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Shady dealings, punitive contracts, unusual harsh conditions for his holders . . .”
    “We’ve had some refugees from Bitra with stories that would curl your hair,” Jane, Benden’s Lady Holder, said, wringing her hands in distress. “I’ve kept records . . .”
    “Have you?” Paulin said. “I’d very much like to see them. Autonomy is a privilege and a responsibility, but not a license for authoritarianism or despotic rule. Certainly autonomy does not give anyone the right to deprive his constituents of basic needs. Such as protection from Threadfall.”
    “I don’t know about going so far as to impeach him,” Jamson said, his reluctance deepening. “I mean, such an extreme remedy could have a demoralizing effect on all the holds.”
    “Possibl . . .” Paulin said.
    “Not being prepared for Thread will certainly demoralize Bitra!” Tashvi said.
    Paulin held up his hand as he turned to M’shall. “Please give me specific instances in which Bitra Hold has failed to supply the Weyr. Jane, I’d like to look at the records you’ve kept.”
    “I’ve some, too,” Irene added.
    Paulin nodded and looked around the table. “Since his dereliction of primary duty in regard to preparation against Threadfall could jeopardize not only his own hold but those of his neighbors, I feel we must examine the problem as quickly as possible and indict him—” Jamson jammed an arm up in protest, but Paulin held up a placatory hand. “If, that is, we do find just cause to do so. Just now, he was acting as if he’d had too much of Hegmon’s new wine.”
    “Ha!” was Irene’s immediate response, a cynical response echoed by others around the table.
    “We cannot allow personal feelings to color this matter,” Paulin said firmly.
    “Wait till you read my notes,” was her wry answer.
    “And mine,” said Bridgely.
    “But who could take his place?” Jamson asked, now querulous with anxiety.
    “Not a task I’d like so soon to Thread,” Bastom admitted.
    Paulin grimaced. “But it may have to be done.”
    “Ah, if I may,” and Clisser raised his hand. “The Charter requires us to find a suitable candidate from the incumbent’s Bloodline—” he began.
    “He
has
relatives?” Bridgely asked, mimicking surprise and consternation.
    “I believe so,” Franco said, “beyond his children. An uncle . . .”
    “If they’re of the same Blood as Chalkin, would that be an improvement?” Tashvi wanted to know.
    “They do say a new broom sweeps clean,” Irene remarked. “I heard that Chalkin did his uncle out of succession by giving him an isolated hold . . .”
    “He got him out of the way fast enough, that’s sure,” Bridgely said. “Some mountain place, back of beyond.”
    “All of Bitra is back of beyond,” Azury of Boll remarked, grinning.
    “A replacement is not the most immediate concern,” Paulin said, taking charge again, “if we can persuade Chalkin that all of us can’t be wrong about Threadfall.”
    Zulaya this time snorted at that unlikelihood. “He’ll admit he’s wrong only when Thread is eating him . . . which might solve the problem in the most effective way. Bitra’s in the path of the First Fall.”
    “Remiss as Chalkin appears to be,” Jamson said, “Bitra Hold may be better off
with
than without him. You don’t learn the management of a hold overnight, you know.”
    Paulin gave the High Reaches Lord a long look. “That is very true, but if he hasn’t even told his people that Thread is coming . . .” and he opened up his hands to show dismay at such an omission. “That’s a dereliction of duty right there. His prime duty and the primary reason for having a Leader during a crisis. As a group we also have a responsibility to be sure each of us is performing duties inherent to our rank and position.”
    Zulaya shrugged. “It’d serve him right to be caught out in the First Fall.”
    “Yes, well,” and Paulin rattled papers. “I’ll accept reports