“I had hoped to exchange news with them.” Moreta’s regret was sincere, but she was also relieved. The Benden Weyrleaders did not like Orlith’s fascination with Tuzuth, the Benden bronze, any more than she herself did. Such cross-weyr interests were encouraged in young queens but not in seniors. “Did Benden’s Lord Holder come, too?”
“Yes.” Pleasure tinged Alessan’s tone. “Lord Shadder and I had only the briefest but most congenial of talks. Most congenial. East and West don’t often have much chance to meet. Have you met Lord Shadder?”
“When I was in Ista Weyr.” Moreta smiled back at Alessan, for Shadder of Benden was undoubtedly the most popular Lord Holder on Pern. His warmth and concern always seemed intensely personal. She sighed. “I really wish I had been able to come sooner. Who else attends?”
The briefest of frowns crossed Alessan’s face. “At the moment,” he said briskly, “holders and Craftmasters from Ruatha, Fort, Crom,
Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern 13
Nabol, Tiliek and High Reaches. A long journey for some, but everyone seems well pleased that the warm weather had held for the Gather.” He glanced about the crowded stalls, noting trades in the making. “Tillek’s Lord Holder may arrive later with the High Reaches Weyrleader. Lord Tolocamp rode in an hour ago and is changing.”
Moreta grinned in sympathy with Alessan. Lord Tolocamp was an energetic, forceful man who spoke his mind and gave his opinion on every topic as if he were the universal expert. As he did not have the least sense of humor, exchanges with him were apt to be awkward and boring. Moreta preferred to avoid his company whenever possible. But, as she was now senior Weyrwoman, she had fewer excuses to do so.
“How many of his ladies came with him?”
“Five.” Alessan’s voice was carefully neutral. “My mother, Lady Oma, always enjoys a visit with Lady Pendra.”
Moreta had to choke back a laugh and turned her face slightly away. All Pem knew that Lady Pendra was angling to get Alessan to marry one of her numerous daughters, nieces, or cousins. Alessan’s young wife, Suriana, had died the previous Turn in a fall. At the time, Lord Leef had not pressed his son to make another marriage, a fact that many had taken to mean that Alessan was not to succeed. As the Fort Hold girls were as plain as they were capable, Moreta didn’t think much of Fort’s chances, but Alessan would be obliged to marry soon if he wished his own bloodline to succeed.
“Would it please the Fort Weyrwoman for Lord Alessan to take a Fort Holder as wife?” His voice was cold and stiff.
“You can surely do better than that,” Moreta replied crisply and then laughed. “I’m sorry. It is not really a subject for levity, but you don’t know how you sound.”
“And how do I sound?” Alessan’s eyes glinted.
“Like a man sorely pressed in a direction he does not wish to travel. This is your first Gather. You should enjoy it, too.”
“Will you help me?” Pure mischief played across his face now.
“How?”
“You’re my Weyrwoman.” His face assumed a proper respect. “Since Sh’gall has not accompanied you, I must be your partner.”
“In conscience, I could not monopolize your time.” Even as she
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Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern
spoke, Moreta realized that that was what she would rather like to do. There was a rebellion in him that attracted her. “Most of it?” His voice was wistfully pleading, quite a variance
with his sparkling eyes and grin. “I know what I have to do but
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“There’ll be girls here from all over”
“Yes, a Search has been conducted for my benefit.”
“What else did you expect. Lord Alessan, when you’re now such a suitable match?”
“Suriana liked me, not my prospects,” Alessan said in a flat bleak voice. “When that match was arranged, of course, I had none, so we could suit ourselves. And we did.”
So that explained why he had been allowed to grieve and defer a second marriage. Moreta hadn’t thought Lord Leef had so much compassion in him. “You were more fortunate than most,” she said, oddly envious. Once she had Impressed a queen, personal choice had been denied her. Once she had Impressed Orlith, their love compensated for many things; love for another human paled in comparison.