emory--instead, represent his Empire
at his leavetaking."

"What the hell-- You mean that, don't you?" Dr. Jason didn't want to
believe it, but the Traiti's soft voice, the way he still cradled the
Ranger's head, wouldn't allow disbelief. "You're sorry he died!"

"I cared for him, yes," Hovan said. "His death is a thing of much
sadness, yet he went to it in full honor, and in his clan. None can
expect more from the Lords." He stood, picking up Steve's slight body.
"Will you honor him with us?"

"I . . . yes. You're right. Someone from the Empire should be there."

"Good." Hovan turned and left the gathering hall, taking Steve's body
to a small room nearby to carry out a sponsor's most distasteful duty--
of preparing the one he sponsored, when that one succumbed, for
Presentation and Transformation. The preparations he had been so sure
would not be needed had of course been made; the room held what was
required. A large table held a container of water with cloths beside
it, and the Ranger's uniform was hanging up.

Hovan stripped the body and began to wash it, working as gently as if
the man could still feel. Then he dressed Steve Tarlac in the forest
green of his Imperial rank, leaving the shirt open to show the man's
wounds.

Finished, he inspected the body carefully. Yes, everything was proper.
The uniform was spotless, the badge and leather items polished to a
high gloss, the gun fully charged. His ruhar would go before the Lords
as a Cor'naya of Ch'kara should. He picked up the body again and
returned to the foot of the altar dais.

The Supreme, the First Speaker, and Dr. Jason were no longer on the
newly-cleaned dais. Transformation was a clan matter; they could
observe, but not participate. Instead, Ka'ruchaya Yarra and Speaker
Daria were there. Hovan bowed his head to them, then looked up and
spoke the ritual words. "I bring Esteban Tarlac of Clan Ch'kara to the
Circle of Lords. He has given honor to the clan."

"We sorrow at his loss," Yarra said, "yet we glory in that honor." She
turned to the Speaker. "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. While it was the Ka'ruchaya's
choice, tradition suggested that the oldest male p