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you had a chance to meet them？〃
〃Oh； yes。 They arrived the very next day；〃 and Lessa was surprised to see Lady Dulsay blush。 〃Most respectful to let us know how the Weyrleadership had been decided。〃
〃Good of them to be prompt to introduce themselves；〃 Lessa said； suppressing a desire to grin。 Why was it that holders were invariably embarrassed by mating flights？ It wasn't as if Dulsay and Larad hadn't been very much attached to each other when they had formally wed。 〃Are many of the Council here？〃
Before anyone could answer； another triple…tone bugling…in Hem's unmistakably tenor voice…heralded the arrival of the Southern Weyrleaders。 They； too； were gleaming； Lessa noted before she took the shallow stairs up to the main entrance。
〃Would you like to change out of your flying gear now？〃 Dulsay asked。
〃Since you've already met G'bear and Neldama； I think I'll take the opportunity； thank you； Dulsay；〃 and； inside the imposing Hall； Lessa slipped to the left before she could be intercepted。 It was a matter of moments to strip and put on the skirt and the more formal tunic she had brought； fold and leave her riding gear on the shelves provided。 Menolly came up to her as soon as she emerged。
〃They continue to improve？〃 Menolly asked anxiously；
Sebell close behind her。 Sebell was rather spectacular in dark Harper blue； wearing the sapphire pendant of his rank。 His eyes were tired and he was as eager to be reassured as Menolly。
〃Yes； yes。 It was sheer luck that both Oldive and Crivellan have been studying the Aivas files on perforated intestines…such accidents occur often enough to warrant study；〃 Lessa said。 〃Once again we can be grateful to reacquire the skills that save lives。〃
Menolly pursed her lips。 〃Those wretched； narrow…minded； deceitful misfits。 They really are abominable！〃
〃Are they making life miserable for harpers； too； Menolly？〃 Lessa saw the tension in Sebell's manner。 Music might be Menolly's life but she no more liked Sebell distressed than she had Master Robinton。
Just then； trying to look pletely at ease and not quite managing； G'bear came in with Neldama and smiled with great relief to be met by friendly faces and congratulations。 Once again Lessa gave reassurances about the invalids' progress and then had it all to do again when K'van and Adrea walked in。 G'dened and Cosira arrived； N'ton and Margatta； too； escorting Lady Janissian who halted； looking about her。 Menolly went right up to the girl； putting an arm around her。
〃You came！〃
〃I couldn't not e； could I？〃 Janissian replied； and then caught Lessa's eyes； relaxing when the Weyrwoman gave her an encouraging smile。
〃No； you have to be here；〃 N'ton said； grinning； 〃to get there；〃 and he pointed to the closed door of the room where the Council would be held。 〃I'll get you some wine。 Lessa； what would you prefer？ You've had a rough few days。〃
〃I'd prefer the klah。 I suspect we must all keep our wits about us in this Council；〃 she replied。
〃Yes； I expect we will；〃 N'ton agreed； his smile now for Janissian as he gestured for one of the servers to approach with the tray of drinks。
To Lessa's surprised gratification； fifteen minutes later the entire Council was in their spaces around the U…shaped table in Telgar's vaulted Hall。 Toric was； as usual； the last to arrive。 There were seventeen Lord Holders； sixteen MasterCraftsmen and …women （since Joetta had replaced old Zurg as MasterWeaver and Ballora was the new BeastMaster）； and eight Weyrleaders and six Weyrwomen。 Nadira and Talina rarely attended。 The heavy sky…broom doors shut behind Toric with a resounding thunk。
Lips pursed； scowling； the Southern Lord Holder strode past Sebell； directly to K'van and planted his hands on the table； leaning aggressively toward the Weyrleader。
〃Why wasn't I informed that dragons had been badly injured by felines？〃 he demanded。
〃Because it doesn't affect Southern Weyr nor your interests；〃 K'van said； blandly； not intimidated。
〃Well？〃 and Toric swung round toward Lessa and F'lar。
Lessa gave him a bland look。 Toric must have enjoyed hearing that F'lessan had been injured but it was in his usual bad taste to try to make it appear an omission on K'van's part。
〃It's scarcely a Council matter；〃 F'lar said。 〃Kind of you to be concerned。〃
〃I'd like to know the details。 It's seldom dragons are attacked； much less injured； by lesser beasts。〃
〃As I'm sure the rest of the Council is already aware； Lord Toric； the injured are recovering。 Now； do take your seat；〃 Larad said with firm courtesy。 〃There is much official business to discuss。〃
Toric looked irritated but as no one would meet his eyes； he did take his chair。 Immediately Sebell rose。
〃We will deal first with the matter of Southern Boll's Holdership。〃
〃Let us discuss the anarchic behavior；〃 Lord Kashman said； speaking rapidly and angrily； rising from his chair so fast it crashed backward to the flagstones； 〃of Lord Jaxom； Weyrleader N'ton； and Masterprinter Tagetarl who arbitrarily exiled twelve people； alleged to be Abominators。〃
Larad looked up with surprise； and not a little annoyance； at Kashman's plete disregard for protocol。 Newly appointed Lord Holders should not be so presumptuous。
〃Yes；〃 drawled Toric； smiling with considerable relish； 〃let's hear about this latest of the exiles so enthusiastically perpetrated by Lord Jaxom and Weyrleader N'ton。〃
〃The Abominators did the perpetrating； Toric。 Jaxom； N'ton； and Tagetarl followed precedent；〃 Groghe said； slapping one hand down hard on the table。 〃I was present for two of those judgments。 I was the one who passed sentence at Turnover。 Furthermore； this Council decreed…you were actually present for that meeting；〃 he pointed a thick； unwavering finger down the table at Toric； 〃don't deny it…when we all decided that exile was an appropriate deterrent for any more wasteful acts of vandalism。〃
〃This issue will be discussed later；〃 Sebell said； raising his trained voice that overwhelmed the beginning of a three…sided shouting match by Toric； Groghe； and Kashman。 Old Lord Corman seemed to have passed his contentiousness on to this sixth son of his； who was not much past his thirtieth birthday。
〃I came to discuss that；〃 Toric cried。
〃The first matter is； and will be； the confirmation of a new Holder for Southern Boll！〃 Sebell said in clarion tones。
〃Why don't you just agree to the girl and let us get to the real issues？〃 Toric demanded。
〃But she's a woman！〃 Kashman protested。 〃There hasn't been a Lady Holder； except in a temporary capacity for。。。〃
〃Not since Lady Sicca ran Ista；〃 Groghe said。 〃My grandfather had great respect for her。 For that matter； all of us here； bar you who are new e to the Council honors；〃 and Groghe emphasized that； 〃know that Lady Marella's been running Boll for the past five Turns since Sangel began to deteriorate。 Lady Janissian has been her steward and she certainly proved her worth to me during the Fireball Flood。 Those cousins of hers removed themselves and their belongings to high ground and stayed there without lifting a finger。 Neither of them should hold。〃
〃For that matter；〃