Declaration of the Weyrleaders

[Zen]

The Judgment of the Weyrleaders

1st Day of Eighth Month, Second Turn of the Pass

1. That the poisoning at Mavros was the doing of one Lenka, a former Azovite Harper who was expelled from the Southern Hall seven turns since, with the assistance of two accomplices yet uncaught.

2. That the following confession, given to the council following her recognition as a person of dubious character and careful questioning by O’zel and Isorel of Mirran, be held for truth:

The man who brought the poison – and the plan to use it - came to Mavros from Southern on the Day Sister, under the guise of a sailor. He made himself known to me a few sevendays after he first made contact with my informal apprentice, Tomei.

This man – who called himself R’zel – told me he had a way to possibly see Mirran brought down before the other weyrs, a way that they would believe readily. And that it would involve revenge on Oria as well, for the lives that had been lost in the Threadstorm: for Tomei’s family, and that Tomei was interested in helping him. He did not tell me he meant to do anything to the younger riders.

R’zel would not tell me how he’d managed to get his hands on the poison, which he said was like talthis, only stronger. He didn’t tell me it would kill Oria, for certain. He only told me it would incapacitate her enough so that Mavros would fall into chaos, and other weyrs would become suspicious of Mirran, since such a poison is mostly likely to be crafted there.

I distracted the staff while Tomei left with the refreshment for the weyrwoman. He - R’zel - must have poisoned and delivered the food for the other riders then. He's very good at inserting himself places - he'd dressed as a drudge. I barely recognized him.

He betrayed me. He told me to go meet Tomei at the beasthold, that Tomei woud go directly there after delivering the food, and that he had a boat hidden on the eastern shore, beyond the plateau, where he would meet us to escape. But Tomei was not at the beasthold, and there was no boat there.

R’zel must have taken him to the harbor cave and made their escape from there. He had no more use for me, wheras he had taken a liking to Tomei. They must have met his dragon once they’d sailed far enough. Out of sight of the island. R’zel had promised me that his dragon would take all three of us away, to safety. He would not say where.

He and his followers – they hide in the wastes of Azov, that’s what people say. The Mirrish have never told you [the other Weyrleaders] about them because they don’t want anyone to know they have such a problem, they’ve been keeping it secret. I don’t know how many riders are among them. Not many, for certain, it’s very hard to hide dragons. But it’s not the numbers that matter. It’s that they are there at all. R’zel rides green, so I am told, but I would not know: [she laughs harshly] I never saw his dragon.

[On the discovered amulet, should it be presented to the Council] That carving isn’t Mirrish. Yes, it’s the Egg of Faranth - but it’s broken. The tunnelsnake there is consuming itself. Anyone in Mirran will tell you depicting the Egg that way is disrespect to tradition of the highest order. R’zel and his followers are the only ones who wear the Egg carved that way.

[On her history and motivation] I studied in the Southern Harper Hall, the Hall of Azov: drumming and the telling of stories primarily. I was a journeyman when I shared a drum message which was… inconvenient for a Mirrish bronzerider. I could not forgive the Azovites for what they did to me then. I could not. I was told by my superiors I was to lie low, not leave Mirran with the knowledge of the Azovites. I left anyway. I made my living all over the South for seven turns.

Tomei told me Oria had spoken to sea folk before she left. That she and M'ton had known it was possible Thread might come early, because the sea folk had told her to be wary as they led the fleet north to Mavros from Tidewalk. Tomei, that was what he blamed her for chiefly . He hurt for the loss of his parents. He chafed under his fosterers and he knew I could not send him to the Northern Hall to apprentice, that I had no voice to recommend him. So he hated her for having brought him into his situation. She was an easy figure for a boy like him to hate.

There are too many orphans here because of what Oria decided to do - here and in Tidewalk. Splitting the weyr, I mean. Bringing her faction away to the Western Ring. I followed her to Mavros because M’ton spoke charismatically and because I had no other prospects at the time. I knew after the storm it had been a fool’s expedition, a terrible mistake, but I had no means to start elsewhere. Neither did Tomei. Oria never apologized for what she did. Never said it had been a mistake. Kept insisting Mavros, that a new weyrhold, was a good idea, against all reason. Pern did not need a new weyrhold. Tidewalk needed our riders. If Oria had bitten her pride, negotiated with Kalena, if we had returned, Tidewalk might not have needed to call on Mirran. Now Tidewalk is dependent on Mirran, and Mavros cannot sustain itself either. Oria did not care about the people of Mavros. She cared about her pride: it blinded her to reality. She was no better than the Mirrish in her way: this was why finally I agreed to work with R’zel when he presented his plan to me. I should never have done it.

Have pity on Tomei if you find him. I regret the deaths. I do not ask for mercy for myself. What I have become involved in is beyond my power to move.

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2. That Lenka will be imprisoned at Fort pending further investigation into this issue.

3. That D'ze of Bronze Exionth, having been apprehended elsewhere on Pern in possession of fellis, and under suspicion of abuse, is no longer fit to be Weyrleader.

4. That Master Healer Ceranis at the Healer's Hall will continue to look into the nature of the poison. The Mirranese will send samples of liquor to him to aid in his work, and to Mavros, so the Healers there can work independently if they so desire.The Mirranese Hall will be looking into the matter as well.

5. That the management of all holderfolk on Mavros should fall upon an appointed Lord Holder of the Blood, not any man chosen by election. If the people of Mavros refuse to accept one of the proposed candidates the Weyrleaders will present to them by Turnover next, then the other weyrs will cease offering aid.

6. That Mirran, for hunting such a dangerous and unusual renegade as this rider R’zel within their borders, without asking for assistance of the other weyrs or informing them, should welcome any who wish into their hold – including riders of Mavros – as they investigate the issue and continue to try and hunt him down.

7. That O'zel and Isorel of Mirran extend a welcome to any candidates at Mavros who wish to stand and Impress from junior gold Prith’s clutch, which currently blesses their sands, and is expected to hatch before the end of the month.


Concluded in council in Mavros' first hatching cavern, by the below-signed:

J’yer and Madia Of Fort
H’dor and Piara of Benden
D'rek and Hallon of Igen
M’sul and Lidana of Ista
G’zon and Sava of Telgar
E’vamel And Isalda of High Reaches
L’yot and Arecie of Ierne Island
A’din and Bekka of Southern
N’vial and Emis of Vesper
I’der and Celara of Monaco Bay
T’mal and Kalena of Tidewalk
O’zel and Isorel of Mirran