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a rich old eccentric。。。 Cecelia flowed with the horse； a part of it。
When they were through； they walked back up to the house together。 Cecelia had told Neil she would e back later to ride the other horse。 〃Now I want to be sure Heris is settled；〃 she said。 〃She needs to meet a few people； learn where things are。〃
〃Of course；〃 Neil said。 〃But give me a call just before you e down。〃
Now Heris looked around her； more at ease than before。 Like the house itself； all the surrounding buildings were either built of stone or faced with it。
Most had stone or tile roofs as well。 It looked remarkably like the cube of Old Earth Europe。
〃I suppose it's like the old parts of the Academy；〃 she said； turning to watch someone ride along a narrow cobbled street lined with stone buildings。
〃Nostalgia or something。。。〃
〃And economy； here；〃 Cecelia said。 〃You have to remember when this was settled … a bare two centuries ago。 Bunny's ancestors had money； yes； but it was far cheaper to import workers to build with local stone； than to import an entire factory to create conventional materials。 I suspect that the first ones simply copied designs from old books … and then it began to look Old Earthish； and if someone teased them。。。 well； that would have done it。 They'd have insisted it was intentional。〃 She walked around a circular tub planted with brilliant red flowers。 〃Of course it had all the usual forts from the beginning； they didn't start out to build historical reproductions。〃
〃But what about the horses？ Have they always had horses here？〃
〃Probably。 Colonial worlds usually have horses； they're cheap local transportation； self…replacing。 Horse…based agriculture； too。 Have you visited many worlds in the early stages of settlement？〃
〃No； not on the surface。 Except for leave； I've spent my time in ships or offices。〃
〃Mmm。 Well； most import draft animals。 Which ones depends in part on the world itself； and in part on the settlers。 The dominant draft animal can be equine； bovine； or camelid。〃
〃Camels？〃 asked Heris。 She was not sure she knew what a camel looked like。
〃And llamas；〃 Cecelia said。 〃Have you ever seen camels？〃
〃No。〃 This time she didn't explain。
〃I haven't either； except in illustrations。 One early Old…Earth breed of horse was used in the same culture that also had camels。 Ugly beasts； with humped backs。 It was said that they could be ridden； but I don't see how。〃 Heris didn't even want to think how。 Tomorrow morning； she would be hunting again。
She was sure Heris would graduate into a hunt soon； and perhaps into the greens in a week or so； but for now all she wanted to think about was tomorrow morning。
If it wasn't Opening Day； with its farcical reproductions of ancient ceremonies via Surtees and Kipling； it was a hunting dawn。 Cecelia put her head out the window and breathed deeply。 Yes。 Cool enough； crisp and dry； and she would have a new mount today。 A Buccinator son。 Sometimes the gods rewarded you for virtues unknown。
Bunny's staff served impeccable； lavish hunt breakfasts … and she enjoyed food … but today she hardly noticed either the traditional dishes or the taste。 The green hunt； posed of the most experienced and best riders； talked little at breakfast this early in the season。 Later； perhaps。 Now they all wanted but one thing … the horses； the cold air； the speed； the chase。
They recognized this in each other； glance met glance over the clattering silverware。
Outside； with the low sun gilding the stones； Cecelia walked down to the stable block as happy as she had felt since leaving petition。 This is what life was about： a hot breakfast fortable in one's stomach； and the prospect of a good horse to ride over open country until the day ended。 In her saddlebag was her personal choice for a lunch snack … on this； Bunny made no attempt to enforce the more foolish tradition： if you wanted a thermpak of shrimp…in…sweet…sauce； you could have it。 Cecelia favored a hot turkey sandwich； pickles and cheese； and hot coffee。
Buccinator's son； powerful and alert； stood waiting； held by a groom。 She mounted； picked up her reins； nodded to the groom； and set off at a walk to quarter the yard。 Then out the great stone arch to the front of the Main House； where Bunny and the huntsmen would have brought the pack by now。 Hooves rang on the stones； riders began to talk； once mounted； in the quiet tones of those who expect to be listened to。
She came around the side of the house。。。。 ' There； in the sunlight； were the hounds； sterns wagging as they swirled in controlled chaos around the hunt staff in scarlet。 Bunny grinned as she rode up to him。 〃You like him； do you？〃
〃You stinker … you might have let me see him last year。〃
〃He wasn't ready。 But you're first to take him into the field； he's been schooled but never hunted。〃
〃You are most generous。〃 And he was。 To let a guest take a green horse into the field … with the green hunt； over the most demanding country … she was not sure she would have done it； had it been her horse and her country。
〃He couldn't be in better hands；〃 Bunny said。 〃One concession … we're going to start with the Long Tor foxes today。〃 Which meant less woods riding； more in the open； but the fences were stone walls； unforgiving of mistakes； and in the open they'd be riding faster。
〃Sounds like fun；〃 Cecelia said。 Other riders came up then； paying their respects to the master； and she circled away。
The Long Tor foxes cooperated by leading a long； circuitous chase across the open slopes； in and out of difficult ravines； back up and around almost to their beginning。 The Buccinator son proved himself； maturing at every wall and ditch； the scope and speed of Buccinator bloodlines keeping him out of trouble and well up。 Cecelia didn't push him。 There was no reason to race； everyone knew how she could ride； and everyone knew the horse was green。 Far more important to give him a good day's work； and the confidence to go on another time。 They rode back in a golden afternoon； the young horse still with power to spare； and Neil gave her a thumbs…up when she came through the arch。
〃Cool and quiet； and not a mark on him。。。 and you're happy with him？〃
〃He's all you promised。 Never shirked； never tried to turn away from anything。
He'd have gone faster if I'd asked … actually； I had to hold him back at first。〃
〃Good。 That's what I hoped for。 He should be ready day after tomorrow； you can have old Gossip tomorrow； if you want。〃
〃Give him two days off；〃 Cecelia said。 〃It's his first season。 Flat work tomorrow； and the day after I'll e do a little schooling on him when I get back from the hunt …〃
〃You think you'll have the energy？〃
Cecelia gave him a mock glare。 He was always trying to suggest she was too old； but they both knew it was a joke。 〃I could school three horses now； as you well know … shall I prove it？〃
〃No。。。 just give Gossip a run tomorrow。 I let Cal have him for Opening Day； and he bucked over the first ten fences； Cal said。 Your friend Captain Serrano's doing well； I'm going to put her in the blues； for her first run。〃
Cecelia came back to the house thoroughly satisfied。 Now if Heris and young Ronnie would only realize how much