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"I, Hovan of Clan Ch'kara, do solemnly swear . . . to protect and defend the Terran Empire . . . from all enemies, foreign and domestic . . . and to bear true faith and allegiance to the same. This I pledge before the Lords, by my own honor and Ch'kara's." Tarlac lowered his hand and extended it. "Congratulations, First Lieutenant Hovan, and welcome to Imperial Service."
Dammit, humans and Traiti had been at war for years, and he was human in everything but the past day's experiences! Well, he was adapting; that was another fact he had to accept. He returned Hovan's smile and touched one of the deadly claws. "I'm in your hands." Morning at Ch'kara's main clanhome on Norvis came in the middle of Hovan's sleep period.
He armed and freely came, as fighter, not captive, and I have him observed. I say she will him as clan-son accept, and I may for her his blood-oath take." There were a few exclamations of disbelief from those of the bridge crew who understood enough English to know what had been said, but they were quickly silenced by Arjen's glare. "Ch'kara's Ka'ruchaya generous is," the Fleet-Captain said.
Tarlac wanted to tell them that no farewell was necessary, that he was still there and he'd help them survive the coming defeat. The presence wouldn't let him; the time was not yet right. Instead, he was drawn away, out of Ch'kara's gathering hall and through some kind of interface, to what looked almost like a grove of oak trees on Terra. It wasn't; the light was wrong.
That does status bring, near what Ch'kara's oldest male enjoys, close to Ka'ruchaya Yarra and she who for the Lords speaks, Daria." Well, Tarlac thought with amused chagrin, there went his last night's speculation about females being property. He must have been tireder than he'd thought he should never have gotten that idea after Hovan had referred to a Clan Mother administering the death penalty!
"In body," Kranath agreed, smiling. "In mind you are both, and have been since your conception. We insured that. The human body on Ch'kara's altar means nothing. Here you and we can be either. Think of yourself as Traiti, Ruhar." Remembering his Vision of being Kranath, and before that the time at the altar when he'd felt as much Traiti as human, Tarlac did as he was told.
Hovan told me Clan Ch'kara's Speaker for the Lords said our next Ranger would be his spiritual heir and now that we've found you, that seems reasonable." Corina bowed. "I would be honored to bear the Peacelord's arms, sir, though I do not know if I can live up to his example." "It won't be easy, but then neither are any of our jobs." Davis grew sober. "Back to our present situation.
Hovan returned the two officers' bows, speaking English for Steve's benefit. "I word from Ch'kara's Mother bear, Honored Ones." "Your Mother's words we hear, Honored One," Arjen replied formally. "Ka'ruchaya Yarra's words to me: That I this man should judge. If he in honor came, and I him worthy found, Ch'kara's shelter was I to offer.
"He should a proper ceremony have, or as close as may under war conditions done be. Will you have any n'Cor'naya who free are, in the exercise hall assemble?" "Of course, Cor'naya. In half a tenth-day?" "Fine," Hovan said. "Afterwards, I must a message to Ch'kara's clanhome on Norvis send, clan priority." "You will it have," Arjen replied. "My thanks."
It wasn't long before one of Ch'kara's cream-and-green cars, also headed for town, dropped to hover at shoulder level beside him. The driver, whose name he couldn't remember, opened a window and stuck his head out. "Steve, ruhar!" "Yeah, I made it!" "I will call ahead. Cor'naya Hovan said to expect you." Tarlac hadn't known the vehicles were equipped with comsets, but it wasn't too surprising.
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