Anthros and Dungeons

Actually, since the female village leader was visible right there, it was a fair guess.

I don't see a sign on her saying "Village Leader". She'd probably be decked out if she were the village leader's wife, too (as I said in my prior comment) - and no less eager to welcome back a missing child. Again, it's coming to the conclusion based on assigned narrative roles rather than on evidence the characters actually have access to.

Actually, given that there is no well dressed male coming to welcome her back, it is a fair guess.

It doesn't necessarily follow. There are any number of quite plausible explanations - her father could be busy elsewhere at the particular instant they've shown up, for one.

Which is kind of my point. There are any number of explanations for the scene in front of them, whether or not one immediately assumes that that woman is in charge of everybody. (Even if she is, it could be a completely gender-agnostic leadership structure, to produce yet another example; or one with both female and male leaders in different spheres but not necessarily female-dominant overall). If matriarchy is not the norm, there's no narrative reason to jump to it as an assumption (not without reference to numerous generations of female leaders). If it IS the norm, there's no reason to remark upon it.

Ultimately, I will say for clarity, my criticism is not that the society is matriarchal; it is that the way this is presented is using the characters to tell, rather than show. It warps the fourth wall and impacts my suspension of disbelief.

I could see that. Still, even if it's not the only possibility, it's still one possible guess. Think of it from his perspective: horsey mentions a village leader, and a brightly dressed elder runs up to her. Said elder is probably the leader. In a lot of tribal societies, gender determines leadership. In most of those, patriarchy is the norm. As such a female is noteworthy. There IS a logical leap, as you said, but it's not that far. The reason he asked it as a question was to clarify if the assumption was right.