Anderson, Kevin J - Saga of the Seven Suns 05 - Of Fire and Night by Anderson Kevin J

Author:Anderson, Kevin J [Anderson, Kevin J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science-fiction
ISBN: 9780316021739
Publisher: Orbit
Published: 2007-11-01T08:02:33+00:00

73

KOLKER

When the green priest climbed to the top of the Prism Palace's domed towers, he could almost imagine sitting in the worldforest canopy on Theroc. The warm light of multiple suns drizzled on his emerald skin like melted butter.

But since the treeling had been snatched from his grasp in the Mage-Imperator's chamber, nothing could bring him joy. He'd lost his only possible connection to the worldforest. The treeling was dead. The Mage-Imperator was truly a monster, and some further treachery was brewing.

Overhead the sky was crisscrossed with exhaust trails from warliners and construction ships. Hundreds of craft moved in a frenzy of activity; the whole population of Ildira seemed to be involved in a massive effort. Streamers flew intricate maneuvers in tight groups; normally, Ildirans would have applauded the skyparades, but now they threw their full energies into their tasks. High in orbit, Tals Lorie'nh and Tae'nh had already begun to organize the Solar Navy warliners that would be dispatched to Earth as part of the hydrogue ambush.

Sullivan, Tabitha, and most of the captive Hansa skyminers had been put to work. The green priest had never felt so adrift, so disconnected.

Without being invited, the old lens kithman joined him in companionable silence. Kolker wasn't sure if their meeting was happenstance, or if Tery'l had intentionally sought him out. They both stared at the forest of crystal buildings.

Though Kolker wanted to be left in peace, he also longed for conversation. He just couldn't decide how to speak with this strange hyper-religious Ildiran. Without thinking, he blurted, "I'm lonely. I've never been so lonely."

"I am not. I never am." The old man stared with milky eyes into the sky, though the sunlight was so bright that the green priest could not bear to look without blinking. "At my age, the eyes grow foggy. My sight is dimming, and I must gaze directly at the suns just to take the light into me. However, the Lightsource remains bright inside me. The soul-threads keep me warm and content." With a gnarled hand, he clasped the reflective medallion at his throat. "It makes me sad that you cannot feel the thism, friend Kolker. If you could touch us all, connect through the mental web, you would never feel lonely."

Kolker turned away. "I know what would make me feel less lonely, and it isn't your thism." Though he was hungry for any sort of conversation, he found it hard to relate to someone so self-satisfied.

Sensing he was unwelcome, the lens kithman slowly got to his feet like a poorly maintained piece of antique machinery. "You would not think that way if you understood more about what I was saying."

Kolker sighed. Since the old man was there anyway, he decided he might as well listen. Maybe he could get his mind off his problems. "Wait, stay. I'm your captive audience." The green priest could not keep the bitterness out of his tone. All he could think of was the lost treeling. "Go ahead."

And so Tery'l began to explain.

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