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a wood； too far away still； she was sure。。。 but Tiger didn't think so。
She muttered a curse that was thoroughly untraditional on the hunting field； being born of things you could do with weapons found only on spaceships； and nudged Tiger into motion。 〃You like to hunt； they told me；〃 she said to the horse's ears。 One of them flicked back； as if he understood。 〃Find the damned hunt； then。〃 Tiger picked up a trot； and as the downhill slope steepened； he lunged into a gallop。 Heris had just time to think she shouldn't have let him do that。 Then they were in the trees； and she was too busy keeping her head off limbs to worry about it Out of the woods； into a field bounded by more woods： Tiger took the fence from trees to grass in an easy bound； crossed the field in five strides； and rolled over the wall at the far side into a track Heris had not noticed until they were in it。 No trees。。。 a long curving ride up and around the shoulder of another hill； through an open gate； down across a grassy field。 Tiger； wiser than she； skirted the rock…edged sinkhole in the middle and made for a gap he evidently knew well。 A downward rocky slope； where even Tiger slowed to a walk； and Heris got her breath back as they slithered through some spicy…smelling trees towards another creek。 That had been fun； if scary： she began to think that whether it counted as hunting or not； it was more fun to ride fast than slow。
By this time Heris had no idea where they were； but the horse's ears still pricked forward。 He minced across the little creek and into the woods on the far side。 Suddenly Heris heard the hounds again； and from this distance had to admit they sounded almost like horns themselves。 They were ahead through the woods； moving left to right。。。。 She gathered herself just in time； as Tiger sprang upward； dodging through trees with no regard at all for her legs。 She could steer him； she found； and even moderate his speed； she pulled him to a solid canter rather than a headlong gallop。
The belling of hounds rang out nearer； at the top of the wood； they came out of the trees to find the hounds strung out on that hill's bald top； with the field close behind them and the fox in view before。 Heris managed to swing Tiger around behind the front runners； though he fought her。 Then they were in with others； galloping over short grass toward what looked like a pile of rocks。 The leaders swerved around it； and poured over a wall just ahead of Heris。 Tiger rose to the wall； and she got a quick glimpse of where they were going … the hounds； the streak of red…brown that must be the fox； the huntsman in red … before they were into the next field； this one draped across the shoulder of its hill like a shawl。 Tiger flattened beneath her； passing a gray horse and a black； and jumping the briars and stones that separated that field from another。
〃Well ridden！〃 came from behind her； but she had no attention to spare。 His earlier exertions hadn't tired the red horse； and he was pulling her arms out。
The leaders were nearer now； as Tiger thundered on； lunging against the reins； and his next jump put him even with the first of the field。 Heris knew she should be holding him back。。。 but excitement sang the last remnants of doubt out of her bones。 She had not felt this exultation since … she pushed that away。 Now … this horse； this field； this next jump … was all that mattered。
All in a clump they raced； angling across the field after the hounds； to jump a sharp ditch。。。。 Someone fell there； but Tiger had carried her over safely。
Ahead was another rockpile； to which the fox sped； and into which it vanished。
The hounds swarmed over it； clamoring； but they were not diggers and the fox had found a safe lair。 Heris got Tiger slowed； then circled him until he walked； he was wet and breathing hard； but clearly not exhausted。 Nor was she； she hoped they'd find another fox and do it again。 She could have laughed at her earlier mood： boring？ This？ No。 It was all Cecelia had promised。
The huntsmen set to work to call the hounds back and get them in order。
Meanwhile the rest of the blue hunt rode up。 Some she had met； and some she hadn't； all now willing to speak to her and tell her how well she'd done。
〃I didn't really；〃 she said to the third or fourth person who came up to her。
〃I got lost； then the horse seemed to hear something …〃
〃But that's wonderful；〃 the woman said。 She had one wrist in a brace； and Heris realized it was the same one she'd seen at dinner。 〃That's what you're supposed to do； and you actually caught up。 Most people； once they're lost； spend the whole day wandering around without a clue； or give up and go home。〃
〃Which hill were you on？〃 one of the men asked。 Heris looked around； but had no idea。 The jumbled landscape looked as confused to her as a star chart probably would to these people。
〃It was near the beginning；〃 she said slowly。 〃There was a track through woods； then a creek； then a lot of tracks straight up the hill。。。。〃
〃The Goosegg？ You got here in time for the final run from Goosegg？〃 Now they seemed even more impressed。 Heris wondered why。 She thought of asking but shrugged instead。
〃Tiger did it；〃 she said。 It was true； anyway： he had known where to go； and he'd taken her there without any serious bruises。 They liked that； she could see； Cecelia had told her that horse people expect riders to praise horses and take the blame themselves for errors。
For a time； nothing much happened； the hounds stood panting； tongues hanging out； some of them flopped down and rolled。 Riders stretched； or took a swallow from flasks in the saddlebag。 A few dismounted； and disappeared discreetly behind the rockpile。 Horses stood hipshot； or walked slowly around as their riders talked or drank。 A few stragglers appeared； one by one； on lathered mounts； but perhaps a third of the field had disappeared。 Heris wondered if they were going to look for another fox … it was still morning； by the sun。
When the hunt moved again； it was both calmer and more businesslike than the morning's first action。 Heris felt the difference as a sense of purpose； as if a ship's crew steadied to some task。 First the huntsman took the hounds down the field； toward a patch of woods near a stream … this one； Heris noted from the hillside； widened to a pond at one point Riders rechecked girths and stirrups； those who had dismounted got up again； and those who had been chatting stopped。 Someone Heris didn't yet know put to her eye a most untraditional military…issue eyepiece； Heris wished she herself had had the wit to get one； that lucky soul would be seeing whatever she looked at in plenty of magnification and perfect lighting。 She could see fleas on the fox's coat； if a fox came out。
Then the hounds found another trail。 At the first peel of the horn； Tiger trembled； Heris steadied him； but didn't hold him back to the rear of the group this time。 Steadily； without haste； the field moved toward the call at a brisk trot。 This time no one in front of Heris had a refusal at the low wall and ditch。。。 nor did she。。。 and they trotted on through the woods； lured by the hound song and the horn。 Behind her； the bulk of the field stretched out。
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