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〃No。。。 they go away when they get too good。〃 His eyes measured Heris again。
〃Of course。。。 size doesn't matter； and all that； but I'd think to start her on something reasonable。 Sixteen？〃
〃Fine。〃
〃She has to show me in the ring that she has the basics； but I'll shift her to the outside course right away。〃
〃Thanks； Neil。〃
〃No problem。〃 He was still staring at Heris as if she had sprouted scales； then he nodded sharply and called 〃Bring me the bay mare in seventeen； size sixteen saddle； and the eggbutt snaffle。〃 To Heris he said； 〃If Lady Cecelia says you're a promising novice； I'll believe it； and that mare will give you the chance to show it。 Honest； can jump； but not fast enough for the field。 If you suit； you can use her here until you qualify。〃 Then； to Cecelia； 〃Now watch this。〃
A thin girl led up a horse that looked enormous to Heris； it was a brown so dark it looked black except in clear sun。 Cecelia nodded。 〃Is that what you got with the Buccinator sperm？〃
〃Yep。 Off the Cullross mares。 Two of 'em； the other's a liver chestnut。 This one's five； and before you say anything I know I didn't show him to you last year。。。。 Milord said not to； because it's a surprise。 Want to try him？〃
Heris could see the flush on Cecelia's cheek； the delight and eagerness that made her almost girlish。
〃Of course。。。。〃 She was up in a flash； rising lightly to the hand that gave her a leg up。 Heris had； by this time； seen her employer on many horses in the training cubes； she thought she knew how that long； lanky body； almost too stiff at times on the ground； would look astride。 Cecelia looked better … as if she and the horse had fused into one。
〃Here； sir。〃 That was someone else； with a smaller brown horse for Heris。 The man nodded at her； and she mounted without waiting for assistance。
〃e on； the both of you；〃 he said。 〃You'll need to warm up inside anyway。〃
Heris； on her first live horse since her time in the Academy； found that coordinating the movement of legs and hands while the horse actually walked … walked toward something … was harder than she expected。 She liked the higher viewpoint； but wanted to spend it looking around； not steering。 Ahead of her； on the dark horse； Cecelia seemed to be having no problems。 Heris lined up behind her and hoped her horse would follow calmly while she tried to remember all the lessons。
The inner training area； a walled oblong； offered fewer distractions。 They walked to the right； Neil moved to the center； watching。 Heris began to relax； letting her body discover the difference between the simulation and reality。
It still felt strange。 This was not a mechanical device； or an electronic image： this was an animal； a live thing； that smelled like an animal and felt （when she dared touch the neck） like an animal。 The horse blew； a long slobbering breath； and Heris felt that in her legs。
Simulations work； she told herself。 They're effective training tools； you learned to pilot a ship off simulators； of course you can ride this animal。
The animal was slowing down； she realized； because she wasn't giving enough signal with her legs。 The simulation tended to keep a pace more easily； Cecelia had mentioned that some horses required more leg pressure。 Heris increased it； and the horse's head came up （just like the VR image！） and it walked faster。 Mare。 The man had said mare； and mares were females。。。 so she walked faster。
〃Reverse；〃 Neil said。 Almost before she thought； Heris had shortened one rein； shifted her legs slightly and the mare was turning smoothly to reverse directions。 It worked。 Of course it had worked in the simulator； but it worked on a real horse； too。 She felt better。 Maybe everything would work on the real horse。 She looked over at Cecelia； across the circle。 Her employer did not look anywhere near her actual age on that horse； she could have been Heris's age or even younger。
〃Pick up a nice trot； now；〃 Neil said。
Trotting felt pletely different from the simulator。 She was off balance at first； and she sensed Neil's disapproval。 It took her an entire circuit of the ring to figure out what was wrong； her ship…trained sense of balance had worked on the simulator because it wasn't going anywhere relative to the ship … but the horse was going somewhere on the ground。 If she leaned forward a bit more … she experimented … suddenly the movement felt right。 Cecelia was right … it could feel like dancing。
With that experience to draw on； she was prepared for the difference in the feel of the canter； and pensated within a few bounds。 The rush of cold air on her face was exhilarating； she didn't want to stop。
〃She'll do；〃 Neil said to Cecelia。 Then； to Heris； 〃All right； Captain … back to a walk now； and bring 'er in to the center。 You can watch Lady Cecelia。〃
Heris slowed； remembering to brace her back； and guided the mare to near Neil。
Cecelia's horse was walking again。 Heris tried to notice the things she'd been taught to notice； but what struck her most was the horses size。 Even from up here； it looked big。 When Heris had settled the mare in a halt； Cecelia nudged her mount to a trot。 She hadn't waited for Neil's signal； Heris noticed。
Watching the big horse trot； she wondered why Cecelia hadn't overtaken her。 It moved so much faster。。。。 Cecelia slowed it again； its neck arched and its steps shortened。 Then it stretched； then pressed again。 Heris was fascinated。
〃Let's try you both on a few fences；〃 Neil said。 He led the way out of that ring into another； where four small jumps were set up。 〃You first；〃 he said to Heris。 〃Just pick up a trot and take the little white one。〃
Heris collected the mare； pushed her into a trot； and approached the first jump。 It seemed to stay in place while she moved； while the simulator had given the illusion of the jump shifting toward her。 Even as she thought this； the mare rose to the jump； and Heris leaned into it。 It felt the same； though。
She turned the mare around； awaiting orders。
〃Now try these two；〃 Neil said。 That； too； went smoothly； she felt steady and safe； but she knew the jumps were small。 At Neil's mand； she trotted over all four； then cantered over a pair … an in…and…out； he called it。 He yelled； and several husky youths appeared and moved the jumps around。 Again she jumped； first at a trot； and then a canter； first one way； then the other； as the fence crew changed distances and heights。 Neil said nothing about her performance until it was over； when he called her to him。 〃Lady Cecelia's right；〃 he said。 〃You're a solid novice。 We'll see later what you do in the open。 Walk 'er in circles down there … 〃 He pointed to the far end of the enclosure。
Now it was Lady Cecelia's turn。 The big dark horse poured over the jumps at a trot； hardly seeming to lift itself。 The jumps were raised； the distances changed。 Cecelia had explained the reasons； but even the simulator had not made it clear to Heris just what these changes demanded from a live animal。
She watched the dark horse arch； lifting its knees high； as the jumps came up； she watched it press and lengthen as the jumps were placed closer together or farther apart。 And Cecelia； whom she had once considered a rich old eccentric