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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 come 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, aren't there?" Lytol asked, supporting
Bargen in order to keep to the agenda.
"Vormital, a great nephew of Sangel," Sebell said, eyeing Toric, "and Warlow,
a first cousin. Sangel's sons died in the plague and there is no other male
issue in the direct Bloodline."
"Never heard of Vormital or Warlow," Bargen said. "There has to be more."
"Not surviving," Sebell said. It was the Harper Hall's duty to check.
"There was, there was. I knew him when I was in High Reaches Weyr. Hillegel.
Big man. Half brother to Sangel," Bargen insisted.
"He thought he'd go south," Toric said, grinning smugly. "I heard he went down
one of the rivers and never a word since."
N'ton got to his feet. "When approached by the Weyr to help evacuate the
vulnerable coast from the Flood, Vormital informed me that this was Sangel's
problem, not his."
"Dismiss him from consideration," Groghe said, bringing his fist down on the
table. "In my hearing, on five separate occasions, Sangel said the man was a
fool and couldn't hold a cup without help."
"Does anyone know any good of this Vormital?" Sebell asked.
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"If anyone does, it will be the first time," Groghe said in a voice meant to
be heard.
"Who's the other one?" Bargen of High Reaches said. He had fought hard to
return High Reaches to his Bloodline after Fax's presumptive holding and he
saw nothing wrong with fighting to claim Bloodright-for males, of course.
"Warlow is the child of Sangel's youngest sister. He has a small farm and five
sons, three of whom have served Lady Marella in minor capacities."
"If his sons served, and he hasn't pushed for himself, he'd be useless," was
Bargen's immediate answer. "Are we left with the girl?"
"Lady Janissian has served as steward to her grandfather and grandmother-"
Sebell began.
"More the grandmother's doing, I'm certain," Langrell of Igen remarked.
"It's more important that she was doing"
Groghe said, scowling at Langrell. "And she is of the Blood."
"Oh, confirm her and let's get on with this meeting," Toric demanded
impatiently.
"In that case, I will collect your votes," Sebell said.
"Isn't it a good thing," Lessa murmured to F'lar after they had both written
their decisions, "that Janissian happens to be well qualified."
"Hold Blood's getting thin after twenty-five hundred Turns. And, with the end
of Threadfall ... " F'lar murmured.
"Holding began with Fort, with Paul Benden. There's nothing wrong with Fort's
Bloodline. But that form of inheritance is not in the
Charter, you know."
F'lar regarded her in mild surprise. "No, actually, it isn't. Holders and all
those traditions came later." He looked at Toric who was impatiently tapping
the table while Sebell was sorting through the slips.
Sebell held up two piles-one thin, one fat. Three slips remained on his
lectern.
"Three abstentions, five nays, and thirty-seven yeas," Sebell said. "Harper
Hall votes yea."
Nothing more than murmured sounds of relief were expressed but Sebell strode
quickly to the big doors, opened one leaf and gestured.
"Lady Janissian of Southern Boll, the Council would be pleased if you would
take your seat as Boll's Lady Holder!"
There was cheering from outside as Janissian, a smiling Menolly giving her a
little push, stepped in and the door was closed behind her. She stood there,
her head no higher than Sebell's shoulder, and her dark hair fetchingly
arranged around her pale, handsome face;
the hem of her red gown matched the white shields and bright chevrons that
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