Sharra chuckled softly. "I see that everyone who could afford it has been spilling marks into the Weavercraft coffers."
"I thought Master Zurg looked excessively smug when we passed him."
"He should be. Everyone, including that wretched dandy Blesserel, is wearing new clothes, either tailored by or made from fabrics bought from good Master Zurg. Except you." Sharra said that with a sniff of disapproval. "It wouldn't have taken much time to have a new outfit for today."
".Why? I'm not exactly threadbare or colorless," Jaxom replied. He was fond of the deep brown and russet he wore; he thought those colors went well with Sharra's azure. "And these clothes aren't all that old. They were new for our last Gather day."
Sharra sniffed again. "Half a Turn ago. You don't care what you wear so long as it's comfortable. Just look at the variety of style and hue others are wearing."
Jaxom closed his right hand over hers on his arm and gave it a squeeze. "You look grand enough for both of us."
Sharra gave him a droll sideways glance. "If you'd ever taken the time to be fitted for what I wanted you to wear, we'd outshine everyone else, love." She gave a resigned sigh. "As it is, it's just too bad the Craftmasters can't vote on the succession."
"They should, you know," Jaxom replied. "They're as vital to the smooth management of Pern as any Lord Holder."
"Sshhh," Sharra said, though her eyes twinkled at his heresy. "You upset sufficient Lord Holders without suggesting that innovation."
"It'll come! It'll come," Jaxom said. "Once the conservative element among the Holders are replaced."
"What if Ranrel doesn't make it? Brand did say that there would be protest over his use of the 'Abomination's' materials."
Jaxom snorted. "With bloody near everyone else wearing them? Besides, Ranrel's the only one of Oterel's issue who's ever worked. And he's improved the Hold's facilities. That has to count heavily in his favor."
"Yes, but he's also a journeyman, which men like Nessel and Corman take as an admission that he himself knows he's not Holder material."
"And Blesserel and Terentel, with their soft hands and steep debts, are? A journeyman's knot in the Fisherman's Craft at least says a man has skill, strength, and endurance. And he's had more of managing men than either of that useless pair," Jaxom said.
"Brand mentioned that Blesserel's been actively striving to get support from Corman of Keroon, Sangel, and Begamon and even went to see Toric."
"Well, if he's promised to help Toric with Denol's island rebels, he'll be working against himself," Jaxom said scornfully.
"I don't know about that, Jax, I really don't," Sharra said, frowning slightly. "My brother's devious, as well as plain contrary at times." Then she smiled as she saw Toronas and his wife heading in their direction.
"Four votes wouldn't be enough anyway," Jaxom murmured with a reassurance he didn't really believe before the young Benden Holders joined them.
Robinton had wanted to arrive early at Tillek, to have a stroll around and get the feel of the assemblage. Somehow or other, Lytol had managed to delay their departure so that T'gellan deposited them only just before the actual Conference was due to start. Lytol secured him an oversized goblet of Benden white and insisted that he be seated on one of the few wall benches on the forecourt "for an overall view." Granted he had that, but he would have preferred to mingle with the crowd and sense the general mood.
"You're fussing over me, Lytol!" Robinton said querulously.
"You'll have enough excitement..."
"There are people I wish to speak with down there!"
"You can't alter the outcome of today's proceedings a half hour before they start, Robinton," Lytol replied.
"But you can!" Robinton knew that he was being testy with his old friend, and jealous.
"I will do as common sense dictates, Harper, and when that will be most effective." Lytol caught sight of Blesserel, Oterel's firstborn son, clad in uncharacteristically sober dark colors in a conservatively cut outfit. "As if that garb is going to counteract his years as a gaudy guy!" Lytol muttered contemptuously.
"I don't see Ranrel," Robinton complained.
"To your left, on the third riser, speaking to Sigomal," Lytol said, pointing.
"Well, good for him. He's not afraid to parade his accomplishments," Robinton said after a moment's regard. The youngest of Oterel's eligible sons had dressed in Fishcraft colors and wore his journeyman's knot fastened to his Tillek rank cord. "Ista and High Reaches will appreciate the compliment. And Master Idarolan."
"For all the good it does."
"Now, if only Craftmasters were allowed in on the voting..." Robinton said, half to tease Lytol and half in wishful thinking. Lytol merely grunted, a surprising reaction since, in previous times, he had been dead set against such an innovation. Was Jaxom having some effect on his former guardian after all? Robinton wondered.
"Idarolan's a sound man and manages to keep most of a very wayward lot in line-most of the time," Lytol said. "But inlanders would not be swayed by his opinions."
"Sangel of Boll is scarcely an inlander," Robinton protested.
"That doesn't mean he thinks with his wits," Lytol replied. "And it's the undecided Holders that must be swayed one way or another: Sigomal, Nessel, and Deckter."
"Deckter will appreciate Ranrel's harbor reconstruction. He's got a merchant's mind on such matters. Blesserel and Terentel have done nothing to improve Tillek Hold."
"Sigomal will side with Blesserel, if only to recoup the boy's gambling losses. You know the way Bitra always turns: markward."
The Hold bugler appeared at the massive entrance and blew the ten-minute warning. The babble of the crowd briefly abated, then increased with excitement as the fifteen Lord Holders began to make their way toward the steps. Lytol watched for Jaxom, Sharra on his arm, to emerge from the throng and unobtrusively beckoned him over. Jaxom's face lit with a big smile as he saw the Harper beside his former warder.
"My dear Lady Holder, you outshine the day," Robinton said, rising to take Sharra's hand warmly in his. "Has everyone here made Zurg markedly richer today?"
Sharra laughed at his outrageous compliment. Though she was a tall girl, she had to stand on tiptoe to plant a kiss on his cheek. "Even Master Norist," she whispered in his ear, giggling as she indicated with a nod of her head where the Glassmaster could be seen in the crowd, resplendent in red and yellow. "Did anyone have the nerve to tell him how much Zurg's Craft has been enhanced by the 'Abomination's' data?"
Robinton let out a bellow of laughter, beginning to let go of his annoyance with Lytol.
Sharra took an admiring pinch of his gracefully belled deep blue sleeve. "I see you endured the fittings and pinnings, too."
"I was excused them," Robinton said loftily. "Master Zurg has had my measurements all these years and presented me these glad rags as a token of his Hall's appreciation for time well spent with Aivas."
Sharra affected a shocked expression. "And here I thought you were Pern's most honest man."
"Not even Lytol is." Robinton gestured at the former Ruathan Warder's back, for Lytol was just entering Tillek's Great Hall with Jaxom. "But then Lytol, as a former weaver, has always been particular in matters of dress."