...hmmm...

• Knife - the knife that Elsa made for/gave to Heckram that seeks revenge for her death
  
• Bloodstone - possibly represents the shedding of blood? Kerlew did say that he would have far more blood on his hands than, ah, Tillu, I think? There is also the seite to consider, with Heckram's blood having been shed and left on it to seal his bargain with Wolf.
  
• Piece of Blade - this is the piece from Elsa's own blade that Tillu removed from Joboam's arm. A little like Harry Potter and Voldemort's wands, they were fashioned by the same hand so are 'related' in a kind of way? Maybe this why it is Knife who is seeking revenge.
  
• Bird's Foot - I have no idea! Possibly Elsa's spirit guardian was a bird of some kind, or it represents Kira who is connected to Owl
  
• Amber - this could also represent Kira as it was a piece of amber that Kira gave to Heckram and Tillu as a joining gift. Of course, it could represent Wolf also, who has 'amber' eyes?
  
• Wolverine's Tooth - representation of Joboam
  
• Rabbit's Tail - Pft, again, no idea! The only things I can remember about a rabbit is Tillu and Kerlew shooting them and the broth Ibb made from rabbit meat for Capiam etc. Of course, it could represent the poisoned food that they've eaten? Or someone else who has Rabbit as a spirit guardian...possibly even Elsa?
  
• Owl Skull - Kira has the only 'owl' connection that I'm aware of
  

As for the najd's words, the knife fragment is the debt of Elsa's death that is to be paid and the one who draws the knife will be Heckram who will draw Joboam's teeth. "The stone is on the blood and the blood is on the stone" screams the seite to me so it is this bargain and the seite that the bloodstone represents, and not so much the blood that Kerlew will shed. Wolf, in the form of Heckram, will do the deed or "bring it all together".

The 'harm' that walks boldly among the herdfolk, that the old najd is talking to Kerlew about, is Joboam. He is instructing Kerlew to arm the Wolf (give the Knife to Heckram?) and destroy the Wolverine (Jobooam). As for Reindeer, it is Capiam who "watches over the herdfolk and feeds and clothes them" but Capiam is not angry at Joboam at present...more likely Reindeer is the bone najd with the reindeer drum and it is he who looks over the herdfolk from his place atop the Najd's Steps?

Ah, what else? Oh! To the first one who comes, Kerlew is to say nothing. I expect that this 'first one' will be Carp as not speaking to Carp or turning aside from him would cause him most pain. Possibly it could be Tillu but Kerlew has shown that he can set her aside quite easily...he can't do this with Carp. He is also to do this thing for Wolf to begin being herdfolk. The only thing I can make of this is that he will do this thing for Heckram as turning aside from Carp will show that Kerlew is of the herdfolk (not keeping himself aloof as Carp encourages him to do?) and will take his place amongst the group, which would include being more engaged with his mother.

The second one to come is to be given the owl skull. This will be Kira, especially as freedom will also be granted along with the skull. She will be free to not join with Pirtsi but, other than that, I'm not sure what.

Then comes Wolf. This could only be Heckram, and the paying of the last debt will be the end of the bargaining with Knife/Wolf.

The old najd's words "We cannot keep her waiting" has me a bit stumped. I'm not sure if he speaks here of Kira, Tillu or someone else, in either human or spirit form? I'd have thought it was Kira, given he would be granting her her freedom?