The Ashes of Worlds - Kevin J. Anderson [237]
Idriss and Alexa had welcomed their oldest daughter home after her escape from Basil Wenceslas, not worried about what she had done on Earth or what political entanglements the Hansa had dragged her into. Estarra was proud of her sister, knowing how she and Deputy Cain had worked to bring about the downfall of the Chairman.
Celli ran to her sisters wearing a garland of flowers. A sash made of lavender and peach lichens hung loosely around her narrow waist. “Only a few more hours. All the trees are focused on it — I can tell. You should hear the buzzing across telink.”
“Don’t the trees have anything more important to worry about?” Estarra teased.
“Not right now, and not to me.” Celli turned to her oldest sister. “Come on, Sarein — show some excitement! This is my big day.”
Sarein seemed embarrassed. “I am excited — honestly. I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”
“You’d better not.” Then Celli bounded off.
Estarra glanced at Sarein. “We’d like you to put on your ambassador’s robes for the occasion. It seems appropriate.”
“I’m not sure I should ever wear those again, considering.”
“Yes, you should.” Estarra lifted her chin regally, then broke into a smile. “Your Queen gives you permission to do so.”
She went off to extricate Peter from his political meetings, insisting that he take the time to prepare himself properly. When they were ready, they ascended to the bright sunshine of the canopy where everyone had gathered to watch the wedding of Celli and Solimar.
Estarra carried the baby against her chest in a cocoon-weave net, while Peter reclined next to her in a mesh chair. The purple-and-black butterflies were hatching again, and clouds of them swirled around like winged amethysts in the open breezes.
Celli and Solimar stood together on the interlocked branches, beaming. Their emerald skin was marked with new dye-tattoos to signify their training, their accomplishments, and their betrothal to each other. The couple looked extremely young, Estarra thought, but she realized that Celli was now nineteen, a year older than she herself had been when she’d married King Peter.
“They look so proud to be together,” Peter said, “as if they share one heart and one mind.”
“Through telink, they’ve already joined their thoughts and emotions.”
“We didn’t have that advantage.” He turned to her. “But I still would have chosen you, no doubt about it.”
As green priests, Celli and Solimar had come to their decision and announced it to the other green priests through telink. Their comrades already knew of their deep commitment, and so the two needed to say very little aloud for the marriage ceremony.
Instead, Celli and Solimar did what they had been born to do. Rejoicing in their abilities, glad to be alive and moving, they demonstrated the acrobatic skills they had learned from other master treedancers. Solimar leaped out to grab a high branch, swung himself around, and folded his legs until he dangled upside down, just as Celli jumped behind him. Solimar caught her with his downstretched arms and swung her up to the next branch, where she pirouetted, barely seeming to touch her toes to the wood.
As the audience cheered and applauded, Solimar launched himself after her, and the two continued a spontaneous yet perfectly choreographed chase through the canopy. Their exuberant dancing had once awakened a new spirit in the devastated worldforest. Now the verdani reciprocated, bowing branches, fanning fronds, taking part in the performance.
As she watched the exhilarating spectacle, Estarra basked in the sunshine. Around her, she saw her parents and other Therons sitting comfortably with Roamers, colonists, and even Hansa representatives. The baby in her arms was warm, solid, and alive. Theroc was lush and in bloom again, and Estarra could smell the flowers in the air.
* * *
166
Margaret Colicos
Alongside the Blind Faith, the Voracious Curiosity took