Vandar
Springbreeze Farm
In which Priscilla’s message is received.
Val Con mentions that Korval has been led by “thirty-one generations of yos’Pheliums”. If we assume a round figure of a thousand years since the founding of the Clan, that gives an average spacing of 30-35 years between generations, which is not unreasonable and accords with the information we have about the ages at which various yos’Pheliums have become parents.
It does, however, contrast interestingly with the information established elsewhere that the number of actual Delms to date has been 85. That works out to an average of 2-3 Delms per generation, and each Delm holding the post for an average of slightly over a decade. And we know that there have been stretches where there was only one Delm in each generation, and Delms who have borne the ring for as much as fifty years, so there must also have been periods when the turnover was even more rapid than the average suggests.
The message from Priscilla, with its implication that Korval is enquiring into matters relating to the doings of the Department, leaves Val Con determined that they must do something, and soon. It remains to be seen, however, what can be done.
There might have been yos’Galen-Delms whenever the yos’Pheliums where not the best pilots.
There might have been; it’s been mentioned often enough that the Clan’s laws allows for yos’Galan to step up if yos’Phelium is not able. But I have the impression, though I don’t recall exactly where from, that that situation has never yet actually occurred.
It really seems as if yos’Galens only hold the ring in trust and are never adressed as delm. Given how dangerous yos’Pheliums lives are, changing who is delm might be necessary due to losses or – as it appears in later books – due to another person than the current delm beeing needed for balancing something.