Post by Zen on May 31, 2022 16:16:58 GMT -5
Turn 2762, First Day of 2nd Month
The Lord Holders’ Conclave had been planned with Charin as the host, as was only fitting seeing as the topic of discussion would be centered about Mavros, scheduled for the first day of the second month. It had given the Lords an entire month to stew on the subject of Mavros’s newly elected Lord Holder and whether or not they would confirm him in his position and accept him among their ranks. It was unconventional; never before had a Hold’s people chosen their own Lord. For the more traditional, it offended, and for those whose sons had been given no opportunity, it outright insulted.
Lord Reageren led the meeting, as it was convened in his Hold, sitting at the head of a long table with all the Lords of Pern gathered about him. “Let the Conclave commence. Our purpose is the confirmation, or rejection, of Asirikai of Cove as the new Lord Holder of Mavros.” Reageren did not pause long enough to allow any other man to insert his own opinion first, “He may come to his position from… odd circumstance, but it is past time Mavros had a proper Lord of the Blood leading.”
“Indeed it is,” Hallenfar spoke up next, tossing a challenging gaze at their host, “But it is not for… for fishers and farmers to decide!” There was some murmured assent from a few others at that, emboldening the Lord of Igen, “It has always fallen to the Lords at Conclave to choose a new Lord where no clear heir is present. Mavros should have submitted such a request for review at the Turn’s End Conclave, so that all options might have been considered! This is folly. Nonsense!”
Banterin added more vocal agreement, “Utter folly! What next? Do we all bend to the opinions of drudges when next a new Lord needs to be chosen? What of our heirs, bred and raised and trained to take up our mantles? It is a dangerous precedent!”
“I don’t know why you’re so concerned about heirs, Banterin… did you have any, or were there only… how many bastards, now?” Degranik couldn’t help prodding the proud young Lord.
Banterin turned entirely red, “That’s Lord Banterin you upjumped miner! Be grateful you even have a place here!”
“Enough!” Reageren cut in sharply before the conversation could devolve further, “We are not here to trade insults!” He cast a narrowed glance at Banterin and Degranik both. Degranik at least had the grace to look chagrined, but Banterin was still silently fuming, glaring across the table at the Lord of Jask. Reageren tempered his tone to something less heated, "Let us remain on topic, my Lords."
Divano did not wait for any further outbursts from young Lords with nothing better to do than waste time, “Mavros has already proven that it will not accept a Lord Holder chosen for them by someone else. If we hope to see a Lord of the Blood in place there, this is the chance we have, and I suggest we take it. Asirikai won the people of Mavros over by no small margin. They will follow willingly a man they chose themselves to lead them, so let them, and let us see Mavros set to rights at long last.”
“And once their new chosen Lord is gone, what then?” Hallenfar challenged, “Are we expected to sit back and let Mavros continue to go on choosing their Lords like this each time one needs to be replaced? As Lord Banterin said, it is a dangerous precedent, and what if other Holds decide they wish to start choosing their own Lords as well? Where does it end, Lord Divano?”
Divano gave the Lord of Igen a withering look, “Asirikai is a young man, strong and healthy, and should hardly need replacing in our lifetimes, at least. By the time Mavros needs a new Lord confirmed, they will be used to having a traditional Lord leading them. There will be no more need for this election nonsense.”
“So you say, but the Mavrosi have proven stubborn and willful,” Lord Yakkonis of Mirran argued, “Who is to say they won’t wish to one day return to this voting nonsense. Particularly after their chosen Lord is gone? There will already be a precedent for it, they will have gotten away with it once, why not again? And you’ve not addressed Lord Hallenfar and Lord Banterin’s other concern, about this nonsense spreading to other Holds!”
Divano had little patience for Mirran’s whining, which he was quite aware stemmed only from their wounded pride at Mavros’s initial refusal to accept Yakkonis’s son as their Lord Holder some turns ago. His tone was dry when he replied, “If you fear so much for your own position, and that of your heirs, I can only advise you to do better by your people, and teach your heirs to do the same, so as to give your holdfolk no reason to wish to choose to replace you.” Yakkonis turned just as red as Banterin had, but Divano didn’t give him time to make a reply, “So long as Asirikai serves Mavros well, the Mavrosi should have no complaints about Lord Holder rule, and they should come to respect his judgment, which ought to include his eventual choice in his heir. They will see that their lives will improve immensely with a Lord Holder overseeing the management of the Hold, and I find it difficult to believe they should want to risk returning to the struggle they will be leaving behind in favor of contesting their chosen Lord’s choice in heir purely for the sake of choosing for themselves.”
“That is all supposition,” Lord Dendallen added his own voice to the discussion, “And none of us can say for a certainty just what Mavros may attempt in future once given the precedence. My question is why they chose to insult the north instead of inviting us to send our brothers and sons into the contest. Had all been given a fair chance, I am sure there would be far less contention. Surely they must have known. Mavros Searches from wherever they please but do not even extend the courtesy of an invitation to join the contest for their Lordship. What is the north meant to make of this obvious insult? Why should any northern Lord support this?” The Lord of Nabol was quite vocal in his agreement while a few other northern Lords murmured their assent as well.
Degranik laughed, drawing everyone’s attention, “I find it difficult to believe your sons would wish so badly to leave their comfortable homes in well established, well protected northern Holds to struggle along beside Mavrosi folk. Have you ever visited Mavros, my Lords? Your sons would see what sort of squalor awaited them and turn around to go right back home. You have voted constantly to refuse assistance and trade to the Hold. They have survived mostly off the Weyr’s tithe scraps. There is not even a Hold proper, apartments for a Lord and his family. It is no seat of luxury and power that your sons and brothers have been denied, only a shaky foundation that will require a lifetime’s work to build upon.”
A few of the less vocal dissenters shared uncertain glances at that, but Lord Yallewek replied with an icy stare at the younger Lord, “You presume rather a lot about our sons and brothers, Lord Degranik. Do you think them less capable of hard work than those from the south?”
Degranik gave the man an easy smile, “I meant no insult, my Lord. But the northern Holds have been well protected by their Weyrs while many in the south have seen their Weyrs fail, and felt the consequence and the hardship that follows. I am sure you have kin with admirable work ethic, but it seems to me the desire to leave the comfort of home would be less for most of them, as compared to those in the south who have seen their lands devastated by Thread. They are perhaps more used to the hardship they will face at Mavros.”
Dendallen leaned forward slightly, “They might still have extended the courtesy and given us the choice.”
“Whatever for?” Divano asked, genuine in his curiosity, “As Lord Degranik has said, you have voted constantly to keep them cut off. It is the south that has begun to offer some trade opportunity with them, the south that has offered some support, despite our own hardships. You have offered them naught but rejection, so tell me what entitles you to anything Mavros might have to offer.”
The two men stared each other down across the table, Divano calm and Dendallen stiff with anger, but it seemed he couldn’t find any proper rebuttal to make. Yallewek, more composed beside the furious Lord of High Reaches, offered reply instead, “It was your doing, was it?”
Divano shifted his attention to the Lord of Nabol, brow raised slightly, “What is it you accuse me of, Lord Yallewek?”
“I have been wondering at your support for the results of this so called election when you had no kin of your own in the running. You schemed this little plot, didn’t you? The entire thing, including the exclusion of the north,” Yallewek explained himself, his tone sharp and cold, “Just what are you hoping to accomplish?” The Lord of Nabol turned to eye several of the southern Lords, “You are united in something.”
Divano spread his hands, “Only in seeing a Weyr that has done their duty properly given their rightful place among us. Perhaps it seems irrelevant to you in the north, who have enjoyed proper protection from your Weyrs and take it for granted, but we in the south have seen what happens when a Weyr neglects their purpose, and we can no longer abide the exclusion of a Weyr that serves their role even amidst their own struggles while those who failed in their appointed duty remain in the fold without so much as a slap on the wrist.”
Some understanding seemed to flicker behind the eyes of a few of the northern Lords, some mumbles of agreement with Divano’s statement were given, and as the conversation progressed it seemed there was less dissent among the north than before. There was still some concern about this desire to choose Lord Holders spreading to other Holds, but arguments were made about the long tradition that had been upheld thus far without challenge. Furthermore, as Divano had said, if Asirikai served Mavros well in his position, even Mavros would have no cause to return to voting in their leaders.
“Even more important that we ensure the right man holds the position,” Banterin insisted, “How are we to know Asirikai is the best choice? I know the man not at all. We should be able to consider all possibilities. He was no heir to Mavros, we should not be so limited.”
Hallenfar spoke up as well, “I’ve never met him either. How are we meant to install a man to such an important position if we know nothing of him but that some fishers and pirates on some forsaken island have decided they like him?”
“A fair question,” Reageren allowed, then turned to address the Lord of Cove, “Lord Porrinsen, Asirikai is your own son, yet you’ve been quiet thus far. Do you have nothing to say of him?”
“Hmph,” Lord Porrinsen began with a dismissive sort of noise, “I’m of the opinion that a man, particularly one who would be a Lord, ought not need his father to come running to his defense.” He cast a contemptuous eye toward a few of the northern Lords who still muttered their dissent over this whole affair, purely for the sake of their sons’ bruised egos. Dendallen bristled and Yallewek narrowed his eyes at the southern Lord, but Porrinsen continued, ignoring them, “I would say Mavros suits him, for stubborn and willful could just as well be used to describe him as the Hold.”
When the Lord of Cove was not forthcoming with anything further, Reageren prompted him uncertainly, “Do you support his claim? Do you have reason to doubt his ability as a Lord?”
“My son is a man like any other, with plenty of flaws, to be sure, but I suppose he has shown some merit in positions of leadership. My lessons have not fallen on deaf ears,” Porrinsen admitted almost grudgingly.
Reageren didn’t quite know what to make of the father’s unenthusiastic approval of his son, if it could be called approval. Divano did not let the awkward endorsement sit for long, to sow further doubt amongst the gathered Lords, “You do yourself a disservice, Lord Porrinsen. You raised a fine young man, it seems to me. There is much work ahead at Mavros, but he seems eager for the task, and he is already well liked among the Mavrosi. He has charisma, work ethic, and with your teachings surely he will make a good Lord.”
The mild ego stroke seemed to put Lord Porrinsen in a slightly better mood, “Well, training in Hold management he certainly has. I assure you I imparted upon him all the necessary knowledge to become a good Lord Holder.” That seemed as much as the Lord of Cove was willing to offer, but it at least put to rest some of the unease his previous less than flattering support had inspired in those still doubtful.
Reageren looked to Divano then, glad to turn everyone’s attention to someone more supportive, “You speak for the young man’s character and ability then, Lord Divano?”
“I have met him on a few occasions. He seems as capable as any man among us. Were he my son, I believe I would be proud to claim him,” Divano’s eyes met Porrinsen’s for a moment as he cast his gaze around the group of Lords, and the Lord of Cove’s eyes narrowed slightly as he tried to determine if his words were meant as a slight. Divano did not linger his attention on Porrinsen, however, not wanting to draw everyone’s attention back to the fact that the Lord of Cove hadn’t had much pride of his own where his son was concerned. “I believe he is up to the challenge that Mavros presents, a challenge which will be made all the easier because his people already accept him, because they chose him. It is unconventional, yes, but Mavros was not founded on convention and must be dealt with accordingly. We wanted them to be led by a Lord of the Blood, and they have chosen a Lord of the Blood. It is a compromise, and everyone knows that compromise leaves all sides at least a little unsatisfied.”
Divano gave them all a hard stare, so as not to leave anyone feeling singled out, even if the look was meant for those who still dissented, “If we refuse to confirm the Lord they have chosen, I have no doubt that they will simply return to choosing their leaders, as without our approval Asirikai will not have the proper authority to swiftly begin making improvements at Mavros, and the Mavrosi will conclude that they don’t need a Lord leading them after all. This is our chance to help Mavros grow and thrive, to see that a proper Lord of the Blood is in place to manage it, and if we do not take this chance I could not say when another opportunity would present itself again. The people of Mavros are stubborn, yes, but they deserve better than they’ve gotten. We must give Asirikai the chance to show them how their lives will improve under Lord Holder rule, and allowing them to choose him themselves, accepting the man they have chosen, will show them that we respect the struggle they have endured. We are Lord Holders and our duty is to the people of Pern, including the people of Mavros. Do not throw away this chance, my Lords. That would be the true folly.”
Divano let his statement stand in silence for a moment and then caught Reageren’s eye, and the Lord of Charin gave the man a small nod, “Does anyone else have further concern or complaint to voice over the matter of Asirikai’s confirmation as Lord of Mavros?” There was some unhappy grumbling between Hallenfar and Banterin, and Dendallen muttered something to Yallewek, though the Lord of Nabol said nothing in return. “Then we shall vote and have it decided. We have deliberated long enough. Those in favor?” Only Hallenfar, Banterin, Dendallen, Yallewek, and Yakkonis did not join the ‘yeas’, and so the majority was clear. “Your dissent is noted, Igen, Lemos, High Reaches, Nabol, and Mirran. Lord Asirikai has won the majority. Conclave concludes, and we shall welcome Mavros to our next convening.”
