Even though the weyrlings are now all more or less snugly ensconced in their own weyrs, the training grounds still see plenty of activity, and likely will all the way up to graduation day. It may be cold, but the bonfire warming the middle of the barracks yard throws off a lot of warmth and light, making the benches surrounding it quite bearable, if still a little chilly. There's no avoiding that, but it's also by design. The lessons being given this late afternoon aren't the most enthralling, so the chilly edge is needed to keep the weyrlings awake. And Kyara, being a former Harper, has the dubious pleasure of leading some of the lessons on politics. So there she waits while the weyrlings get settled in their seats, gloves hands clasped at her back until she has to return salutes.

Once upon a time, a certain young greenling might have found ways to escape the coming doom of this particular lesson, cringing at the exercise in sheer boredom, but there are lessons, and there are lessons! This, En'rys has been dreading like no other, for the ins, outs, twists and turns of it all have ever eluded En'rys, no matter the ways in which such things have been explained to him. And yet, perhaps time and responsibility have matured him in ways he has yet to discover, for he chivvies some of the younger weyrlings into place, shushing a chatterbox or two with a stern word or a hard stare before settling himself down near enough to be certain he can hear everything and hopefully present the proper attitude.

Kyara may have to teach it, but that doesn't mean she doesn't understand. "This has never been anyone's favorite lesson," she begins once her current bunch has settled in. "It certainly wasn't mine, and I don't expect it to be any of yours. Though maybe someone will surprise me." One never knows! Each class has its own quirks. "Before we get started, would someone tell me why, despite the dryness of the subject, basic politics is something important for dragonriders to know about?" Keen amber eyes survey the group intently, waiting for a hand to lift.

There's a lot of shifting of feet, of throat clearing, of muffled coughs, but no volunteers. Everyone's trying to pretend they aren't actually there, hoping Kyara won't notice them. En'rys rolls his eyes skyward, but had not expected anyone to want to answer any questions. He certainly doesn't want to either! However, he's found that ducking to avoid participation drags these things out longer than one might want, so up his hand goes, hesitantly. He might have an answer, maybe.

"By all means, stay quiet if you'd like extra PT," Kyara remarks a tad too brightly, the small smile that curves her lips more suited to cutting leather than winning over a room. "You're nearly to graduation and should be beyond these games. Even a simple no will suffice. But your wingleader will set the example." Which the greenriding AWLM clearly approves of as she gestures his way. "Yes, En'rys?"

En'rys has clearly spent too many Turns in apprenticeship — he can spot a disciplinarian of a teacher coming. Is there the slightest relief in knowing he'd been right to suggest they not play around? Of course there is! The others suddenly go still, eyeing Kyara warily. Meanwhile, En'rys will put forth, slowly: "We have to be able to speak with heads of Crafts, Lord Holders… saying the wrong thing to the wrong person at the wrong time could see our tithes diminish or disappear entirely. Crafters can be withdrawn from the Weyr. We kinda… depend on the goodwill of the lands we protect, don't we?"

Kyara is definitely a lot more fun to be around when they're all doing something more active, like drills and betweening and whatnot. But here…the fact that she was once a Journeyman shows through rather plainly. She nods along slowly with En'rys' response, though mention of what could happen to tithes earns a little arch of a brow. "We do, since we aren't self-sustaining," she answers his last. "Thank you, wingleader. However, you mention a very fine line that's walked. The Weyr has a considerable amount of power. The average person cannot fight Thread from the ground with a flamethrower, even if an entire Hold were to wield them at once. The goal has always been to defeat it before it meets the ground and endangers non-rider lives. Every Holder and Crafter knows that we are their only line of defense, so no matter how much we may be hated - and there are some who hate us - they cannot afford to stop tithing. We have options; Hold and Hall do not. But obviously, it behooves us to comport ourselves with honor among all those we protect, especially with those who would rather not depend on us. And that is why we must be familiar with the leanings of those whose skies we keep clear. Now." She surveys the assembled weyrlings again, more pointedly this time. "Who can name the major Holds who look to our Weyr specifically for protection?"

Someone decides to smarten up and participate: K'kali, who hates PT with the fury of a thousand suns. "W-we protect… Igen Hold?" The bronzeling puts forth almost timidly, then looks about him askance, seeking support. En'rys takes the time to mull over Kyara's explanation, just dying to needle her with more questions vis a vis Hold, Hall, and Weyr intricacies - but it's not the time. First, he's got to quell his own squirmy tendencies; he'd grown up here, having been brought forward at a mere four Turns old, and knows no other home. He wonders if K'kali's gotten it right.

"Of course," Kyara confirms with a nod. "Two more. Plus two of the Crafthalls, one of which is at Igen Hold, if you'd like to add those. Think of where the Red Butte lies." She'll give a couple of little hints, but no more. Betweening practice should inform them plenty.

"Keroon. And South Telgar." En'rys pipes up again, nervously running a hand though his hair. All those maps are a blur in his head right now, running over each other in funny, melty lines. "Is Kurkar a major hold?" Asks a very young brownling, confused. "Or is it a minor one. There are so many!" En'rys, naturally, has to smirk at the question regarding crafthalls — if he doesn't get this one right…. "Tannercraft and Beastcraft." Having been involved with at least one of the two, the young wingleader is altogether too sure of himself on that score.

Again Kyara nods to En'rys' answers, smiling when he amends the Crafthalls. "Thank you again, wingleader. Igen Hold with the Tannercraft Hall, Keroon Hold with the Beastcraft Hall, and South Telgar, with many, many minor holds and cotholds in between. Kurkar is not a major Hold," she says, looking to the brownling who asked the question, "but one we must be familiar with given their ties to us. And yes, there are many, but you will learn them all in time. Even after you graduate." Because let's be real: there is no way for them to learn every single holding on Pern and commit them to memory during weyrlinghood alone. "Major Holds are governed by Lords and Ladies, and you will need to learn them all by the end of the month. Fortunately, there are only fourteen Major Holds, and not all of them currently have both a Lord and Lady. Those who govern minor Holdings and cotholds are titled as Holder, though some will call them lord and lady out of respect." Which makes for some muddling from time to time, but so goes life.

"And more small ones cropping up and merging all the time, it seems," En'rys muses aloud. He's seen the lists, rummaging about in the Archives as curious cats do, trying to learn what there is to be learned. He perks up a bit, venturing a question that's been burning a hole in the back of his head for what seems like forever: "Why is it we style minor Holders 'lord' or 'lady' if they aren't? Does it depend on whether the title helps them feel more important?" It seems that many need that kind of ego boosting. "And… does it seem like Holders and Crafters have some of the most egregious stories about Weyr life? I went into a Craft for awhile - Tanner - and got asked some rude questions when the others found out I'm Weyrbred."

"I… suppose I can see why." En'rys sighs, rubbing his temple gently. There's some shifting about from the rest of the class, but it seems to be rather more a settling in than a wriggling away; meanwhile, En'rys gathers his thoughts into a semblance of cohesion. "I used to try and make up tall tales to make myself feel more important. Not that the minor Holders are children, but they've got to feel… kind of overshadowed by the major Holds. Overlooked, even. Doesn't hurt to afford them some small courtesy if it helps, right?" There's the barest gleam of mischief in his brief smile before he wrinkles his nose. "I remember my dad telling me some stories from back then, and you're right, it sounds exactly the same as now. Is that because folks tend to stay insular, turned in toward their own? I mean, even in the Weyr, you got your insular sorts." He cants his head to one side, studying Kyara thoughtfully. "So… maybe we have to be aware of our own predjudices and look beyond them to avoid insulting others?""

"Sometimes a well-placed ego-stroke is necessary with a Holder. Same with a Lord and Lady," Kyara agrees rather wryly. "More often the 'small courtesy' that goes the longest way with the Holders who feel overlooked is simply respect. Valuing their opinions and perspectives with regard to their own holdings and their place in the world around them. Whether they be right or wrong, the courtesy of listening never goes amiss. And when it's clear one may not really know what they're talking about, keeping that opinion to yourself is usually prudent," she adds with a smirk. As for En'rys' last, "Many do tend to stay insular, yes. Particularly in this time." Apologies to the Nowtime crowd who might scowl at that. "Hold, Hall, and Weyr have always been worlds unto themselves in some ways. Being aware of our own prejudices with that in mind certainly goes a long way. Though who will perceive what as insult isn't always an easy thing to tell. We can only do our best, and take what may or may not come with integrity."

Oh, there are some scowls — mostly from those who deem themselves more important than mere commoners, as those Hold and Craft folk are. My how these have forgotten their own 'common' beginnings. En'rys smothers a sardonic laugh behind a cough. This is serious business! "I'd noticed… actually listening goes a long way, and asking opinions — even the ones you don't agree with — will tell me a lot about a person." He frowns a little, then. "This… isn't going to be easy, is it? Is that why people tell us to be so careful of where we are when… well." When those greens start turning into walking glowbaskets.

And the scowlers will probably be getting extra lessons! Joy of joys! Kyara takes careful mental notes for later, moving on. "They tend to tell us about ourselves as well," she says of opinions, and shakes her head to En'rys' question. "Not easy, but it will become part of life. And since life isn't easy in general, it fits right in." It takes her a second to catch what he's really getting at, the tilt of her head conveying "yes" and "no" at the same time. "You're to be mindful wherever you go because you are representing the Weyr. Igen is still repairing its reputation in some places, so it's especially important then, and we'll go over where exactly soon. What you're getting at, En'rys, isn't so much part of it…but we'll be discussing why soon enough." Yay, mating flight lectures! If everyone thinks politics is bad…

Mating flight lectures are sure to make the conservative die a little inside. Good thing they aren't talking about that now, though! "Boy, does it fit in." En'rys is wry in his agreement, lifting his shoulders fatalistically. "Yeah, I can see how we'd need to be extra careful in some places. Rebuilding trust takes time." He looks around, catching a scowl or two, and is likely going to be relieved to not have to lay down the law — it's often easier for someone whose experince with these things is greater to really get through to a thick skull or two. And En'rys has dealt with his share of them; he'll happily let Kyara take the lead on this, as his own efforts have made little headway with the worst of the lot.

"Exactly so," Kyara agrees over the matter of rebuilding trust, though in her opinion it's a rather glacial process and she ought not expect it to speed up any time soon. "Now. Who can tell me the names of the Lords and Ladies of the Holds who look to us?" With that, the lesson carries on, another good half a candle mark to go before this particular group of weyrlings is freed from the green rider's clutches. Though hopefully they'll agree things could definitely have been worse once it's all said and done.