r of individuals that, despite
the war's heavy casualties, still made up the Traiti race. They'd help
ease the shock of his revelation, and even though Tarlac would be
spread thin imaging himself in so many places, he'd reinforce Ch'kara
himself.

He let his love enfold them as theirs had him, before he began to speak
to the Traiti race. "You all know of me, and you know I was a Ranger
of the Terran Empire. Your Speakers and Ship-Captains have told you
why I took the Ordeal and what I've become."

He paused, smiling. "What they didn't tell you, because they didn't
know, is what you are. That's a duty I'm glad to perform. The Lords
welcomed me to my heritage; let me welcome you to yours."

He paused again, extending his arms as if to embrace them all, and, as
Kranath had shown it to him, showed them their true homeworld. He
explained their origins and their rescue from Terra. "So," he
finished, "you are our relatives, by ancestry as Terran as I am. The
Empire has known as little of this as you have, but it will; and by its
laws, you're already Imperial citizens."

He felt their consternation at that, their unwillingness to believe
they could be part of what they'd fought for so long. Then some began
to realize the changes this revelation should bring, and he sensed
their first stirrings of real hope. Satisfied with that beginning, he
let his image and presence fade from all but two gathering halls, his
own and D'gameh's. At D'gameh, he addressed one of the males.
"Arjen?"

The Fleet-Captain, wearing brilliant blue-and-gold robes in-clan, bowed
deeply. To be name-called by such a one--! "Yes, Lord. How may I
serve you?"

Lord. Tarlac shrugged inwardly; it was his title now. "You did a
pretty nasty job for the Circle when you picked me up the way you did,
and I know how badly it upset you. We appreciate it, and I'd like to
ask something else of you that may make up for it, a little. May I?"

"Of course, Lord." This time it was Arjen who didn't know what was
going on but couldn't refuse.

"It'll mean cutting your leave short, I'm afraid. I'd like you to have
the Hermnaen ready for takeoff tomorrow morning, with just the ship
crew, no combat troops. You'll be carrying the human prisoners
instead, plus the Supreme, the First Speaker, my sponsor Hovan, and
myself."

"You, Lord?" Arjen knew he shouldn't question a god, but why would one
want to travel by ship?

Tarlac understood Arjen's ques