*Dorland kra'ith (acceptance) leader*
Warmth flooded over Paul.
'That was clear enough,' Paul said. 'She just nominated you to be the kra'ith leader.' He heard the pop-pop-pop of the grenade launcher from the roof, followed by the crackle of a carbine.
'They're moving in!' Selmer yelled from the corridor.
Doriand got up to stand directly in front of Elli. Something about his stance struck Paul as familiar. His mind conjured up a vision of Doriand on the stage, feet slightly apart, looking out at the audience . . .
'Kra'ith leader,' Paul murmured.
Doriand looked at him. 'What?'
'That's what you are.' He met Dorland's eyes.
'If Elli says you should be the new kra'ith leader, she probably knows what she's talking about. You're a psi- player.'
'A psi-player is not a kra'ith leader.'
'But it's close. Your psi-player skills came from your training for the Holy Order.' The concept cleared in his mind as he talked. 'Training that was aimed at enabling you to become a kra'ith leader.' 192 William Greenleaf
Dorland shook his head. 'My training was for leadership in the Holy Order.'
'It's the same thing,' Paul insisted. 'Haven't you noticed the similarities between what you do as a psi-player and High Elder Brill's Godsday service? Karyn told me that Brill helps people solve their problems. He does that to build up his own credibility, but he was still using Tal Tahir training. You do the same thing during your shows—you build up a self-confidence and make people feel better emotionally about problems they face, and with emotional strength they're able to solve their problems. That's what Elli was trying to do for us. She couldn't understand what we wanted from her, because her job is to heal emotional wounds in her own kra'ith.''
'Her . . . job?'
Paul nodded. 'She said that's why she exists. She wanted to help us all along, but she wasn't equipped to understand our problem. When we broadened the level of the kra'ith to include the entire planet, then she could help. She's part of that kra'ith.''1
*Eh-hli (Dorland/Paul) kra'ith leader*
Dorland looked at Elli for a long moment. Then:
'How can I become leader of the Clarion kra'ith?'
*(Dorland/Paul) is (group/touch) of kra'ith. (Dorland/Paul) influence kra'ith (members) with (strength) as kra'ith leader*
'Strength?' Paul repeated.
'Emotional strength,' Dorland said. 'But how can I get it to the people?' He turned back toward the open archway. 'The kra'ith is ... outside.' The last word was spoken softly, as if the answer had come to Dorland as the question left his mouth.
The grenade launcher barked again from the
outer corridor.
'Come with me,' Dorland said to Paul.
CLARION 193
'What—'
Dorland moved quickly to the archway. Selmer looked up in surprise as he stepped past. Before Paul could stop him, Dorland had ducked through the low opening and started down the narrow path. Paul started to follow, then jerked back as a hail of darts pelted the wall. Selmer was beside him, firing the carbine.
