a Traiti
unconditional surrender, few would feel justified in condoning--or
taking part in--the genocide such a surrender's impossibility would
mean. If humans could be brought to understand the Traiti well enough
to know that it was impossible . . . Tarlac wanted to curse at his
frustration, but couldn't think of anything fitting.

Well, he was reasonably certain Hovan could handle the truth, and he
trusted his sponsor. For all practical purposes, with everyone else in
vehicles, the two of them were alone. Even so, he hesitated before
saying, "Hovan?"

"Yes, ruhar? Something disturbs you?"

The fighter's calm was soothing. "Not quite. Say it confuses me.
Cor'naya, I was granted a Vision last night, and I don't know whether I
should make it public or not, even to you."

Hovan managed not to show his shock. The Ordeal was supposed to be one
test at a time, and that was difficult enough--yet Steve had been given
his Vision, and apparently his Decision as well, while he was trying to
cope with simple survival. Three parts at once was more than anyone
should be asked to endure, even by the Lords!

When he spoke, his voice was under tight control. "If you hesitate to
reveal it to your sponsor, you probably should not. You are trying to
become Cor'naya, however; you must decide what honor demands of you."

"Oh, hell." Tarlac didn't know what to think. He couldn't seem to
feel any real emotion, only a sort of resigned fatigue. "Last night I
was Kranath, when he was forced to Godhome. And for a little bit I was
Godhome itself. I'm not sure what to do about what I learned then." He
looked up at his sponsor.

Hovan ached with the man's need of support. "I cannot help you in
this," he said gently. "You know I would if it were possible, but this
is the part of the Ordeal I could not even mention to you. There is
always a Decision to test honor."

"Part of the Ordeal's having to decide whether or not to tell you
something that may drive insane those of you it doesn't kill outright?
That's insane."

"It is far more than is asked of most," Hovan agreed indirectly. "I
had to decide only between honor and my own life."

"You're here, so it must've been a setup."

"Yes. I was angry when I found out, yet also pleased to keep my life.
I learned much of myself when I thought I was to die." Hovan looked
down at Steve, into the man's troubled eyes. "I learned that I was
stronger than I thought, ruhar, and