Chapter Four
‘But we thought you would spend the winter with us!’ cried Valkirra.
Helm blinked. This was not the reaction he expected to the news that he was leaving Newkeep to seek out his son. Instinctively he looked across at Talis Jarisson, Valkirra’s partner, to get an idea of how to respond to her protest. Talis was an expert in managing his partner’s moods and in assisting others to deal with her. Although she was not especially moody, Valkirra was accustomed to command and Helm knew that she had somewhat limited insight into the needs of others. On this occasion, though, Helm found that Talis looked every bit as dumbfounded and affronted as Valkirra. He took a deep breath.
‘I must find my son,’ he told them. ‘He has been gone too long. You know this is so. An exploration of some
