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Peter considered the dramatically changed situation between the Hansa and the Confederation, the Therons and Roamers, even the Ildirans. Now they had learned that Mage-Imperator

Jora'h himself was on his way to Theroc on some sort of embassy.

News of the horrible Dobro breeding programme, delivered via the green priests, had rattled Peter. On their visit to Mijistra, he and Estarra had liked Mage-Imperator Jora'h, and had given him a treeling for his Prism Palace. Having heard Nira's story, though, what was Peter to think? Perhaps it would be a good thing for them to meet face to face after all. He had hoped the Ildirans might become the Confederation's allies.

The Mage-Imperator could have gone to Chairman Wenceslas, but he had chosen Theroc. That would send a clear signal to the Hansa. But what if the Ildiran leader was no more trustworthy than Basil? Peter refused to believe that.

‘We didn't know the scope of what we were getting into when we started all this, Estarra,' He picked up a green seedpod that popped in his mouth when he bit down. 'Oh, I had my training, and years of experience as King - as much experience as Basil would let me have - but did we jump off a cliff? And did all those people just follow me blindly?‘

‘With enough people, we can manage to catch each other,' Estarra said. ‘We knew we had to break from the Hansa, to get free from the Chairman. You have the best possible experts to help you.'

‘Yes, King Peter,' OX said. ‘You do. All of the details, consequences, and legal implications that decide the actions of a planet or planets - those are what leadership is about. You must answer many questions: How loose or tight should the Confederation be? Is it a mutual support society, or an actual union? Should the orphaned Hansa worlds be treated as a unit or as individuals? It seems logical that each colony send its own representative, since each one has its own needs.'

Estarra agreed. ‘Starting a new government is like starting a new family, both as king and as a husband. You do things you never expected to do, but you step up anyway. The human race is counting on us.‘

He stroked her arm. ‘For now at least, everyone has the same ideal, and we can all agree on the broad points.' Peter stared at the afternoon sun reflecting shimmers of green as it cut through the canopy.

‘Keep your focus on what matters.' Estarra winced as a twinge of pain crossed her abdomen.

‘Is something wrong?'

‘No, this is exactly how it should be - according to my mother, the green priests, and everyone else I've talked to.' She breathed quickly, concentrated, and calmed herself. ‘I'm going to be having our baby in another couple of weeks, Peter. It's not supposed to be completely effortless.'

He held her. ‘I wish I could do something.'

‘You already did. I'll concentrate on having this baby. You concentrate on ironing out the wrinkles in the government.'

‘It's not that simple, Estarra.'

‘Neither is childbirth, but we get through it. Remember, if the leaders are good, and the people themselves are good, then it'll all work out.'

‘Tell that to Basil.'

‘He'll have to live with his own decisions. You and I, and the Confederation representatives, have to decide what to do now.'

‘Having a choice is a lot better than having a decision handed tome.' »

The Teacher compy poured from a carafe of epiphyte juices mixed according to a recipe that Estarra's grandmother had concocted. Peter proposed a toast. ‘No matter what we choose, we're better off than we were under the thumb of the Hansa Chairman.'

They both drank to that.

One hundred and six

Deputy Chairman Eldred Cain

Fear made the population of Earth easy to manipulate, and Chairman Wenceslas took advantage of every weak mind, I swayed every conscience. The re-energized Archfather continued to fan the flames of religious fervour. Selling the Klikiss as demons was an easy feat - and once the reaction began, the public accepted the next conclusion and the next. Some of