“You mean they think they decided not to scar the grasses, but really—“
“Really, they had no choice. That’s what I mean, yes. I think the Hippae have been directing them for … for God knows how long. I have a hunch that anyone who goes out on foot into the grasses to explore ends up dead. I had feelings when I was out there today … Don Quixote had feelings. He was terribly frightened, moving as though he were walking on eggshells. Besides, Asmir gave us quite a list of disappearances.”
“And you were out there alone!” He shook his head. “Mother, damn it. What were you thinking of?” Then, looking into her shamed face, “For the love of God, Mother!”
“Tony, I made a mistake. You’re not to say anything to your father that you know anything about the plague or that I was out riding today. In his present state of mind, he might blow up and start bellowing. I can’t take much more of that. And then, too, Stella would be sure to find out.”
“I know.”
“If he wants to know where I am, tell him I’ve helped take Rowena to Commons. Don’t mention Sylvan unless it comes up. Rigo’s become very strange about Sylvan. I don’t know why.”
Tony saw that his mother did not, in fact, know why, though Tony himself had a very good idea what was disturbing Rigo Yrarier. While Marjorie had been dancing with Sylvan at the reception, Tony had been up on the balcony near his father and had seen his father’s face.
It was full dark when Persun Pollut dropped the Opal Hill aircar at the edge of the bon Damfels village as silently as a fallen leaf.
Sylvan was waiting with Rowena and two commoner women. Rowena’s face was bandaged, one arm was bound up. The two women half-carried her aboard. Marjorie wasted no time with questions or comments but told Persun to ascend immediately and get them to town as quickly as possible. Rowena bon Damfels obviously needed medical care.
“I cannot thank you enough, Lady Westriding,” Sylvan said in an oddly formal tone much at variance with his disheveled look. “There was no way I could get one of our aircars away from the estancia without causing great difficulty. I apologize for my appearance. It was necessary to break down a few doors this evening, and I haven’t had a chance to change since.”
“Your father locked her up?”
“Among other barbarities, yes. I doubt that he even remembers he did so. The Hunt is set very deep into my father, with all its little ways.”
“Where are you taking her, Sylvan?”
“I don’t think father will suspect she’s left the place. If he misses her and remembers what he did, he’ll probably think she escaped and went out into the grasses. He may look for her, but I doubt it. Meantime, these women have relatives in Commoner Town who will keep her hidden, keep her safe.”
“Are your sisters safe?”
“For the moment. Since both have lovers, I have urged them both to get pregnant as quickly as possible. Pregnant women are not expected to ride.” His voice was flat, without feeling. “If there were any way to manage it, I would take them to Commoner Town as well. They would not be content to stay in hiding, however, and I’m afraid hiding is the only way they could avoid being brought back.”
“They are welcome at Opal Hill, Sylvan.”
“That would mean the end of Opal Hill, Marjorie.” He reached out to her, touched her arm, for the moment moved from his own troubles by her concern. “You were only allowed there as a feint, a distraction, to keep Sanctity from doing something intrusive. Our … our masters do not want you on Grass. They do not want any outsiders on Grass.”
“They allow Commons! They allow the port!”
“They can’t get at Commons or the port. That may be all that has kept the town safe thus far. I don’t know. I don’t know what to do. All of us bons are so … so hypnotized. A few of the younger ones, like me, a few who haven’t hunted for a few years, we can talk about things; but even with us, when we start to get close to—“ He choked. When he was able to. he said, “It’s better in Commoner Town. Whenever I’ve been there, I’ve been struck with how clear everything is. I can think anything I please and nothing binds on me. I can talk about anything there.”