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While it was the Ka'ruchaya's choice, tradition suggested that the oldest male present perform that final service for the dead. The Speaker and Ka'ruchaya drew back to allow him to pass with his burden. He climbed the steps and crossed the dais slowly, to lay his ruhar's body on the lower level of the altar. Then he made his farewells, touching Steve's wounded chest and his forehead.
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!
It would be good, Hovan thought, simply to be back in-clan, back in the closeness and peace he valued so highly and there was Ka'ruchaya Yarra's promise. He looked at Steve, pleased to see the man's expression was calm and interested. Tarlac indicated the female standing motionless in front of the open door and asked quietly, "Ka'chaya Yvian?"
He'd often wondered why he shouldn't be, but tradition insisted his Ka'ruchaya was wiser than he in such matters. Instead, he tried to figure out what had caused his crash. It wasn't pilot error, he was sure. The flight had been routine, the air calm. The engine had run smoothly, without even a cough, and the controls had been responding as well as they ever did. So why had he crashed?
Instead she bowed to him, formally. "Your courage and success in returning unaided bring much honor to the clan, ruesten. Let our thanks for that welcome you home." Her gesture and words were formal, but her tone held warmth and true pleasure. Tarlac returned the bow, answering with equal formality and just as much warmth. "It is good to be home, Ka'ruchaya.
Nor did it take long, once contact was made, for Ka'ruchaya Jarna to appear on the comscreen. Joste greeted her formally, crossing arms over his chest and inclining his head. Kunnos followed suit, bowing more deeply as befit an out-clan male. Jarna acknowledged the greeting, then looked curiously at Joste.
Preferring to disturb his own rest rather than his Clan Mother's, Hovan had the duty Communications operator place his call then. Contact was almost immediate on the clan-priority call, and Ka'ruchaya Yarra must have been waiting; she was on the screen before she could have been summoned. Hovan greeted her respectfully, sure that his expression gave away his news before he could speak it. It did.
At the Ch'kara clanhome, a youngling met them and took them to one of the smaller living rooms, with the information that Ka'ruchaya Yarra had set it aside for them so ruchaya Steve could study undisturbed. Only it didn't quite work out that way. Tarlac did learn a considerable amount that afternoon, but it was as much about his clanmates as it was about how to survive in Homeworld's wilderness.
Perhaps that meant the Ranger was tougher than he looked, and had a better chance in the Ordeal than was generally believed. Hovan hoped so, since he found himself beginning to like the frail-seeming human who would soon be his ruhar. He was glad, now, that he had never voiced his private doubts about Ka'ruchaya Yarra's decision to offer adoption to an alien and enemy.
His pretended absorption in a document that their own news showed held only the one item of interest couldn't mislead his Clan Mother and his sponsor. "Ka'ruchaya . . ." Hovan said hesitantly. "I know, ruesten. The Lords burden him beyond what most are asked to endure." "Even more than you know, Ka'ruchaya, and it troubles me.
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