Страница 54 из 114
"...with four fine strong sons and a fine woman to be his Lady Holder..."
"Ranrel's wife is not only a Masterweaver but considerably easier to get on with than Lady Esrella," Asgenar added quietly.
"Put in your mark's worth, Asgenar," Jaxom said.
"Why don't you speak?"
"And ruin Ranrel's chances altogether?" Jaxom tried to sound as if he didn't mind.
Asgenar inclined his head, accepting what Jaxom had implied: that as the youngest of the Lord Holders, his opinion was not much sought by others.
Meanwhile Sigomal wound up his peroration and sat down, glaring at Jaxom, who turned his head to regard Asgenar as the Lemos lord stood to speak for Ranrel.
"When a man does not wait for honors to be given him but works with his hands and achieves a mastery in a Hall, he has learned many of the skills needed to make a prudent and resourceful Holder under whose guidance Tillek will prosper. We can ask for no better-qualified a man than Ranrel. On all counts."
"I'd heard," Toric began, standing without Lytol's permission, "that Ranrel had quarreled with Oterel and was told never to show himself in Tillek Hold again. Can a father's express wishes be so totally disregarded by this Council?"
Bargen jumped to his feet, glancing belatedly at Lytol for permission.
"In my presence, Oterel retracted that statement two seven-days before he expired," he a
"But he did not name him successor?" Toric continued, an enigmatic half smile on his face.
"Do you doubt my word?" Bargen demanded, scowling at the Southern Holder.
"Doubt doesn't enter into it, Bargen. The incident is recorded fact."
"Which is why the succession has been challenged," Lytol said. "And the right of any male descendant to challenge the succession, no matter what bad feeling existed between father and son, has been upheld on numerous occasions."
Groghe leaned across the table toward Toric and spoke in the blandest possible tone. "I'm sure Lord Toric appreciates that fathers and sons may agree to disagree."
Toric stared at the Fort Holder hard enough, Jaxom thought, for his gaze to burn holes through the man. Groghe shrugged. How had Groghe known that Toric had stormed out of his family's fishhold in Ista? That wasn't generally known, nor would Sharra have been so disloyal to her brother as to mention it.
"But it is as Lord Toric has said," Sigomal said, rubbing his hands together nervously, his expression one of specious regret. "Oterel disavowed Ranrel, and that should be noted. His challenge should be nullified."
"Blesserel must owe Sigomal a great deal," Asgenar murmured to Jaxom, his expression bland.
"Does anyone support Terentel's claim?" Lytol asked into the pause. When Begamon did not respond, he added, "Then let us vote between the two remaining candidates: Blesserel and Ranrel."
This ballot raised Ranrel's support to ten, but with Blesserel still polling five, the requisite majority had still not been attained.
"I am calling a brief adjournment, my Lord Holders, for private discussions," Lytol said and, rising, moved away from the table.
The others followed his example.
"We need two more votes," Groghe murmured to Jaxom, Asgenar, and Larad as they made their way to the tables where food was available.
"Toric has to have been the third vote for Terentel. I know Corman and Begamon espouse him," Larad said. "Is Toric hoping that loon Terentel, will give him guards for that armed assault he wants to make on the Big Island?"
"Something like that, but I've a word for his ear alone," Groghe said, winking at Jaxom and gri
"C'mon, Asgenar." Larad hauled the Lemos Holder after him. "We'll bear you out, Groghe."
Jaxom made a plateful of the spice cakes he knew Lytol liked and served his old guardian, all the while surreptitiously watching the three in close conversation with Toric. He looked quickly away when Toric suddenly swiveled in his direction, an indecipherable stare on his broad, ta
"I think we just obtained one more vote for Ranrel," Jaxom murmured to Lytol, being careful to keep his face blank.
Larad and Asgenar stayed talking to Toric while Groghe made his way back to the Ruathans.
"That seemed to go down with no trouble, Jaxom. Clever of you. Though I don't think Denol should attempt to have a meeting with Toric when he finds out he can't make any profit for himself. Who else can we approach?"
"I'm not approaching anyone, remember? I'm deeply involved with the Abomination," Jaxom said with a disgusted snort. "I'm not about to ruin Ranrel's chances by speaking up."
"You do yourself a disservice, lad," Groghe said kindly.
"I'd rather not do Ranrel one, Lord Groghe."
As Groghe turned away, Jaxom took the opportunity to inform Ruth of what was happening, asking him to tell Sharra.
Master Robinton thought it would go that way, Ruth replied. He asked have you told Toric? He didn't say what.
Groghe did, with Larad and Asgenar backing him up, Jaxom replied. Certainly it's giving Toric something to think about. More'n I could get him to do. There's a recess on right now. The west coast contingent needs more klah to wake up enough to listen. I'll keep you all informed.
Shortly thereafter, Lytol called the Lord Holders to order again and asked if anyone wished to add anything or supply new information to the Council.
"Another vote, Lytol," Deckter said. "There is other business to be discussed."
Jaxom had noticed Deckter in deep discussion with Warbret and hoped for success in that area. Two votes were all that was needed-unless Toric decided to be more difficult than usual.
This time everyone appeared to be counting as Lytol sorted, so all knew before the formal a
"Ranrel has polled the requisite majority of twelve votes and is duly elected to succeed to his father's honor as Lord Holder of Tillek." Lytol gave Jaxom a warning sideways glance that the young Ruathan had no trouble understanding: He was not to make any premature a
"There are two other important reports to discuss in this Council. I now call upon Lord Jaxom of Ruatha Hold to inform us of any progress made toward the end of destroying Thread." Lytol inclined his head courteously to his former ward and sat down.
Jaxom stood abruptly, catching the attention of the entire table. The phrases he had rehearsed so often piled out of his mouth and continued even when he heard someone mumbling imprecations about the "Abomination's corruptions."
"Having received extensive training from the Aivas, Journeyman Harper Piemur and myself rode Ruth safely between and landed on the bridge of the Yokohama. We completed the programming of the telescope for use by Aivas from the Landing facility and initiated a damage report on the space vessel. We retrieved the remains of Sallah Telgar, which have since been suitably interred at Telgar Hold." He bowed deeply to Larad. "The next day Ruth transported me back to the bridge. I then proceeded to the cargo-bay area to close the outer doors, which had not shut due to a malfunction in the remote-closure program. Once the doors closed, I returned to the bridge and from there to Landing. Additional journeys to the Yokohama will be necessitated to improve the basic life-support systems, namely to replant the algae tanks. Additional perso