Scattered Suns - Kevin J. Anderson [99]
Sarein came quietly up to him in the shadows. Sensing his eldest sister’s approach, Beneto realized she had lost all of her natural feeling for the worldforest. She carried no lamp, not because she was trying to sneak up on her brother, merely to make sure that no one else noticed she had joined him.
“Beneto, I need to talk to you. I need to understand.”
“Yes, Sarein. You do.”
For days, he had been surrounded by former friends and amazed well-wishers. Now that he had issued the worldforest’s call, instructed them to disperse treelings as widely as possible, the exhausted people worked even harder, green priests volunteered to take treelings to other Hansa colonies, and everyone watched the skies for the return of the dreaded hydrogues.
Sarein had promised to assist by calling for Hansa ships—it was her obvious duty, and she understood how to accomplish that—but she had remained curiously apart from him. As if reluctant to believe his fantastic story, she watched the wooden image of her dead brother. She had spent too much time on Earth among businessmen and scientists, studying instead of accepting.
Now, at last, Sarein appeared before him ready to ask questions. He could feel that she was torn between two worlds: Born of Theroc, she longed to be on Earth, yet returned to her disaster-struck home, obligated to help.
With wood-grain eyes, he saw her perfectly well despite the darkness. Since he’d last seen her, when she’d departed for Earth, Sarein’s face had grown leaner, her expression harder. The responsibilities and stresses had been unkind to her, compared to the nurturing wilderness of Theroc. Beneto wondered if she regretted her bold choice to leave, to cut ties with her heritage. Perhaps she herself didn’t see the toll it had taken.
Now she looked at him, fighting an awe that was tinged with intimidation. “What are you? Really.”
“What do you see?”
“I see something that looks like my brother, but we have already grieved for his death. We lost Reynald, as well. Why did you come back?”
His limbs creaked and popped as he stood. “I am a son of Theroc. The worldforest that I so loved in life chose me, called me, recreated me so that I could be a clear voice for the verdani and, if necessary, a general in our war.” Beneto stepped closer to his sister. “The reason for my return is easily explained, Sarein. Yours, however, is not. You came back to Theroc, but the worldforest can see your feelings. We know that in your heart, you do not wish to be here. I, and the worldforest, can sense it in your soul.”
Sarein was flustered and confused. She had always been a no-nonsense person, and his mystical rebirth was out of her control. She crossed her arms over her breasts. “Coming back to Theroc seemed the right thing to do. I am the oldest surviving child of the ruling family. It is my responsibility.”
“You have been told to feel that way. You yourself do not believe it.”
She arched her eyebrows. “I see. Do you intend to take over as the next ruler here?”
“I have no interest in that.” Beneto paused just a moment before adding, “And neither do you.”
Sarein responded with an indignant expression, but they both knew it was an act. “What do you mean by that?”
“You know you don’t belong here. Your heart and mind lie elsewhere. It has always been so.”
“I’ve discussed my obligations at great length with Chairman Wenceslas.”
“The people of Theroc deserve someone whose roots go deep here. But you, Sarein, are a leaf in the wind, not an anchored tree.”
His sister looked away, clearly unsettled. “But...how can I not help Theroc? These are my people too.”
Beneto rested a warm wood-grained hand on her arm. “I mean no insult when I tell you this, Sarein. You are our ambassador to Earth. Truly, you will accomplish more for Theroc if you return to the Hansa