The Second Trial

Schroeder was feeling better. It seemed like only days after the end of the Hunter-Trial, another handful of his Venator children popped back out of the woodworks again. Excuses ranged from simple forgetfulness to being off waging war to waging war and being in a universe of a different time-flow to boot, but every one of them came back with heartfelt pleadings to be given a second chance.

He had been all to ready to agree, though Rhakarndi had taken some convincing. Though the yautja woman was amiable as far as her kind went and could be downright silly with Schroeder, and had grown to like and respect the dragons she had "mothered", her yautja ferocity and sense of dignity had come roaring back at the notion of giving the latecomers a second chance. Those who could not be punctual and remember and respect the deadline they had been given two years in advance, she'd said, did not deserve the chance.

It took him a while, but eventually Schroeder managed to change her mind. It helped that many of the latecomers had been, as mentioned, kept from coming due to being caught up in wars and other battles. She'd tried to set her foot down and say only those delayed by battle could try again, but Schroeder had managed to plead her into accepting everyone. They had, however, come to an agreement that all the latecomers would be forbidden the honored armor their on-time siblings had received, valid excuse for lateness or no. Schroeder had had to let Rhakarndi win on something, and that had been it. At least these had come back--there still remained others from whom nothing had been heard.

So a few weeks later, the invitations went out as before, calling everyone and their bonds to the ship to undergo the same ritual--except some of them knew about the android xenoqueen they would be facing, due to hearing about it from their Blooded siblings on the Huntermind.

And when all the tests had been given, once again, everyone passed. Samurnde, Chetande, and Osende did as they had done before, bathing their siblings' wounds and braiding their hair, and then they had been released.

Perhaps next time, this second chance wouldn't be necessary.