The Reindeer People and Wolf's Brother Predictions (progressive spoilers!)

[Farseer]

A couple of pages into Chapter Ten, I thought I'd better come and try to sort through some things...

EDIT: Adding spoiler tag *WB spoilers*

Spoiler

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?

Did I tell you how much I dislike Carp?

Is there a connection between the seite and the Cataclysm?