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〃I'm sorry。〃 Heris realized that her reaction could be construed as unflattering。 〃It's just … I mean …〃
〃We aren't。 I know。 But since I never married； they've been trying all the theories about why not； one after another until the end and back again。 That crowd that rides the blue hunt is the worst … Stef； in particular； would rather talk than ride； as you can tell when you see him mounted。〃
〃You know；〃 Heris said； as they mounted another flight of stairs； 〃I wouldn't talk about you … or Ronnie。〃
〃I know。 It's not that I just … I want you to enjoy this； Heris。 Not as my captain； but as my guest。 And it occurred to me that you might not have their sort of gossip in the military。〃
〃Oh； don't we！〃 Heris chuckled。 〃Same both places； I expect。 Some wouldn't touch it； but others can't wait to guess who's in bed with whom； using what chemicals or gadgets。 Don't worry； I can be dense when it suits me。〃
〃Good。〃 Cecelia took a few more steps； then stopped to face Heris。 〃If you pay attention in the blue hunt； you'll probably be up in green very soon。 They're looking for several things … how solid you are over fences； how done the horse es back； and whether you interfere in the field。〃
〃Do you want me in the green hunt？〃 Heris asked。 It had bee clear how much respect the greens had； but not whether Cecelia wanted petition。
〃Of course I do！ Heavens； girl； I wouldn't have brought you if I'd thought you'd be stuck in a lower hunt the whole season。 It wouldn't have been fair to you； or as much fun for me。 Go on； now； and get your rest。 I'll be interested in hearing about your day。〃
That last visit to the tailor had taken out the slight wrinkle in the back of her jacket。。。。 Heris looked at herself in the mirror with a mixture of amusement and pride。 Amusement； because the clothing proper to foxhunting still struck her as ludicrous： why wear light…colored tight breeches when you were going to gallop big dirty animals through the mud？ And pride； because at over forty she still had the condition to look sixteen or so in those same tight pants； white shirt； and dark jacket。
Despite the training； and Cecelia's assurance that she was ready； Heris found the chaos in the blue hunt's meeting area tingling along her nerves。 She looked for Neil； but saw only the second level of help。 Of course； Neil would be with the green hunt。 Surely he'd chosen the mounts； though。。。。 She eyed the big red … chestnut； she reminded herself … gelding being led towards her with some concern。
〃Tiger II；〃 said the groom； a thickset woman even darker than Heris。 〃Need a leg？〃
〃In a moment。〃 Heris went through the drill Cecelia had taught her； checking the bridle and girth herself； then accepted a leg and swung into the saddle。
She hoped the beast's name did not reflect his temperament 〃He pulls； sometimes；〃 the groom said。 〃But he'll answer a sharp check。 Keep him back； and calm； and he'll go all day。 Get in a fight with him； and you'll wish you hadn't。〃
Great。 She had a problem horse for her first hunt； her first performance in front of everyone。 She looked down at the groom； expecting to see sly satisfaction； but the woman's smile was friendly。 〃Don't worry；〃 the woman said。 〃He's not a bad 'un for a first time out； he can jump anything； and will … the only thing is don't let him go too strong till he's worked himself down a bit。〃
〃Thank you；〃 Heris said。 〃Any other advice？〃
This time the woman's face creased in a broad grin。 〃Well … I wouldn't let him slow down in water。。。 he likes to roll。 If you e to a stream； get him over in a hurry。〃
The horse snorted and shook his head； Heris firmed her grip on the reins。
〃I'll be careful；〃 she said。 The groom stepped back。 Heris looked around and saw that about half the riders were up。 She had room to walk the red horse … Tiger … in a small circle； and did so； first one way then the other。 As the minutes passed； she calmed down。 It was just another horse； and they were going out to ride over just another field。 She had told herself that same lie in other situations； and it always helped。 So did 〃tonight this will be over。〃
Chapter Ten
The hounds led the way； their long tails … Heris couldn't make herself call such a biologic ornament a stern； ships had sterns … whipping back and forth or carried high； eager。 She got only a glimpse of them before the rest of the field passed out the gate and blocked her view。 She intended to make sure Tiger understood who was in charge while they were still at a walk。
As they came around the end of the stable wing； Heris could see both the other hunts moving away to the east and west。 The beginners （so Cecelia had called them）； would hunt the flat； open country to the east； where the fences were lower and the pseudofoxes lived in brushy thickets。 The green hunt had the western hills； with long open slopes and timber at the top and bottom。 And they； the blue hunt； had a mixed country； rather like lumpy potatoes in a kettle。 Little hills with little creeks between them； little patches of woods and others of brush； odd…shaped fields bordered with stone walls or ditches or both。
Verisimilitude； Cecelia had explained； influenced only some of Lord Thornbuckle's eccentricities。 That rather lumpy country had been the first colony settlement on this world； bought out by one of the present owner's ancestors。 They had tried to make a quick profit out of open…pit mining to pay off their initial investment； then botched the mid…level terraforming that was supposed to convert the area into something their heirs could live on and from。 Instead； they went broke； and left behind ugly pit mines； irregular heaps of spoil； ponds and wandering streams fouled with acid and heavy metals。
Now； some hundreds of years later； the area was still unsafe for use in any food chain humans would use； but it could support hardy plants； animals with a tolerance for heavy metals and acid water； and recreation。 Wool and leather and sport were its crops。
Tiger yanked on the bit； and Heris brought her mind firmly back to the immediate moment。 Someone had trotted past … she found it hard to recognize； in the plain black coats and hats； the people she had met at dinner the night before … and the red horse wanted to follow。 She refused； and met his attempt to sidle out from behind the horse in front with a firm leg。 He tested her in the next few minutes； as they rode to cover； with a curvet here； and a pretense at a shy there； she was reminded of certain troublemakers she had known； and had no problem keeping him under control。
〃Ah … Captain Serrano！〃 The grinning man next to her was the tall lanky blond Cecelia had said liked talk better than riding。 He was on a horse which looked like a stuffed caricature of the animal Neil had shown Cecelia： large； dark brown； but this time coarse and bulgy instead of powerful and sleek。 And he rode sloppily； even Heris could tell that。 〃Lovely morning； isn't it？ Are you ready for Tiger？ Did they tell you？〃
〃That he pulls； yes； and to keep him out of the water。〃 Heris glanced around。
They were near the tail of the group； and she could tell from the tension in the reins that Tiger wasn't happy about it。
〃You don't have to stay