“I think we should offer J’lantir the lead,” T’mar said just after Fiona relayed how the Ista flight had outperformed its Telgar and High Reaches counterparts. He caught Jeila’s frown and nodded his head toward her. “You disagree?”

“No,” Jeila said, sighing. “He’s led a Weyr as well as a Flight, he’s had more experience than any bronze rider here.”

“H’nez will be disappointed,” Fiona predicted.

Jeila glanced sharply toward her, a calculating look on her face. “It would be wrong to hope he behave any other way.”

“It would,” T’mar agreed. “I would feel the same in his position.”

“In fact, you do,” Fiona pointed out. T’mar gave her a pained look even as he nodded in acknowledgment of her words.

“His first concern is Pern,” Jeila said, almost to herself. “Then his Weyr, his Flight, his wing, his dragon.” With a rueful smile, she added, “After that he considers himself and the feelings of others.”

“He is a hard man,” Fiona said.

“Tough times call for such,” Jeila replied. Her eyes flashed as she said to Fiona, “I know that you and he have quarreled in the past—”

“Our ways are different,” Fiona said. “But your interests are the same.”

Fiona smiled at the dark-haired woman. “What I do know is that anyone who attracts your affection has my friendship.”

“But, even so, we should let J’lantir lead,” Jeila said in agreement. She lifted her head to meet Fiona’s eyes, then turned to T’mar, saying, “Weyrleader, I agree with your decision.”

“While I’m still recovering, I’ll let H’nez lead the Fort riders,” T’mar said.

“No, you will not!” Fiona found herself shouting in unison with Jeila. They turned to each other in shock, and Fiona gestured for the other woman to speak first. Jeila cleared her throat, then said with as much control as she could muster, “Weyrleader, if you give J’lantir the authority to lead the fighting dragons, you must leave how to lead and arrange the wings and Flights up to him as well.”

“Besides, we should mix up our riders as quickly as we can,” Fiona said, after nodding in agreement with Jeila’s declaration. “We are Telgar now.”

“Exactly,” Jeila said.

T’mar’s lips rose in a small grin. “I believe you have made excellent points, Weyrwomen.”

Fiona made sure to accompany Birentir as he checked on T’mar shortly before the fighting drill was to end. She and Terin brought him a lunch tray and waited until Birentir had inspected him before setting it in front of him and helping him sit up enough to eat.

“Another two days at least, Weyrleader,” Birentir said. “After that, we’ll see how you are at standing.”

“I feel fine,” T’mar protested.

“Lying down, yes,” Fiona snapped back. “Wait until you try standing.”