The young man's voice was sharp. "Jora'h is the one who lies, as did Mage-Imperator Cyroc'h before him. The thism thism is tangled and ragged, but Rusa'h has seen the true path. He will lead the Ildiran people to the plane of the Lightsource." is tangled and ragged, but Rusa'h has seen the true path. He will lead the Ildiran people to the plane of the Lightsource."

"So you say." Udru'h remained coolly skeptical, but not confrontational. "Are you aware that one of the seven suns is in peril? Durris-B has become a battleground for the hydrogues and faeros and is sure to be smothered soon."

Thor'h obviously did not know, but he covered his surprise quickly with a haughty expression. "More evidence that the Lightsource has turned against my father. He must step down. Imperator Rusa'h can bring all Ildirans back to the proper path."

Designate-in-waiting Daro'h-Thor'h's brother-stood nearby in the colony's communications chamber, striving to mask his anxiety. He observed the interaction without interrupting, learning from the Designate. But his star-sapphire eyes flashed from Udru'h, to the image of the warliner, to Thor'h's mocking face.

From the moment Daro'h came to this planet, saw the breeding camps and learned of the hitherto unsuspected long-term mission to save the Ildiran race, he had struggled to understand and to accept. Making matters worse for Udru'h was that the Mage-Imperator had had such an open dispute with him over the Dobro scheme. However, the young Designate-in-waiting, to his credit, had tried his best to absorb details and fulfill his duty.

Unfortunately, the young man had never been prepared for such an unbelievable situation as this. And neither had Udru'h, but if he did not handle it, no one here would survive.

"I can see why Rusa'h believes I might be willing to join his cause. It's no secret that I disagree with many of Jora'h's decisions. He breaks with long-established traditions for his own convenience and has a personal grudge against my long-standing work here on Dobro."

"Merely a symptom of the decay in his Empire."

"That may be, nephew, but you are not making a very convincing argument for me to join your rebellion. How far has Rusa'h's movement spread?"

"Hyrillka has been entirely converted, and we have forty-six warliners at our command. The Adar himself is our prisoner. By now, Dzelluria will have joined us, and either the Designate or his successor has accepted the new thism thism willingly." Thor'h leaned closer in the imaging field. "The Imperator dispatched me here to see if you would do the same. An alliance would be most beneficial for all of us." willingly." Thor'h leaned closer in the imaging field. "The Imperator dispatched me here to see if you would do the same. An alliance would be most beneficial for all of us."

"An alliance must be voluntary." Udru'h did not allow himself to be intimidated. "Will Imperator Rusa'h force me if I refuse?"

"Because of your bloodline, Uncle, we cannot force you-not with all the shiing on Hyrillka." Thor'h flashed a hungry grin. "But perhaps I can make my case to your satisfaction. We do have much in common."

Seeing his only legitimate response, aware that even the one warliner could level his settlement and destroy the breeding camps and generations of work, the Dobro Designate nodded. "I will listen if I must. Give me evidence of Jora'h's crimes and errors, and tell me what Rusa'h will do differently."

Young Daro'h looked at his mentor in horror. "What are you doing? We cannot surrender-"

Udru'h answered as much for Thor'h's benefit as for the trainee's: "One does not make decisions without first gathering all the information." He turned back to the screen. "First, Prime Designate, I suggest you shut down your weaponry and return to orbit, where you will be less provocative. We all know how much devastation your weapons can cause; there's no need to further intimidate the people here."

"Why should I weaken my position?" Thor'h demanded.

Udru'h smiled at him, treating him as a child. "Because once your warliner stands down from its threatening posture, I will be happy to come up there and speak with you face-to-face. Is that not what you want?"

The Prime Designate gave a mean little smile. "Excellent."

While the warliner withdrew to space and gave Dobro a little breathing room, the Designate-in-waiting continued to protest, as Udru'h had known he would.

"You saw that warliner, Daro'h. We know that Rusa'h has already attempted to assassinate the Mage-Imperator, and he did kill Designate-in-waiting Pery'h. If the Hyrillka Designate has seized a maniple of ships and is already attacking Dzelluria, then I doubt he would hesitate to do the same here. He has demonstrated a certain...bloody resolve. I will not treat this as an empty threat. I needed to buy time. We must play our roles carefully, and our only chance now is through negotiation and delay."

The younger man paced the floor, frowning, his eyes confused and hurt, but he heard the wisdom in his mentor's voice.

Within an hour, the threatening warliner dispatched a shuttle, which carried the Dobro Designate up into the maw of the ship. Udru'h rode in silence, studying the seven clearly brainwashed soldier kithmen, all of whom wore Solar Navy uniforms. How had Rusa'h managed to capture so many warliners? If Adar Zan'nh was being held hostage, was he being converted as well?

He sifted through his thoughts, trying to formulate a strategy. He doubted the revolt could ever succeed, but if he saw indications of unexpected strength from the Hyrillka Designate, perhaps it would be best to keep his loyalties vague, just in case. He would wait and hear what the rebels had to offer.

Clinging to the key fact Thor'h had unwittingly let slip-that a Designate's cooperation could not be forced-Udru'h stepped out of the shuttle when it landed, and straightened his uniform shirt. He had little use for formal attire or fine designs, but knowing how much Thor'h enjoyed pomp and ceremony, he had intentionally worn formal dress. More soldiers ushered him up to the command nucleus. There on the dais that had been reserved for the Adar, Thor'h stood preening himself.

Udru'h stepped casually close to his lanky nephew. "A rebellion against the Empire does not seem to be a wise course of action. Perhaps you had best explain yourself?"

Thor'h quickly and passionately repeated what Rusa'h claimed to have seen in visions during his sub-thism sleep. "We are not rising up against the Ildiran Empire-only against the Mage-Imperator, whose leadership is deeply flawed." sleep. "We are not rising up against the Ildiran Empire-only against the Mage-Imperator, whose leadership is deeply flawed."

"Your father."

"You know he is weak. Imperator Rusa'h will be a stronger ruler."

Udru'h shrugged. "That may be so, but whatever his flaws, Jora'h is the rightful Mage-Imperator."

"Is he?" The Prime Designate produced a stack of diamondfilm documents that displayed detailed scientific results. "The previous Mage-Imperator died suddenly and unexpectedly at the height of this crisis. We were able to obtain a cellular sample from the handler kithmen who prepared Cyroc'h's body. This tissue analysis proves that the Mage-Imperator died from a massive dose of poison. Jora'h then eagerly ascended to become our leader."

Udru'h glanced curiously at the diamondfilm sheets as Thor'h continued: "Mere moments after Cyroc'h's death, his loyal bodyguard Bron'n was found dead, his crystal spear thrust through his heart. Jora'h was the only person present. You may draw only one conclusion from this."

Even the Dobro Designate could not believe these implications. "This is...astounding. Are you saying that Jora'h murdered our father in order to become Mage-Imperator?"

Thor'h nodded toward the diamondfilm sheets. "The evidence states as much. We have already brought Hyrillka and Dzelluria into our fold, and now we wish Dobro to join this uprising. It is a revolution, for Rusa'h has seen the truth. Jora'h is fundamentally corrupted. Therefore he cannot accurately read the thism thism."

Udru'h crossed his arms over his uniformed chest again. "How can I be certain that Rusa'h's visions are not delusions caused by his injuries? That seems a more likely explanation."

Thor'h was growing more and more upset with his uncle's continued questions and skepticism. The Solar Navy soldiers in the command nucleus glowered at him. Udru'h knew full well these people were willing to murder him if it seemed that Designate-in-waiting Daro'h might be easier to break.

Finally, Thor'h relaxed. "Imperator Rusa'h said that you would ask such a question. Therefore, he gave me proof to demonstrate that he knows how to follow the soul-threads to the wisdom of the Lightsource."

"Parlor tricks will not convince me."

"While he was in sub-thism sleep, Rusa'h had many revelations." Thor'h's voice turned strange and mysterious, and Udru'h's skin began to crawl. "He knows the secret you are keeping, Uncle. A certain green priest...a woman, my father's lover. The false Mage-Imperator believes she is dead, and he has already mourned her-but you know she is still alive. You are hiding her." sleep, Rusa'h had many revelations." Thor'h's voice turned strange and mysterious, and Udru'h's skin began to crawl. "He knows the secret you are keeping, Uncle. A certain green priest...a woman, my father's lover. The false Mage-Imperator believes she is dead, and he has already mourned her-but you know she is still alive. You are hiding her."

A lance of ice shot down Udru'h's spine. "How does he know this?"

"The same way he received all of his revelations. Do not doubt him."

Udru'h scrambled to gain more time. "Thor'h, you are asking me to betray all the trust and loyalties I have developed during my life. If Rusa'h truly wishes me to join him voluntarily and not under duress, then you must give me time to consider what you have shown me, so that I may make my decision."

"The answer is clear. Why do you hesitate?"

Udru'h stepped up to the command nucleus rail, standing immediately in front of Thor'h. "Maybe it's clear to you you, but as you have reminded me several times, the rest of us no longer see the truth as clearly." His voice became biting. "You ask me to join you willingly, and yet you come here with a fully armed warliner to make your case. Since you yourself do not seem confident in the strength of your 'proof,' then I grow suspicious of your argument."

Thor'h sniffed, obviously impatient that Udru'h had not buckled. "I bring this warliner because it encourages you to listen with an open mind."

Udru'h remembered when the Prime Designate had been a spoiled boy who loved his golden life on Hyrillka. "My nephew does not need to issue threats before I will listen to him. And so I have listened. Now let me think about what you said."

"Time is short." Thor'h leaned to within a handsbreadth of his face, as if he could intimidate the Designate. "Why should I not just seize you as a hostage? I could forcibly take over this minor splinter colony."

Inwardly growing more and more irritated, Udru'h gestured vaguely toward the warliner's controls. "You could easily attack and destroy Dobro. Using brute force, Rusa'h could subdue the population, break them to his will. But unlike most splinter colonies, my settlement is full of half-breeds and human captives. Rusa'h could never control that population with shiing or with his new thism thism. You need me for that."

Thor'h fidgeted, impatient and uncertain, but he could not argue with Udru'h. "So what do you propose? I have been ordered to convince you in any way possible. I will not disappoint the Imperator."

Udru'h strung his young nephew along, making silent calculations in his mind. He drove a hard bargain. "Then this is how you will accomplish it. Let me consider what you offer and the consequences if I refuse. Within ten days I will present myself to Hyrillka willingly and deliver my answer."

"Ten days is impossible."

Udru'h barked, "I will not be treated like an attender kithman to be herded to his task! Do you want my cooperation or not? Once I have had time to consider, I will speak directly with Rusa'h-but only at the appointed time."

Thor'h scowled. "You will never come. It is a trick."

"I give you my word, Prime Designate. I am a son of a Mage-Imperator! Surely you could sense if I am lying?" Udru'h stood tall, his face stony. "Or are you unable, since you are no longer in touch with the same thism thism? A pity."

Not knowing the extent of Thor'h's strange new mental network, Udru'h focused his thoughts, brought forth all the mental discipline techniques he had developed. Over the past year, he had learned how to mask his feelings and his memories whenever he stood before Jora'h, and he had managed to hide certain secrets, especially about Nira.

"Five days," Thor'h insisted. "You can have five days-and then you must be at Hyrillka, or else I will come back to destroy Dobro."

The Prime Designate stared at him for a drawn-out moment, and Udru'h remained still, his expression firm. Finally Thor'h turned his sharp gaze away. "Yes, I can sense you are telling the truth. If I must make a minor concession in order to gain Dobro as a willing ally, then Imperator Rusa'h would agree."

The guards in the command nucleus looked disappointed, but Thor'h ordered them to escort Udru'h back to the shuttle. "I will hold you to your promise, Uncle. If you betray us, we will return with our warliners-and we will not negotiate."

"I will come to Hyrillka exactly as I said I would." Udru'h kept his face placid, while his mind raced ahead, trying to see a way out of the trap he had just set for himself.

Chapter 43-OSIRA'H.

For several days, the Mage-Imperator's eldest daughter took the troubled but excited Osira'h under her wing at the Prism Palace. Yazra'h's three Isix cats prowled alongside as the two half sisters walked through the city.

Everything amazed the young girl, who had previously seen nothing beyond the dry hills and arroyos of Dobro, except in secondhand memories from her mother. The sensory whirlpool of Mijistra's sounds and colors and tastes and smells swirled around Osira'h. Soaring and majestic buildings gave her a new appreciation for the grandeur of the Ildiran Empire and showed her what she was supposed to be fighting for, why she must fulfill her destiny, even though she knew there were many dark and sinister corners under the seven suns.

Four days earlier, the Hansa's King Peter and Queen Estarra had departed without learning of the hydrogue-faeros battle inside Durris-B. Yazra'h seemed quite proud that the Mage-Imperator had prevented the humans from discovering any of the brewing troubles in the Ildiran Empire.

Osira'h was immediately reminded of her long-captive mother and all the breeding slaves on Dobro. "Yes, we are very good at keeping secrets from the humans, aren't we?"

Her muscular half sister smiled, accepting the comment as a compliment. "We have a few days until everything is ready for your mission, and then we must locate a group of hydrogues for you to communicate with."

"I saw thousands of them fighting at the Durris star."

Yazra'h tossed her mane of long coppery hair. "Your protective vessel cannot withstand an environment such as that. Follow me, and I will show you the sphere that will take you deep into a gas giant's clouds."

She guided Osira'h to a hangar where engineer kithmen and laborers were finishing construction on a strange new vessel. Its hull was fabricated from heavy transparent armorplate. The interior wasn't large, but neither was she.

"This vessel will protect you from the pressure, but not necessarily from the hydrogues themselves. The rest will be up to you." Yazra'h gave her an encouraging slap on the back. "But you will make all the difference, little sister. You can do things that no one else can."

Osira'h did not argue. She moved forward to study the crystalline chamber, touching it with her fingertips. "Yes. Yes, I can."

Drinking in details with her eyes, storing information in her carefully organized mind, Osira'h learned everything she could about the Prism Palace and the Ildirans, whom she was destined to protect. Some of the courtiers, and even Yazra'h, remarked on her unusual and intense silence. Osira'h just watched them, always calculating and storing information.

Unlike other Ildirans, she had been born with a great weight on her shoulders. Designate Udru'h had never let the girl's thoughts stray from the expectations placed upon her, had never let her forget that he believed she had the innate skill to accomplish what was necessary. And yet, immediately after delivering Osira'h to the Prism Palace, Udru'h had turned his back on her and returned to Dobro in case she failed.

Osira'h walled off her disappointment, shoring up the barrier with bricks made of memories from her mother: how Nira had been locked in a dark cell so her green skin could drink in no sunlight; how, after the birth of her daughter, Udru'h had kept her in the breeding barracks until she conceived his son, Rod'h; how afterward, he'd subjected Nira to a series of coldly clinical impregnations by other Ildiran kiths.

Her mother had recalled each one of those rapes like burning coals on her skin. Through the too-clear window of shared memories and experiences, the little girl also remembered every ripping pain, every thrust, every bruise.

Osira'h could easily hate Designate Udru'h if she allowed her mother's memories to overwhelm her. But the girl also remembered her mission, recognized Udru'h's urgent need to save his race from the hydrogues, even at the cost of a few human breeders. She remembered how Udru'h had cared for her, shown as much love as he was capable of demonstrating.

Osira'h felt as if she might be ripped in two...

When her father summoned the girl to his private contemplation chamber, Osira'h stood uncertainly at the doorway. Jora'h came forward, smiling with a welcome that bore the distinct undertones of shyness-an odd reaction from the leader of the great Ildiran Empire.

"Come in, please." Tentatively, Jora'h reached out to touch her narrow shoulders. "Let me just look at you." Without answering, Osira'h watched shifting currents of emotion cross the Mage-Imperator's face. "So much like your mother. I can see Nira in your eyes."

Osira'h met his gaze and suddenly felt awkward and confused. Seeing Jora'h in the round chamber with its colored-crystal windows, her mother's memories flooded her with other recollections. Though this man in front of her was her own father, her mind was full of other encounters in this room: warm and passionate lovemaking in the cushions, conversations and caresses that made the girl's heart melt. So different from the breeding barracks on Dobro: love instead of mere impregnation, ecstasy rather than pain and horror.

But if Jora'h loved her, why hadn't he saved Nira from Dobro? Why had he believed the lies without questioning, without wondering if Nira had been snatched away? If he truly cared for her, why had he let her go so easily?

"You're very quiet," Jora'h said, leading her into the chamber.

Osira'h shuddered instinctively, even though she knew he meant nothing sexual by his invitation. Here, he was her father, the castrated Mage-Imperator, not the friend and lover Nira had known. Even so, Osira'h could not help but see him from both perspectives. She would have to balance the two without revealing the depth of her knowledge. Jora'h and Udru'h, among others, would likely be horrified at all she had "witnessed" and could remember. How ironic that the very breeding and abilities that made her the hope of the Ildiran Empire had made her a freakish anomaly, an unpredictable singularity. No, she could not let her father, or anyone else, learn her secret.

Before she could answer him, Osira'h saw the potted treeling in a wall alcove. Her eyes wide and sparkling, she stepped forward. "May I touch it?" Her thoughts whirled, remembering what it had been like for Nira to drop into the telink network, connected with other green priests and all of the worldtrees. It had been a solace long denied to Nira. "My mother was a green priest."

Jora'h smiled. "Of course."

Osira'h held her small hand close to the delicate fronds. The golden lapped scales of bark on the thin trunk were like soft jewels. The fernlike fronds fanned out, and she stroked the leaves like a musician playing the strings of a delicate instrument.

She wasn't sure what to expect. Her fingertips felt a tingle, then a jolt, and her heart swelled. An image flashed through her mind of Nira in desperation, grasping thorny shrubs on Dobro until her palms were bloody, screaming her thoughts into deaf plants that had no way of contacting the worldforest network.

Then, as if in response, a kinder recollection came to Osira'h. She relived the day that the worldtrees had accepted Nira as a new green priest, enfolding her in their verdant embrace, connecting with her cells, changing her body's chemistry so that she could be a part of the vast and serene forest mind. Oh, the joy she had felt when that huge universe suddenly opened to her...

The girl released her touch. The potted treeling seemed to tremble, but she had not achieved a complete connection, not like a real green priest's. Even so, she smiled in quiet wonder.

"I see that makes you happy," Jora'h said. "I wish to do everything I can to keep you happy before you must...go away." He paced the floor of his chamber, turning back to her. "It will be soon. I am still waiting to hear a report from my scout cutters, to let me know what is happening at Hyrillka." He shook his head. "But I grow too distracted. That does not concern you. Just another trouble in the Empire."

She waited in silence, letting him continue.

"I want to spend time with you, get to know you. You are my own daughter, and I have placed such a heavy burden on you. I thought we might tour Mijistra, visit museums, or go to the streams." His words petered out.

"Yazra'h has already shown me those things."

The Mage-Imperator sat on his bed cushions. "Then the most important thing I can do for you-for both of us-is to tell you about your mother. Nira was...very special to me."