has
been, Ship-Captain. You free to go now are."

Willis didn't look as if she believed it, but she gave orders to have
Terra's coordinates fed into the helm. Then she searched the repeater
screen, still wearing a troubled expression. "Ranger--?"

Tarlac moved to stand beside Arjen, the beginnings of hope allowing him
to smile. "I'm all right, Captain. Your log'll show everything,
including this, but I'll make it an order anyway. Return to Terra."

That didn't seem to make Willis any happier, but she couldn't argue
with a Ranger's direct order. "Yes, sir." She turned to Olorun.
"Execute transition."

Arjen showed no reaction to the Lindner's departure before he gave
Tarlac his full attention. "To this ship welcome be, Ranger. You have
Team-Leader Hovan met; he has said, he will you escort and teach. If
you to him object, I will another assign."

Tarlac glanced up at the apparently impassive commando beside him, then
looked back at Arjen. He could hardly dislike the Team-Leader he'd
barely met. "I don't object. I'd be honored." It wouldn't hurt to be
polite, especially since it was beginning to look as if he were
actually what Arjen had called him, a guest. For no reason he could
name, he inclined his head and touched fingertips to his brow.

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.

It had to be a fortunate coincidence, not important but a demonstration
of the Terran's willingness to take his part in Traiti life. Hovan
thought about the adoption, and quickly decided that he shouldn't offer
it so soon. Two things, significant as they might be, weren't enough
to prove this human worthy of a clan as old and honored as Ch'kara. He
needed more, especially if the Ranger was to join as a candidate for
the Ordeal of Honor. Hovan had been given a solemn responsibility for
the clan's choice; he had to be certain he was right when he made his
decision. And he had the time for that; Homeworld was more than a
tenday away.

"If you will then me excuse," Arjen said formally, "I still much to do
have. I the freedom of the ship you give."

"Thank you." There was no more doubt in T