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Hovan repeated the phrase, and Tarlac realized he must have spoken aloud in English, for the first time since he'd been given Language. "What things?" Hovan asked, still in English. "That you're as much a Terran, and as such a citizen of the Empire, as I am." He took a deep breath, then went on in Language.
"To me listen, ruhar. Everyone help needs, sometimes. That does not weakness show, or shame bring." Hovan released Steve's shoulders, and put his arms around the man instead, giving Tarlac the feeling of being held by something with the weight and patient strength of an oak tree. "Let me your troubles ease, as my sponsor mine eased."
"Get Hovan under cover," he ordered. "I'm going to crash the tower door!" Hasty movements answered that as the Medic's limp body was thrust under the cover offered by the upper framework of the crawler. Luckily the machine had been built for heavy duty on rugged worlds where roadways were unknown.
But I may ask, as Speaker: does it require speed of you for another reason?" Tarlac took time to think out his answer. "You might say it does, indirectly. I have to tell you all something I found out from the Vision, and what it means. It'll be easier for you to hear it from a Cor'naya, Hovan says. Humans would believe a Ranger, but you don't have that kind of trust in me yet."
Human and Traiti circled cautiously, evaluating each other. Hovan watched, hoping the judge's precautions would be adequate, though he didn't suspect Valkan of any true hostility toward Steve not after seeing the K'horan fighter's reaction when Steve accepted challenge.
"Will what?" Tarlac interrupted bitterly. "I thought it was bad enough, trying to take the Ordeal and bring peace. Now I'm supposed to start a new era, and avoid racial insanity, too?" Hovan shook his head sadly. "I can say no more, Steve, except remember always the purpose of the Ordeal." "Purpose. Yeah. Only I'm beginning to think there is no purpose. This whole damn thing's impossible."
"I won the fight by a trick," Tarlac said bleakly. "I won't live through the Ordeal by a trick." Hovan stopped and took Steve by the shoulders. "Why did you not all this say when it first you troubled? I your sponsor am." "I couldn't. It was something I had to come to terms with by myself."
Daria regretted that he had no one really close to him for this, but with Hovan and the others around them, she was sure he would take some pleasure in it, and he would be unaware of how much he was missing. Tarlac felt the presence of his n'ruhar, male and female alike, in a perception that was a glow of warmth. They were his clan, his family. And yes, he was es'ruhar to Daria.
Tarlac hadn't realized until that moment, when he relaxed, how tense he had been. "Let's get back so I can finish the Ordeal, then." Yarra was waiting for them, standing as before at the head of the clanhome stairs. Tarlac climbed to meet her, Hovan at his right. He'd been gone less than a tenth-year, so she wasn't there to extend the traveler's greeting, and she didn't.
Hovan suppressed a gasp of astonishment and heard some around the bridge that weren't suppressed. How could a Terran know to accept hospitality in the proper way? Unless the Lords . . . No, such a thing was far too unimportant for the Lords to concern themselves with. Arjen's hands covered the Ranger's briefly in response to the gesture, and the moment was over.
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