The old woman turned to look at her protégée. “I have taught you well, Cesca. If only everyone else could be so clever.”

They sat in a comfortable silence until Cesca could no longer withhold her questions. “So you have heard the news? About the hydrogue emissary, and about… Jess and Golgen?”

Jhy Okiah nodded. “We did not bring this upon ourselves. Frederick was not our King. The Klikiss Torch was not our idea. But now, thanks to brash Jess Tamblyn, we are thoroughly involved in the conflict—no longer innocent bystanders.”

Cesca’s expression grew sterner. “We were involved from the outset, Speaker Okiah, when the hydrogues attacked the Blue Sky Mine. When they took Ross. When they murdered your grandson Berndt, and many many more. And now the aliens have issued an ultimatum against ekti harvesting, the very foundation of our economy! Jess’s comets had nothing to do with that.”

The old woman agreed. “True. And all of us will suffer… not just those closest to us, like your Ross or my dear Berndt. Even the farthest-flung Hansa colony worlds will feel the sting, since the ekti embargo will shut down interstellar travel. But, as usual, we Roamers will be hurt more than anyone else.”

103: BENETO

103BENETO

Inside their small but comfortable dwelling, Beneto observed the green priest Talbun closely—the deep weariness that clung to him, the eyes dark and nested in wrinkles, the way that age seemed to seep out of his emerald skin. Yet today the ancient man’s expression was bright and eager, sparkling with a youthful excitement that Beneto was seeing for the first time since he’d arrived on Corvus Landing two months earlier.

“I have showed you everything you need to understand here, Beneto,” Talbun said. “You have spoken to the mayor, met all the people, seen their work. With the assistance of the worldforest, you are as prepared as you will ever be.”

Beneto clasped the old green priest’s hand. “I feel very much at home, Talbun. Before long, I will come to love Corvus Landing as much as you do.” He swallowed hard, not wanting to shroud this moment with any veil of grief. “You are ready. I can tell. And so am I.”

All of the settlers in Colony Town had welcomed Beneto, accepting him without reservation. Mayor Hendy, the colony laborers, the businesspeople and their families went out of their way to emphasize how much they appreciated the younger priest’s willingness to settle there. They had feared that no one would replace Talbun, despite the old man’s repeated assurances that he would not leave the settlers—his surrogate family—without a telink contact.