She found it difficult to reply. At 1st she only opened her mouth and made a rough noise and closed it; swallowed; could not speak. I waited, finishing the perryn seeds and setting its case away at the far corner of the table. I slipped my arms around my knees hugging them and listening to the harp fish melody and moving slightly with it for it was beautiful and of ritual delicacy. They were indeed costly creatures, 1s so extensively trained.         Finally Ince said, "I have not thought about my growing. Ever. If I should begin I cut out the thoughts and dashed them away. I could not think about it. It was....too difficult...."

"It was too harsh and painful, rider!" I leaned forward my voice suddenly swelling with my outrage and compassion. She would not want them but I could not always prevent them from escaping. "And rightly so. It is a despicable practice! But we must examine why you are the sole instance here in this estate. Something plucks at me. Either Progenitors do, or they don't. Why were you the only 1? You don't think she has changed her conception of life, the nature and value of life?"         "Not likely." Dry, bitter, her voice was like the heart of the Cringepanniq Desert.         "I agree," I was firm. "If she had changed she would have retrieved you. Unless," I added, "she needs her reputation as hard, strong, undeviating, and so can never admit to changing, especially in this instance. It would be admittance that she had acted incorrectly and negatively."         "She has not changed."