amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第65部分

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　　〃The　dragons　and　riders　are　all　recovering？〃　Larad　said；　stepping　down　and　holding　out　both　hands　to　F'lar　and　Lessa。　Taking　his　hands；　she　realized　that　he　was　genuinely　concerned。
　　〃Indeed；　although　truly；〃　and　Lessa　projected　her　voice　to　be　sure　that　everyone　listening　for　news　would　hear；　〃if　Master　Oldive　had　not　been　provided　with　so　much　invaluable　medical　information　from　Aivas's　records；　we　would　have　lost　them　both。〃
　　〃Saved　by　Aivas？〃　Larad　asked；　likewise　raising　his　voice　and　implying　gratitude。　〃What　I　don't　understand　is　how　did　the　felines　get　into　Honshu？〃
　　〃The　creatures　were　not　in　the　weyrhold。〃　F'lar　gave　the　simplified　version。　〃F'lessan　and　Tai　had　taken　their　dragons　down　to　the　river　to　bathe。　That's　where　the　felines　attacked　them。　The　area　around　Honshu　hasn't　been　much　bothered　by　the　felines　but　the　new　holds　nearby　have　been　rounding　up　and　domesticating　more　and　more　wild　stock。　Naturally　the　predators　were　attracted。〃　F'lar　shrugged　as　if　dismissing　the　circumstances。　〃A　concatenation　of　circumstances。　Right　place；　wrong　time。　They'll　heal。〃
　　〃Oh；　splendid！　We　are　relieved　to　hear　that；〃　Lady　Dulsay　said　and　then　her　expression　altered　to　concern。　〃And　you　have　to　attend　a　Council　Meeting　when　you　must　yearn　to　be　at　Honshu　with　your　son。〃
　　Lessa　was　momentarily　surprised；　few　people　referred　to　F'lessan　as　〃your　son。〃　He　was　the　one　child　she　had　been　able　to　bear　F'lar　and　she　had　once…briefly　and　keenly…regretted　her　inability　to　have　more。　But　that　was　long　ago。　The　Weyr　was　more　important。　Today　it　was　vital　for　the　Weyrwoman　to　be　present　at　this　meeting。
　　〃As　to　that；　F'lessan　is　very　well　attended　and；　being　weyrbred；　he　would　not　expect　me　to　absent　myself。〃
　　Lady　Dulsay　recoiled　slightly。　〃My　pardon；　I　do　forget。〃
　　〃This　is　one　of　those　times；〃　Lessa　said　as　kindly　as　she　could；　for　Lady　Dulsay　meant　well；　〃when　the　customs　of　hold　and　weyr　conflict。〃
　　Larad　suddenly　whipped　binoculars　to　his　eyes。　Was　everyone　growing　those　things　about　their　necks；　Lessa　wondered。　〃Here　e　N'ton　with　Margatta　and　the　blue　at　his　right　wing　is　Boll's　watch　dragon；　conveying　Lady　Janissian。〃　He　lowered　the　instrument　and　smiled　self…deprecatingly。　〃I've　only　had　them　a　sevenday；〃　he　apologized。
　　〃At　least　you　find　them　useful；〃　Lessa　said　drolly。
　　〃And　hope　to　use　them　more；〃　Larad　said　with　a　pleased　grin。
　　Lessa　swallowed。　Could　news　of　the　Weyrleaders'　meeting　at　Cove　Hold　have　leaked？　No；　Larad　was　merely　showing　off　his　new　acquisition。
　　〃There　are　more　dragons；　that　much　I　can　see　with　my　own　eyes；〃　Lady　Dulsay　remarked；　pointing　to　the　skies。　〃Are　any　of　them　likely　to　be　bringing　contenders　to　Southern　Boll's　Holdership？〃　She　turned　to　Lessa。　〃It　was　so　sad　when　most　of　that　Bloodline；　and　all　four　of　Lord　Sangel's　sons；　succumbed　to　the　plague。　Such　promising　young　men；　so　my　father　said。〃
　　〃Now；　of　course；　with　all　the　vaccines　available　to　the　Healer　Hall；　we　won't　have　such　tragic　losses　again；〃　Lessa　replied。　She　saw　another　pair　of　dragons　enter　from　between。　〃I　suspect　this　is　G'bear　and　Neldama；　Lady　Dulsay。　Have　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；〃　Lessa　said；　〃Emily　Boll　held　those　lands　in　her　own　right。　As　I　see　it；　that　Holdership　has　e　full　circle　and　about　time。〃
　　Lady　Dulsay；　Adrea；　Master　Ballora；　and　Palla　were　bold　enough　to　second　her。
　　〃Shall　we　confirm　Lady　Janissian　then？〃　Asgenar　asked；　looking　around；　a　sly　smile　on　his　face；　〃And　save　time　for　the　really　important　matters？〃　He　glared　at　Toric。
　　〃Like　what　the　Weyrleaders　are　going　to　do　to　prevent　more　fireballs？〃　Toric　demanded；　glaring　across　the　floor　at　Lessa　and　F'lar。
　　〃Now；　just　a　minute；〃　Bargen　said；　annoyed；　〃that　isn't　as　critical　a　problem…〃
　　〃I　should　hope　it　is；〃　Toric　interrupted　at　his　most　obnoxious。
　　Bargen　gave　him　a　furious　glare　and；　raising　his　harsh　baritone　voice；　continued；　〃as　choosing　a　Bloodline　successor；　Lord；〃　and　he　closed　his　lips　for　a　moment；　catching　Lady　Sharra's　reaction；　〃or　Lady。〃
　　〃There　are　two　males　in　the　Bloodline；　ar