How To Be A Leader

Writers: Danielle, Eimi
Date Posted: 27th April 2006

Characters: M'galec, I'zar
Description: M'galec give I'zar a check up and they talk about leadership and bravery
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 11, day 10 of Turn 3

"All right now, I'zar, squeeze my hand as best you can now," M'galec
said with an encouraging smile.

"Yes, sir..." I'zar concentrated on just that, but his arm felt so weak!

"Ok, that's fine," the bronzerider nodded. "Well, I think it will still
be some time before you'll be tossing firestone sacks."

I'zar groaned. "But I'm already falling behind....Isn't there _anything_
I can do to make it get better faster?"

"Not unless you wanted to risk breaking it again," M'galec said in a
warning tone. "The strength will come, but it has to come naturally.
Have you been doing the strength exercises we gave you?"

"Of course!" And he had this time. He didn't want to get in trouble
again for disobeying the Healer's orders....besides, it was important
that he get full use of his arm back.

"Then that's the best you can do at the moment," the healer said with a
nod. "You cannot hurry these things, I'zar. You must learn to be
patient.

"I know. I'm trying. I just...want to keep up with everyone. I don't
want to let them down."

M'galec frowned slightly. "You will let them down a whole lot further
if you end up hurting your arm again. Or even worse, do yourself
permanent damage. We like to think our bodies can take anything, but in
reality, we are all fragile creatures."

"Yes, sir." I'zar said and looked at the floor. "Is there anything I
can work on that _doesn't_ need my arm? I mean...since I'm falling
behind in firestone throwing, can I get ahead on something else? To
balance it out and all?" He was just frustrated watching his fellow
weyrlings practice tossing the firestone sacks- and watching them get
better and better at it, while he sat and wished he could be out
there.

"Well, being a dragonrider is not all physical, you know. There is much
more to it than that." He looked at the boy for a long moment. "What
kind of things interest you, I'zar?"

"Oh, well, I want to learn how to be a leader. I mean...everyone says
I have to because of Zhenireth. I don't know if there's any help for
that." He looked down at his feet again. "But anything I can learn
would be helpful. Formations. Geography. Tactics. Anything."

M'galec was impressed by the young man's answer. "You will have plenty
of experience learning how to be a leader. Of course, you will not be
graduating to a fighting wing for quite some time." The healer thought
for a moment. "Perhaps while the other weyrlings are exercising their
muscles in the firestone tosses, you can use that time to exercise
your brain a bit. Would you like a little extra information on those
areas to study while they do the drills you cannot participate in?"

"Yes! ...Um...I mean, I think I'd like that a lot, sir." I'zar grinned.
Anything to help him keep up with his clutchmates and prepare him for
later...the thought of the future made him profoundly nervous. Anything
that would help prepare him would be more than welcome. Even if it did
mean extra work.

"I will see what I can find, then," the bronzerider said, giving the
young man a genuine smile. "Soon you will be teaching your clutchmates
formations and tactics. Just you watch."

"Teach? Me?" He squeaked, eyes wide in fear.

"Well, perhaps not in front of the class, but outside class, you may be
able to tutor some of the students who have a bit of trouble. It is
very valuable leadership experience after all. You cannot lead if you
cannot communicate ideas."

"Oh. I see what you mean. I guess." I'zar relaxed. "I think I could do
that. But I couldn't do what you do...lecture and all that stuff."

"Well, being able to speak in front of others with confidence is also an
important leadership skill that one day you will need to develop. You
were chosen to by a bronze partly because you have the natural ability
in you. You just have to find the confidence to back it up." He knew
the boy would have some time before he would be required to put those
skills into practice, but it was best to get him thinking.

"Well, that makes sense I suppose. How can I start getting confidence
like that?"

"Practice and courage. That is all it is."

I'zar nodded, his face set in determination. "Practice and courage.
Right." He looked up at M'galec, "How do I do that?"

M'galec smiled. "Practice comes from trying. And courage comes from
making yourself try, even if it scares you."

"Really?" I'zar had his doubts, but he did know enough to have faith
in his instructors.

"Of course. How can you be brave if you are not afraid?"

"I thought being brave meant you weren't afraid."

The bronzerider shook his head. "No, being brave means you can overcome
your fear. If you were never afraid of anything, why would you _need_
to be brave?"

"Oh." I'zar frowned, thinking hard. "Because other people _need_ you to
be brave so they can be too?"

"Actually, that was a rhetorical question, I'zar," M'galec sighed. Oh
well, the boy _was_ only fourteen. "Anyway, the point is, as a
bronzerider, you need to learn to overcome your fear and be the leaders
you and your lifemate were born to be."

"Oh. Well. That's going to take a while. But, we kinda have a while
don't we?" I'zar was pretty young, after all.

"Yes, I suppose we do. But it is never to early to start. Or at least
start thinking about it." He gave the young boy's shoulder a squeeze.
"And we need to start working on getting your arm back into shape so you
can catch up with your stone tosses. You remember the exercises you are
to do?"

"Yeah. And Zhenireth likes to help me remember to do them. He won't eat
until he sees that I did my exercises."

"Well, just see that you do your exercises, and that he eats as he
should," M'galec nodded. "Now go one before you are late for your next
class. But just keep in mind what we have talked about today."

"Oh, I will, sir! Thanks for everything!" I'zar hopped down from the
table.

"Remember to exercise!" M'galec called after him as he bolted for the
door. **Was I ever that young?** he wondered to himself. But he knew
the answer. **Probably not.**

Last updated on the May 3rd 2006

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