Hidden Empire - Kevin J. Anderson [90]
As she waited for her visitor, Sarein checked her appearance and practiced her smile. She adjusted the ambassadorial robe Otema had presented to her, then rubbed the Terran bracelets Basil had given her as a token of his esteem for the Theron people, and as a lover's parting gift.
On schedule, Otema entered, moving with silent footsteps, and Sarein rose to greet her. The woman looked so old! Her skin was a deep green like night at the bottom of the forest, and it had a dry hardness about it, like wood. She wore only the most minimal garb of a green priest and no ornamentation.
Noting the ambassadorial robe Sarein wore, Otema appeared troubled. The status lines and achievement marks stained into her face furrowed, like dotted lines indicating where wrinkles would go. Sarein wondered if the former ambassador already missed the amenities and culture on Earth.
Sarein pretended not to notice her predecessor's pensive mood. "You have been gone for so many years, Otema, that we never got to know each other well." She poured clee for the old woman, who accepted the cup. "Before I depart for my new duties on Earth, I thought we should have a brief talk." Sarein smiled, not meaning her words but required to say them nevertheless. "With all your experience, you must have much advice for me in dealing with the Hansa?"
"I will share my thoughts with you," Otema said stiffly and slowly, "though I am not convinced you are willing to hear."
Sarein tried not to frown at the rebuff, drinking her hot beverage. "Surely you are not disappointed to return to the worldforest, Otema? You have earned it after your years of service."
"The worldforest is always a balm to human weariness, regardless of what brewing troubles the trees may see that we do not. No, I am not disappointed to be back on Theroc. I am disappointed in you, Ambassador Sarein." She used the title like an insult, and finally sat down with great reluctance. "And I am afraid of what damage you will cause."
Sarein chuckled lightly, treating it as a joke. "You should give me a chance to prove myself, Otema. I have studied on Earth, and I am familiar with their cultures and practices. In fact, I probably understand the politics and commerce of the Hansa as well as you." If not better, she thought to herself.
Otema scowled. "You are an intelligent girl, Sarein, and I would never doubt your ability to understand." She took a long sip of her drink and paused, eyes closed, visibly absorbing the energy the ground worldtree seeds gave her. The green in her skin seemed to grow more vibrant.
"However, I hope your understanding extends to the delicacy of the Theron position. It is easy to be contemptuous or forgetful of where you have spent your life. An impatient child might consider our ways uninteresting or dull, but do not let the lure of gaudy treasures distract you from what is truly important. Such flowers are bright and colorful, but they bloom only briefly. Roots, on the other hand, go deep and provide stability for a long time."
Sarein wanted to make a rude noise, but restrained herself. Instead, she nodded sagely. "A very important point, Otema. I thank you for your insight."
Basil had talked with her about how frustrating Otema could be. Without emotion or rancor, the old ambassador had deflected all Hansa attempts to achieve even the slightest control over the green priests. Basil knew not to cross the "Iron Lady," because Otema would not budge.
Under Sarein, though, many things would change.
Outside in the jungle, two mating birds flew about squawking, rustling the leaves and disturbing a cloud of jewel-shelled insects. Otema seemed distracted, as if worried about deeper problems than an ambitious young ambassador to Earth. "The trees have much knowledge—and