Basil's pulse raced as he considered the idea, realizing how perceptive Sarein was. "I had hoped that investing you as ambassador would be all the leverage we needed, yet this new suggestion offers us a much more valuable coin. And one that's easily obtained."

"I wasn't sure how you'd react. King Peter is very handsome, you know, and close to my own age," she said, her voice coy. "Not that I'm disappointed in you, of course... but if I were to marry Peter and become his Queen, I'm certain I could accomplish everything on your agenda. The negotiations might be rather delicate, but we have enough determination to manage it."

"An excellent idea, Sarein. You and I should take a little diplomatic trip to Theroc sometime in the near future." He leaned over and kissed her. "But not you-not for a political marriage to King Peter."

He looked at her with a gleam in his eye, trying to assess whether his decision was a logical one, or if he was allowing his feelings to interfere. "No... it should be your sister Estarra."

21

ESTARRA

Atop the dense worldforest canopy, Estarra was sitting on the roof of the world. A clear blue sky ripe with sunlight spread to the hazy horizon. But as she let her imagination roam, she understood that Theroc's star was an insignificant flicker of light in the Spiral Arm, which was itself only a small portion of the Milky Way Galaxy, which was one of billions of similarly vast galaxies.

Beside her sat an older green priest, her silent companion in contemplation. Rossia was a loner, eccentric even among those who had devoted their lives to the worldforest. He perched like a bird on the end of the thinnest branch, letting the broad fanlike fronds balance him, not at all worried about falling.

Rossia's skin was a dark green from years of absorbing sunlight. His eyes were large and round, as if they might pop out of his skull as his gaze flicked from side to side, scanning the treetops and flowers and the flurry of insects. Estarra observed him and guessed his concern. "Watching for wyverns again?"

He turned to her. "They come at you out of a clear sky. You won't see them until it's too late." Self-consciously, he rubbed his palm along the hideous scar that covered most of one thigh, a disfigured crater that made him limp when he walked. Estarra shuddered to think of the jagged mandibles that had taken such a bite out of his leg. "I don't intend to give them a second chance." He turned his wide eyes back to the sky.

Wyverns were the most feared predators on Theroc, huge attackers with a broad crystalline wingspan, gemlike chitinous body armor, and scanning eyes that could lock onto any movement. But human flesh was not part of their normal diet, and purportedly bore a flavor offensive to the insect predators. After taking a bite, the displeased wyvern usually discarded the human victim from a great height, dropping him down to the trees.