Adelia sat on a rock at the feeding grounds, watching her dragon feed and looking over a skin with the food records on it from Yasina.  Ah, Yasina, surprisingly the woman felt no bitterness towards Adelia at all.  She had gone down to aprentice herself to the headwoman, and was doing a fine job of it.  If anything, the two women had become friends.
    R'san came out of a wing, muttering to himself.  "If only they would think, instead of just worrying over the problem! If only they would listen to my solution! So the Holds don't send enough tithe, then work for it ourselves! There's plenty of food and possibilities for it in the woods, and Valley Weyr's been doing it for a long time!"
    "Trouble?" Adelia asked soothingly.  R'san, a childhood friend and good friend now, seemed to always concern himself with the business of the Weyr, even if his dragon was only a weyrling.  It wasn't that he stuck his nose in it, but his sincere concern, sensible suggestions and likable personality earned him a position of leadership in an unofficial way. Adelia was certainly glad of it.  With all the men, some not even bronze-riders, that thought they ran the Weyr, he who did not act as if he did was the most helpful. He had come as a candidate with merits for leadership, and it seemed he was well credited.
    "They just don't think sense!" R'san sighed.
    "Well, tell me your problem. I am the Weyrwoman, maybe I can do something about it."
    She already knew the problem from his muttering, but listened anyway as he told her. He could not keep the dislike of some of them and their ways out of his voice, though she knew he felt he had no place to criticize.  She recalled their mischevious adventures as children, he actually had been mischevious back then.  Now he was the same somewhat charming person he had been, with such a great leadership personality.  He would make a good Weyrleader.  She wasn't sure exactly what would make a new Weyrleader, something about her Elieth's mating flight. Those teachers she had never told her anything!  She had heard rumors that it involved some other things too, but she didn't dwell on those rumors.
    She picked up Yasina's hide.
    "Shows low food tithe.  This could definently be of use."
    "The other Weyr uses their own resources as a primary source, why can't we do the same? There is room for cultivation on that one hill.  I know its against tradition, but sometimes things have to be practical."
    "I know, I know. Beleive me, I don't like those pompous windbags either.  I will do what I can R'san, and without a real Weyrleader I am the highest authority, but then again all of these riders think they are the Weyrleader, so I may find it hard to match their wills."
    "With that stare o fyours, you should have no problem matching wills with them." R'san laughed.  Adelia was suddenly aware of his close proximity, sitting on the rock next to her.  She wanted to give him one of those stares he said she had, but somehow she couldn't do it.  It was strangely comforting.  Shaking the thought, she rose to set about helping her Weyr.  R'san rose with her.  This time she did flash him an icy stare, breifly, before smiling.  "I suppose I will go and speak to them then."