“What have you been feeding him?” she asked. “He looks like he’s doubled in weight!”

Her mother’s expression puckered. “Is there something wrong with that? He’s a growing baby.”

Estarra cradled her son and looked into his bright eyes. They were brown, the natural color of Peter’s eyes, as well as her own. The child’s dark hair was already unruly.

She looked up at the magnificent worldtrees, some of which showed deep scorch wounds from the faeros flames. Now Theroc was abustle with Confederation representatives, Roamer workers, and visitors from Earth. Green priests sent excited messages back and forth to the interconnected colony worlds, disseminating news of all the positive changes. With the outpouring of support, much progress had been made in erecting a new ruling house — a combination of Roamer structure, fungus reef, and sturdy yet ornate Hansa architecture. The King and Queen felt it was important to show that the new Confederation was a synthesis of all parts of humanity.

Beside her, watching Estarra’s wistful expression as she surveyed the thick forest and the people, Sarein said, “It’s time for us to sink our roots deep.” She looked around with an expression of contentment and a hint of awe. “I never imagined I could miss this place so much.”

Idriss and Alexa had welcomed their oldest daughter home after her escape from Basil Wenceslas, not worried about what she had done on Earth or what political entanglements the Hansa had dragged her into. Estarra was proud of her sister, knowing how she and Deputy Cain had worked to bring about the downfall of the Chairman.

Celli ran to her sisters wearing a garland of flowers. A sash made of lavender and peach lichens hung loosely around her narrow waist. “Only a few more hours. All the trees are focused on it — I can tell. You should hear the buzzing across telink.”

“Don’t the trees have anything more important to worry about?” Estarra teased.

“Not right now, and not to me.” Celli turned to her oldest sister. “Come on, Sarein — show some excitement! This is my big day.”

Sarein seemed embarrassed. “I am excited — honestly. I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”

“You’d better not.” Then Celli bounded off.

Estarra glanced at Sarein. “We’d like you to put on your ambassador’s robes for the occasion. It seems appropriate.”

“I’m not sure I should ever wear those again, considering.”

“Yes, you should.” Estarra lifted her chin regally, then broke into a smile. “Your Queen gives you permission to do so.”

She went off to extricate Peter from his political meetings, insisting that he take the time to prepare himself properly. When they were ready, they ascended to the bright sunshine of the canopy where everyone had gathered to watch the wedding of Celli and Solimar.

Estarra carried the baby against her chest in a cocoon-weave net, while Peter reclined next to her in a mesh chair. The purple-and-black butterflies were hatching again, and clouds of them swirled around like winged amethysts in the open breezes.

Celli and Solimar stood together on the interlocked branches, beaming. Their emerald skin was marked with new dye-tattoos to signify their training, their accomplishments, and their betrothal to each other. The couple looked extremely young, Estarra thought, but she realized that Celli was now nineteen, a year older than she herself had been when she’d married King Peter.

“They look so proud to be together,” Peter said, “as if they share one heart and one mind.”

“Through telink, they’ve already joined their thoughts and emotions.”

“We didn’t have that advantage.” He turned to her. “But I still would have chosen you, no doubt about it.”

As green priests, Celli and Solimar had come to their decision and announced it to the other green priests through telink. Their comrades already knew of their deep commitment, and so the two needed to say very little aloud for the marriage ceremony.

Instead, Celli and Solimar did what they had been born to do. Rejoicing in their abilities, glad to be alive and moving, they demonstrated the acrobatic skills they had learned from other master treedancers. Solimar leaped out to grab a high branch, swung himself around, and folded his legs until he dangled upside down, just as Celli jumped behind him. Solimar caught her with his downstretched arms and swung her up to the next branch, where she pirouetted, barely seeming to touch her toes to the wood.

As the audience cheered and applauded, Solimar launched himself after her, and the two continued a spontaneous yet perfectly choreographed chase through the canopy. Their exuberant dancing had once awakened a new spirit in the devastated worldforest. Now the verdani reciprocated, bowing branches, fanning fronds, taking part in the performance.

As she watched the exhilarating spectacle, Estarra basked in the sunshine. Around her, she saw her parents and other Therons sitting comfortably with Roamers, colonists, and even Hansa representatives. The baby in her arms was warm, solid, and alive. Theroc was lush and in bloom again, and Estarra could smell the flowers in the air.

166

Margaret Colicos

Alongside theBlind Faith, theVoracious Curiosity took off from the sprawling Klikiss hive city on Llaro. The fully repairedCuriosity lifted into the air, her engines sounding like a sigh of relief.

Margaret watched the two ships go with a bittersweet feeling, uneasy at being left behind with the Klikiss again, though it was what she had requested. Anton stayed with her, looking somewhat uncertain about his decision, too.

The Klikiss workers, engineers, and scientists had used their technical skills to repair the damagedCuriosity, guided by the Davlin-breedex, who had now established complete and clear control of the remainder of the species. When Captain Kett had brought her two passengers to Llaro, she’d been skeptical at first about letting the bugs do all the repair work, but when it was finished, she was quite pleased to discover that her ship’s systems were as good as new. The two captains flew away to meet their other obligations for the Confederation.

Margaret saw her son looking nervously at the thousands of clattering workers, high-crested warriors, and tiger-striped domates. “Don’t worry, Anton, the Klikiss won’t harm us. Not now.”

“How could I argue with you? You’ve got more experience with the Klikiss than anyone in history.”

“Are you just trying to convince yourself?”

He swallowed hard. “Yes. Yes, I am.”

Margaret and Anton had brought their own supplies, and the breedex provided a hive tower for them to use as a temporary residence. After Rlinda and BeBob departed, she and her son settled in and began their work. They felt awkward at first, mostly about being together, but quickly formed a workable partnership. They grew closer than they had ever been. Margaret told him stories about his father, and Anton described his years of dealing with university politics and how he’d been accepted among the Ildirans to translate theirSaga of Seven Suns. And he also talked a lot about Vao’sh.