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Updated: June 27, 2025
"It is early, I know, Ka'ruchaya, and everyone is curious " "As curious as we are about any candidate's experiences," Yarra agreed. "Still, I am sure further questions can wait until tomorrow." Tarlac gave her a grateful smile. "Thanks, Ka'ruchaya. I am pretty tired, and I've been looking forward to a sleeping mat. I could use a long, hot shower, too."
The Ranger, ranking almost at the top in the Terran Empire, was the only one in the group without Honor scars, so he ranked lowest here. When the others bowed, holding out dagger hilts so the Ka'ruchaya could touch those and then her n'ruesten, Tarlac knelt as was proper for an unscarred male, drawing his blaster and extending its grip.
"And I'm as scared okay, as terrified as I can be without throwing a screaming fit. It doesn't matter. I'm not about to quit now." He hesitated, then yielded to impulse. Rising and going to her, he put his arms around her and rested his head on her shoulder. "Ka'ruchaya, I won't be the one to dishonor Ch'kara. I can't! I . . . I love you all, too much to do that."
"Ruesten, the Lords must truly favor you, to teach you Language, then grant a girl child to the clan on your first sharing of bodies. That is a thing of joy, for all of us." "Yes, but " "No buts, ruhar," Hovan said. "Are you concerned that she is half human? That does not matter." He turned to Yarra and Daria. "Ka'ruchaya, may I show him?" Yarra nodded. "If Daria permits." "Go ahead," Daria said.
"If it what I fear is, I will my Ka'ruchaya you have not the term, female parent to the clan ask, him to adopt. N'chark will for him care." "Clan mother. But he's human why would you do that?" "He something to himself did, that him into the likeness of a youngling turned. If that likeness a true one is, then he must a youngling's safety and guidance given be." He paused for a moment.
In several of the larger buildings they passed, females stood at the central doors; they were the clan's sub-Mothers, though rarely when this was the clan's main home it might be the Ka'ruchaya herself waiting to formally welcome her clan-children. Tarlac enjoyed the drive and the scenery.
"Ruesten, you have won the Honor scars; what problem can you have so serious that it requires my intervention?" "Ka'ruchaya, it is a matter of adoption." "Ah, I see. Go on." Joste did as he was told, describing the human's torment, memory loss, and what the female Marine had told him. "Maybe he was being honest when he said the females volunteered for combat.
Trying not to be obvious about it, Tarlac wiped his damp hands on the legs of his trousers. He wanted it to be over with, finished one way or the other. In half an hour he'd either be in the clan's infirmary or on its altar, and at the moment he was inclined to agree with the others: it did seem to be in the hands of the Lords. He stepped forward, slightly ahead of his sponsor and Ka'ruchaya.
Yarra returned his greeting, then said, "We have a new ruesten, Cor'naya?" "Yes, Ka'ruchaya. Esteban Tarlac, called Steve." Hovan gave her a brief yet complete account of everything that had happened since Steve had come aboard, finishing, "He has much to learn, Ka'ruchaya, and he may make mistakes, but he is true Ch'kara. He will not dishonor the clan."
Yarra smiled at them "Well, Steve, have you lost all your doubts of truly belonging?" "There's no need for the English now, Ka'ruchaya the Lords are good teachers." Tarlac was still baffled by their gift of Language, but he'd come to accept it. "I've lost all my doubts." "That is good," Yarra said. "I like my n'ruesten at ease." Then Daria touched Steve's hand. "You tell them, es'ruhar.
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