Duty Bound by Steve Miller, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

 
     
    Pilot of Korval
     
    Dutiful Passage en route to Venture
    Standard Year 1339
     
    MASTER PILOT VEN'DUCCI sighed and folded his
hands on the practice board. By these signs, Er Thom knew himself
to be in desperate straits.
    "I had heard from Captain yos'Galan," the
master said quietly, "that you had achieved a level of skill equal
to that of a second class pilot, Perhaps I misunderstood?"
    Er Thom inclined his head respectfully. "In
fact, sir, I have achieved my second class license."
    The Master's eyebrows rose, as if in
astonishment. "Have you, indeed? Show it, of your kindness."
    Now he was in for it in truth. A short
series of keystrokes from the board at which they sat, and Master
ven'Ducci could transform the treasured second class license into a
mere third class--or into no license at all. Such was the power of
a master pilot.
    Still, it would reflect poorly on his
melant'i--and on the melant'i of the Captain his mother--if he were
seen to either flinch or hesitate in the face of this order. Er
Thom neither flinched nor hesitated, but pulled the card from its
slot in the practice board and held it out to his instructor in
fingers that were, amazingly, steady.
    Master ven'Ducci received the license
gravely and subjected it to a leisurely, frowning study, as if he
had never seen such a thing before. Er Thom folded his hands
forcibly in his lap and set his tongue between his teeth, lest he
be tempted to blurt out any of the defenses of his own skill that
were rising in his throat.
    Halflings defended before
they were attacked, and he, Er Thom yos'Galan, was not a halfling.
He was a pilot of Korval. Specifically, he was a second class pilot of
Korval, the license fairly earned on the same day that Daav his
foster-brother, boon comrade and fiercest competitor, received
his provisional second class.
    Master ven'Ducci finished his inspection and
laid the license on the edge of the board.
    "How came you by this?"
    Er Thom took a careful breath, and met the
man's eyes with what he hoped was grave calm.
    "I came by it at Solcintra Pilot's Hall, on
Banim-Seconday in the first relumma of the current year." He had
more than one cause to remember the day well, though very nearly a
full Standard Year had passed. Er Thom licked his lips, hands
stringently folded upon his knee.
    "Testing that day established me as a second
class pilot. Master Hopanik signed the license herself."
    "'Testing that day'," Master ven'Ducci
repeated. "Yes, I see."
    Er Thom felt his face heat,
his fingers tightening convulsively. He would be calm, he told himself
sternly. He would.
    Master ven'Ducci picked up Er Thom's license
and held it in his palm as if weighing it for merit.
    "It is sometimes the case," he said, in the
mode of instructor to student, "that the exhilaration of the test
itself will call forth heightened response from a candidate. The
results of such testings are not invalid so much as misleading. It
may well be, young sir, that your proper rating at this time is
second class provisional. It is certainly true that your results at
these boards, over the time we have been working together, falls
significantly short of the results one is accustomed to receive
from solid second class pilots."
    Er Thom bit his tongue, refusing to beg. If
he was a failure, if he lost his license this moment and spent the
rest of his life balancing cargo holds, he was yet the son of Chi
yos'Phelium --of Petrella yos'Galan. He would not shame his
Line.
    "So." Master ven'Ducci glanced at the
license and slid it into the pocket of his vest. Er Thom's stomach
twisted, but he sat still, and, gods willing, showed no
distress.
    "I will consider the proper course to chart
from this circumstance," the master pilot said. "Attend me here
tomorrow at the usual hour."
    "Yes, Master." Somehow, Er Thom managed to
stand, to make his bow and walk, calmly, from the inner bridge.
    He was scheduled for dinner this hour, and
his mother the Captain had made it plain during his first