Hidden Empire - Kevin J. Anderson [126]
Raymond shrugged into a plush crimson robe that seemed to warm instantly as he wrapped it around himself. In spite of his doubts, he found his new situation to be an acceptable change from his previous life.
57 TALBUN
The worldtrees were uneasy, deeply aware of some brewing problem in the Spiral Arm, but cosmic fears could not always be understood by the followers and tenders of the worldforest. As always, the forest knew more than any human could understand, even a dedicated green priest.
Such grand-scale matters rarely bothered the distant colony worlds, though. Daily life here was slow and quiet, filled with contentment.
On sparsely populated Corvus Landing, the old green priest Talbun knew it was time to end his work and his life. Through the thrumming worldforest, he sensed that great events were brewing, terrible times ahead for many worlds and many people.
Talbun, however, was more concerned with his personal obligations.
As he walked among the rustling worldtrees that covered a hillside near the settlement of Colony Town, Talbun listened to the call of faraway Theroc—the center of the worldforest, the heart of the trees. He had not been home for decades. The treelings he had planted on the ridge overlooking the town now stood taller than a man, a satellite mind of the sentient forest. He would never return to the beautiful world where he had been born and raised, where he had first taken the green. But that was all right.
Corvus Landing depended on him, and Talbun loved this place. He would not abandon the people, no matter how tired he was, no matter how old and frail he felt. Talbun's life had been devoted to service, praying to and caring for the worldtrees; by association, he also watched over the people who served the forest. He would not surrender to his selfish desire.
Not yet.
Talbun stroked the scaly trunk of the nearest tree in his grove, receiving the whispered thoughts of the forest. "I will join you soon," he whispered. He would die here on Corvus Landing. His flesh would fertilize the soil and nourish the worldtrees, his final service to the beloved forest. "But first I need to find a replacement."
Talbun had only to send a call, and all green priests, anyone who could touch the mind of the worldforest, would sense his message. So why did he hesitate?
Many tattoos marked his face, lines and circles that commemorated his journeys, signifying how much time he had spent aboard ships. Talbun had served on the Constellation, traveling from system to system and performing Hansa business. Talbun's connection with the trees allowed him to send emergency communications and diplomatic communiqués faster than any starship or signal could travel. Not every message required such speed, of course, but having a green priest onboard conferred a great deal of prestige on the captain and his ambassador partner.
After five years on the diplomatic ship, Talbun had resigned. He had earned his tattoos and was not growing anymore. "I must be on a planet again. I am tired of metal walls and reprocessed air, of looking out the window and seeing only emptiness." He tried to make the Constellation 's captain understand. "I long to feel the dirt beneath my feet, the air against my face, wind and rain and sunshine."
Green priests were not controlled by Hansa law, despite numerous efforts to bring independent Theroc under their rule. Upon resigning from the Constellation, Talbun had instantly received a thousand offers for his services, but he already had in his mind and his heart what he wanted to do.
It had been only three years since the first settlers had established a foothold here. Talbun had come to Corvus Landing. With his credentials, he could have requested any assignment in the Spiral Arm—yet the bucolic planet called to him. He was not interested in accolades.