"Yes,
I see," I nodded. I knew some things about Progenitors. They held estates
where their cavens were, divided into areas of consorts and areas of offspring.
I knew more than most, I supposed, being a med. But I had no more than
a rough concept and the more I attempted to aid Ince in this matter the
more I was struck by the size of the great bald obstruction of my ignorance.
I looked at her face. Bleak it was now and yet touched and altered by her
anger. And I realized how different we were and had always been.
How
different were our lives in ways more vast and deep than any brought by
our callings of med and rider. I had been born into a household like Gallett
and Vettra's children. I had lost my 2 givers and my sisters except for
Gallett in the greatest disaster ever recorded striking the Kellinghee
lot. But I had known the comfort and richness of a family until I was nearly
grown, and the security brought by the professions of my 2 givers.
They had been teachers and I remembered many things about them.
Ince
had none of this. Even if she had not been culled she would have known
something vastly different growing within a Progenitor's caven.