Hansa, extending her network of favors.
Rlinda couldn’t help but respect Sarein. Certainly, it would have been politically unwise to turn down the offer to come to
Theroc to discuss “matters of interest to people such as ourselves.” From her time spent studying on Earth, Sarein had a less
provincial mind-set than either of her parents or any of her siblings.
The Therons were insular in their trade practices, keeping a tight hold on the green priests and not inclined to develop new
customers for their myriad forest products. As a trader, Rlinda had often looked with interest at Theroc, but considered the
cultural restrictions too severe for much of a trade relationship.
Sarein, though, seemed to be changing all that with her overt offer.
The Theron colony was self-sufficient and aloof from the Hanseatic League. The EDF and the Hansa had never pressed the issue,
keeping the forest inhabitants happy because they were the only source of green priests, but the Therons refused to be exploited.
Rlinda Kett did not have exploitation in mind at all, though, only mutual benefit. She always dealt fairly with her customers
and her suppliers. That was how interstellar trade should work. Still, she kept an eye open for new trade opportunities. She
would certainly listen to Sarein’s offer.
Despite her five marriages, Rlinda had no children. Instead, she operated four merchant ships, including the
Voracious Curiosity
, which was her baby. More than just the owner of her own shipping company, Rlinda was one of the best captains as well.
Each of her other captains went out to secure cargoes independently, taking risks and reaping rewards. She hadn’t yet decided
if she would try to find a replacement for the
Great Expectations
and Captain Gabriel Mesta. Though they had to buy into her franchise and pay a large fee, the captains were allowed to keep
75 percent of the profits they brought in. If a captain suffered three losses in a row, however, Rlinda’s shipping company
ousted him and opened the position for a new captain willing to sign on. She’d needed to do that only once, and the man hadn’t
even been married to her…
Descending through Theroc’s misty atmosphere, Rlinda followed the tracker beacons down into a clearing in the densely wooded
terrain, where she expertly landed the ship among the tall trees.
With a delighted smile on her broad dark face, she climbed out. Around her, the clustered worldtrees spread out in an undulating
ocean of foliage as far as the eye could see. After days aboard the merchant ship, she relished the moist, perfumed atmosphere.
She drew another breath to purge the residue of spaceship air from her lungs.
Caught in her smiling reverie, Rlinda turned and was surprised to see a slender young woman waiting. Sarein’s eyes were large
and dark, her skin a deep bronze. Her hips were narrow, her breasts small, and her dark hair cut in a short, serviceable style.
Sarein’s garments were an unusual mixture of home-dyed cocoon-fiber fabrics, natural products from Theroc, highlighted with
processed polymers and glittering jewelry from Earth.
“Rlinda Kett, thank you for coming here. Your journey was long, but I promise you the rewards will be worth the trouble.”
“No trouble,” the merchant said, patting the hull of her ship. “Glad to have the opportunity to see this place with my own
eyes. I’ve heard many intriguing things about Theroc.”
Sarein gave a brief surprised frown, which she covered with a welcoming smile. “Intriguing, truly? Maybe I’ve missed something.”
Sarein led her toward the fungus-reef city where hundreds of families lived. The massive communal dwelling was a whitish gray
growth fossilized in the junctures of several large worldtrees. The fungus reef was a giant swelling built up from thousands
of generations of hard, shelflike mushrooms. The huge fungus continued to spread as it sprayed layers of spores on top of
Rlinda couldn’t help but respect Sarein. Certainly, it would have been politically unwise to turn down the offer to come to
Theroc to discuss “matters of interest to people such as ourselves.” From her time spent studying on Earth, Sarein had a less
provincial mind-set than either of her parents or any of her siblings.
The Therons were insular in their trade practices, keeping a tight hold on the green priests and not inclined to develop new
customers for their myriad forest products. As a trader, Rlinda had often looked with interest at Theroc, but considered the
cultural restrictions too severe for much of a trade relationship.
Sarein, though, seemed to be changing all that with her overt offer.
The Theron colony was self-sufficient and aloof from the Hanseatic League. The EDF and the Hansa had never pressed the issue,
keeping the forest inhabitants happy because they were the only source of green priests, but the Therons refused to be exploited.
Rlinda Kett did not have exploitation in mind at all, though, only mutual benefit. She always dealt fairly with her customers
and her suppliers. That was how interstellar trade should work. Still, she kept an eye open for new trade opportunities. She
would certainly listen to Sarein’s offer.
Despite her five marriages, Rlinda had no children. Instead, she operated four merchant ships, including the
Voracious Curiosity
, which was her baby. More than just the owner of her own shipping company, Rlinda was one of the best captains as well.
Each of her other captains went out to secure cargoes independently, taking risks and reaping rewards. She hadn’t yet decided
if she would try to find a replacement for the
Great Expectations
and Captain Gabriel Mesta. Though they had to buy into her franchise and pay a large fee, the captains were allowed to keep
75 percent of the profits they brought in. If a captain suffered three losses in a row, however, Rlinda’s shipping company
ousted him and opened the position for a new captain willing to sign on. She’d needed to do that only once, and the man hadn’t
even been married to her…
Descending through Theroc’s misty atmosphere, Rlinda followed the tracker beacons down into a clearing in the densely wooded
terrain, where she expertly landed the ship among the tall trees.
With a delighted smile on her broad dark face, she climbed out. Around her, the clustered worldtrees spread out in an undulating
ocean of foliage as far as the eye could see. After days aboard the merchant ship, she relished the moist, perfumed atmosphere.
She drew another breath to purge the residue of spaceship air from her lungs.
Caught in her smiling reverie, Rlinda turned and was surprised to see a slender young woman waiting. Sarein’s eyes were large
and dark, her skin a deep bronze. Her hips were narrow, her breasts small, and her dark hair cut in a short, serviceable style.
Sarein’s garments were an unusual mixture of home-dyed cocoon-fiber fabrics, natural products from Theroc, highlighted with
processed polymers and glittering jewelry from Earth.
“Rlinda Kett, thank you for coming here. Your journey was long, but I promise you the rewards will be worth the trouble.”
“No trouble,” the merchant said, patting the hull of her ship. “Glad to have the opportunity to see this place with my own
eyes. I’ve heard many intriguing things about Theroc.”
Sarein gave a brief surprised frown, which she covered with a welcoming smile. “Intriguing, truly? Maybe I’ve missed something.”
Sarein led her toward the fungus-reef city where hundreds of families lived. The massive communal dwelling was a whitish gray
growth fossilized in the junctures of several large worldtrees. The fungus reef was a giant swelling built up from thousands
of generations of hard, shelflike mushrooms. The huge fungus continued to spread as it sprayed layers of spores on top of
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