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With suitable dignified reserve, Jaxom seated himself between Lord Groghe of Fort and Asgenar of Lemos. He was not of a temperament to hold a grudge or keep a sulk, so he was amused that the known pro-Ranrel group had ranged themselves together in one quadrant of the table. Predictably, the supporters of Blesserel and Terentel had also seated themselves in blocks, though he wasn't sure how many supported which older son.
He nodded pleasantly to those opposite him-Sangel of Boll, Nessel of Crom, Laudey of Igen, Sigomal of Bitra, and Warbret of Ista, the ones reputed to favor Blesserel, the eldest son of Oterel. Begamon of Nerat, Corman of Keroon, and, surprisingly, Toric of Southern were said to prefer Terentel. Toric was probably being perverse, since he didn't know any of Oterel's sons well enough to have made an educated choice. It was enough for Toric that his sister's husband, along with Benden, Nerat, Telgar, and Lemos, was for Ranrel.
Jaxom took a deep breath, determined to be on his best behavior no matter how sorely he was tempted to "explain" matters to some of the old idiots. He picked up the klah pitcher, glancing courteously at Groghe with an offer to pour, which Groghe declined with a brief shake of his head. The portly Lord Holder was pulling at his pursed lips as he looked about the table, though his glance, Jaxom noticed, seemed again and again to veer back to Toric.
Skin bronzed and hair bleached almost blond by the -Southern sun, Toric was quite a contrast to the older lords on either side of him. By comparison, Sangel looked more wizened than ever, and Nessel downright desiccated. On Nessel's other side, Laudey of Igen, his face as ta
"D'you think Toric'll support Ranrel?" Groghe asked, shielding his mouth as he bent toward Jaxom.
Jaxom gave a slight shake of his head and replied with equal discretion. "Toric's been in a perverse state of mind ever since Denol went to the Big Island two Turns back. Then, too, Ranrel used Hamian's material, and Toric's a
Groghe gave a snort. "He's making too much of this Denol affair."
"You tell him, then, Lord Groghe. As I understand the tradition of Holding, he doesn't lose the island no matter who's improving it-it remains incontrovertibly his as part of his Hold grant. No one can usurp his title to it. Especially not someone like Denol."
Groghe swiveled around in his chair to gaze with some astonishment at Jaxom. "Are you sure of that? I mean, about the Holding? That no one can supersede his claim?"
"Of course I am." Jaxom gri
Groghe smiled grimly at that reminder of how F'lar and Fax had dueled to make Jaxom the heir to Ruatha Hold.
"Toric was awarded those specific Southern lands in compensation for Holding during the Oldtimers' incumbency of Southern Weyr," Jaxom went on. "If you'll remember, the Big Island is within the borders of that grant. No act of Denol's can alter Toric's title to the Island."
"Even if Toric's not put his own holders there?"
Jaxom gri
"Well, that would solve that problem, surely."
"Yes, but Toric's not listening, and certainly not reading any messages from Landing," Jaxom said ruefully.
"Hmmm, yes." Groghe pensively fingered his full lower lip. "Well, he'll listen to me, by the first Egg! Best thing about getting old is that you've got the authority to make people listen to you." He nodded sharply, emphasizing his remark.
Jaxom did not grin, nor did he add that getting older did not always give a person something worth listening to. But Groghe was more open-minded than some of his contemporaries, for which Jaxom was thankful.
"Heard you went upstairs again yesterday," Groghe commented, changing the subject. "What'd you do this time?"
"Closed some doors," Jaxom said with a diffident shrug. He had also spent a long time, Ruth beside him, looking down at the splendor of Pern as seen from space. Not even Piemur, harper-trained as he was, had been able to describe the scene adequately or convey how deeply it had affected him. Nor had Jaxom, though he had tried to tell Sharra something of the grandeur he had seen and the awe he had felt. He kept the vision solidly in one bedazzled corner of his mind. If only more of the Lord Holders would see, he thought, they would stop their petty bickering.
"Closed doors? Was that all?" Groghe asked in surprise.
"There's a lot to be done to set the Yokohama to rights. It's dangerous up there," Jaxom replied. That was a slight exaggeration, but Aivas had steadily repeated the fact that space was a hostile environment and humans must learn the necessary cautions to prevent accidents. "When the safety measures do check out, it would be our pleasure, Ruth's and mine, to take you up there."
Groghe, clearly astonished, hemmed and hawed nervously. "We'll see, lad, we'll see," he said finally.
Jaxom merely nodded and asked amiably, "Do you think this will take all morning?"
"Likely to." Groghe gave a snort, then covered his mouth so that only Jaxom would hear his next comment. "Sigomal needs Blesserel to be confirmed or he'll never get his money. That young fellow was gambling on succeeding and having the Hold's mark-coffers at his disposal."
Jaxom had already suspected that Oterel's oldest son was heavily in debt to the Bitran Holder.
"Does Terentel have any support?" Jaxom found it hard to imagine who would back Oterel's middle son. Some people seemed to be born losers: Terentel was such a one.
"Actually," Groghe said, his eyebrows going up in surprise, "I believe Begamon will. Corman, too, but probably only because he dislikes Blesserel and is feeling testy about the amount of interest in the Landing projects. He's still not convinced."
"No one from Keroon Hold itself is involved, but there're enough from the minor holds so that no one at Landing's worried overmuch about his opposition," Jaxom replied. "Keroon's more agriculturally oriented anyway."
"And Corman's a stubborn old fool," Groghe added, eyeing Jaxom critically.
Jaxom contented himself with a grin. Then Asgenar touched his arm, and he turned to his right.
"Larad says that we have Deckter of Nabol, who of us all appreciates Ranrel's harbor repairs, ourselves, you, and Toronas," the Lemos Holder said. "Which way will Lytol go?"
Jaxom shrugged. "Where his conscience leads him."