Metal Swarm - Kevin J. Anderson [10]
In a soothing voice, Sarein said, 'Considering our situation, maybe I should go to Theroc and talk to my sister. I could try to build bridges, reach some sort of peaceful solution. Would it be so bad for you to retire gracefully, if the King agreed to abdicate, too?'
Basil looked at her as if she had already betrayed him. 'On the other hand, I might offer amnesty if they overthrow Peter and deliver him to us for appropriate punishment.'
Four
King Peter
The last verdani battleship lifted into the clear Theron sky, guided by a former green priest whose body had fused into the heartwood. King Peter watched the departure with his wife from a broad, open balcony of the fungus-reef city - his new capital. From alcoves and windows of the white-walled organic structure, and across the forest floor, crowds cheered and waved farewell to the breathtaking mass of branches and thorns.
Estarra held his arm, tears streaming down her cheeks, though she was also smiling. 'Now we're on our own.'
'Not exactly “on our own.” We have the whole Confederation - all the Roamer clans, the orphaned colonies.' Peter held her close, feeling the swell of her pregnancy against him. 'Just not the Hansa. Not yet. But they'll come around.'
'Do you think the Chairman will ever resign?'
'No. But that won't stop us from winning.'
The thorny treeship rose higher and higher on its journey to orbit. The verdani battleships had helped humanity defeat the hydrogues, and now the group of many-branched living vessels would drift through open space, spreading across the Galaxy. With their great power, the treeships could face off against titanic enemies, but that form of strength did little good on the battleground of human politics. Peter and Estarra had to face the next challenge themselves. The treeship dwindled in the distance.
Warm sunlight dappled the airy platforms and balconies of the fungus-reef, and the breezes carried a thousand forest scents from damp fronds, bright epiphytes, and dazzling flowers filled with perfume and nectar. The worldtrees whispered a gentle lullaby. To Peter Theroc was even more beautiful than Estarra had promised.
A regular stream of visitors had been arriving on the planet, eager to join the Confederation. Everyone claimed to have brilliant ideas for the new government, for the constitution, for revenues and taxation, for a new system of laws. Green priests passed messages around the breakaway colonies, promoting the new government. Many displaced groups of humanity had waited for a long time to tear free of the barbed wire of the Hansa. Peter offered them a viable alternative, and many placed their faith in him. It was up to him to show that he was indeed the leader they wanted and needed.
Chairman Wenceslas had worked hard to transform him from a young street scamp into a figurehead ruler. Now, the Hansa had to accept what they had created. More than ever before, Peter - needed to act like a King - to be a King. When he looked at all the people who came to volunteer their skills and resources, and offer their loyalty to his new Confederation, Peter knew that he and Estarra had absolutely made the right choice. The Confederation was still being formed, and many details of its bureaucratic infrastructure were in flux. Breaking away from the Hansa was actually the easy part.
OX walked out onto the sunny balcony platform carrying platters of refreshments and leading several people who had arrived to discuss competing needs and expectations. Although the Teacher compy was far too sophisticated to serve as a mere butler, since purging most of his stored personal memories, he retained little of the personality that Peter had known. Still, Peter felt a strong loyalty to the compy and knew he would one day prove invaluable again. After all, OX was