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Ka'ruchaya Yarra had told him to judge the Terran he would meet, and if he found the man worthy, to offer adoption into Ch'kara. It would be an unprecedented honor for Hovan, as well as the Terran, if that happened; adoption was a Clan Mother's privilege, delegated sometimes to another female, never in Hovan's knowledge to a male. He had told no one about his mission from Yarra.
If you're willing, I'd like to start that by commissioning you myself, before I leave this body for good." Hovan, absently stroking Steve's hair, looked at his Ka'ruchaya and the clan's Speaker. Yarra nodded approval; Daria, smiling, made a gesture of negation as if to say, "I am not needed to Speak here." That was true enough, Hovan thought.
Tarlac could sense the clan both as an empathic entity and as the individuals composing it: Ka'ruchaya Yarra's joy that one of her n'ruesten had been chosen to complete the Circle, Daria's exultation and love for him and their daughter, Hovan's deep pride that it was he who had adopted and then sponsored the Ranger . . . even unformed pleasure from the youngling in Daria's body, already a part of the clan's emotional life.
Care for him, see that he gets the medical help he needs including regrowth treatments if they are available there and bring him home as soon as he is able to travel. If you wish, I will arrange for his naming ceremony." "Thank you, Ka'ruchaya. Let him be named Horst, of Clan N'chark." "So be it, Cor'naya Joste." Jarna turned to Kunnos. "I will send a ship for them, Group-Leader.
Joste glanced at the human again, then began giving orders. "Chorvak, call the hospital and tell them I'm bringing in an emergency patient. And find out if either of the females survived and is able to talk. Sedni, go to Communications and have them stand by for a possible priority call to N'chark clanhome on Norvis. I may need to talk to Ka'ruchaya Jarna."
"As Ka'ruchaya of Ch'kara, I ask the Lords to receive this man, my ruesten." Daria inclined her head. "The Lords welcome those who die in honor. Who, Ka'ruchaya, do you choose to present him?" "He who is closest to him, who shares his blood and bears him now." Hovan thanked her silently for that.
"You have your duty, I have mine. Tell me." "As you wish, ka'naya." Arjen sighed again, this time to himself. She did sound much like Ka'ruchaya Noriy . . . He opened his shirt, exposing his massive chest. "See you these?" he asked, tracing the scars that ran from the base of his throat to just above his belt. "I see them," Willis said grimly.
Time to pour him, as I promised, into bed." He stooped, picked up the slightly-built man with no difficulty, and turned to Yarra. "I think he'd better sleep in the infirmary tonight, Ka'ruchaya." "I agree. And tell the nurse to let him sleep until he wakes by himself. The Supreme has said he and the First Speaker will wait until Steve is ready to see them." "They do him much honor."
Will you need a linguist to replace Joste?" "If you please, Ka'ruchaya. Stanek, if he has recovered." "He will be on the ship." Jarna's expression became grim. "But hear my words, Group-Leader: none of my n'ruesten will force another to this living self-destruction again. I will not have them dishonor themselves so." "I would not ask it, Ka'ruchaya," Kunnos said.
Hovan told himself ruefully that he shouldn't have entertained even the small doubts he'd had of Ka'ruchaya Yarra's wisdom. It had seemed impossible that an alien could truly be a ruhar, and Steve was undoubtedly an alien, even though he wasn't frightened, as so many humans seemed to be, by the sheer size of beings so alien to them. Yet the clan-feeling was definitely there how had Yarra guessed?
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