The Serrano Connection by Elizabeth Moon Page B

them, back when she, like all the children, had been expected to muck out her own pony's stall. Unlike some of the others, she had never enjoyed riding enough to make the work worthwhile. Later, when a horse became her escape route into the mountains, she was old enough that she no longer had the daily chores to do anyway.
     
    Now she walked down the stone-flagged aisle, the great arches opening to her left into one of the exercise yards. On her right, rows of stalls with the dark narrow heads of horses peering out. A groom came out of a tackroom at the sound of her steps.
     
    "Yes, dama?" He looked confused; Esmay identified herself and his face relaxed.
     
    "I was wondering—my cousin Luci mentioned a mare she'd looked at—that Olin showed her—?"
     
    "Ah—the Vasecsi daughter. Down here, dama, if you'll follow me. Excellent bloodlines, that one, and has done very well in training so far. That is why the General chose her for your foundation herd."
     
    Outside the mare's stall, a twist of blue and silver; Esmay looked down the row and saw more such twists. This was her herd, picked by her father, and although she could exchange them, it would shame him. But to make a gift of one mare, to Luci—that would be acceptable. She hoped.
     
    "Here, dama." The mare had her rump to the door, but when the groom clucked she swung round. Esmay recognized the qualities for which her father had chosen the horse: the good legs and feet, the depth of heart-girth, the strong back and hindquarters, the long limber neck and well-bred head. Solid dark brown, just lighter than black—"You would like to see her move?" the groom said, reaching for the halter that hung beside the stall.
     
    "Yes, thank you," Esmay said. She might as well. The groom led the mare out of the stall, across the aisle, and out into the courtyard. There, in the open ring, the groom put the mare through her paces, which accorded with her conformation. A long, low walk, a sweeping trot and long level canter. This was a horse to cover the ground, mile after mile, and yet she would be handy as well. A good mare. If only Esmay cared particularly—
     
    "I'm sorry I was rude," Luci said, from the arches. Her face was in shadow; her voice sounded as if she'd been crying. "She's a lovely mare, and you deserve her."
     
    Esmay walked nearer; Luci had been crying. "Not really," she said quietly. "I'm sure you heard all about my regrettable attitude towards horses back when I left."
     
    "I inherited your trail horse," Luci said without answering the comment. She said it as if Esmay might be angry about it. Esmay had not thought about old—Red, had that been his name?—in years.
     
    "Good," Esmay said.
     
    "You don't mind?" Luci sounded surprised.
     
    "Why should I mind? I left home; I couldn't expect the horse to go unused."
     
    "They didn't let anyone ride him for a year," Luci said.
     
    "So they thought I might flunk out and come back?" Esmay said. It didn't surprise her, but she was glad she hadn't known that.
     
    "Of course not," Luci said, too quickly. "It's just—"
     
    "Of course they did," Esmay said. "But I didn't fail, and I didn't come back. I'm glad you got that horse . . . you seem to have inherited the family gift."
     
    "I can't believe you really haven't—"
     
    "I can't believe anyone really wants to stay on one planet," Esmay said. "Even when it feels right."
     
    "But it's not crowded," Luci said, flinging out one arm. "There's so much space  . . . you can ride for hours . . ."
     
    Esmay felt the familiar tension in her shoulders. Yes, she could ride for hours and never come to a border she need worry about . . . but she could not eat a meal without wondering if some old family grievance were about to explode. She turned to Luci, whose eyes kept following the mare.
     
    "Luci, would you do me a favor?"
     
    "I suppose." No eagerness, but why would there be?
     
    "Take the mare." Esmay almost laughed at the shock on Luci's face.