They knocked again when they got no response, then tried the handle and seemed surprised to find it unlocked.

“Be ready,” Roric hissed, glancing back over his shoulder. “We’ll move as soon as they go inside.” But the other had disappeared so thoroughly into the darkness he could no longer see him.

Then all three warriors shouted together and crashed through the door, the torchlight flashing from their naked blades. Roric moved like lightning, across the courtyard, past the barns toward the stables, with no spare attention to wonder where the other had gone.

He had, he thought, something under a minute. No time for a saddle. He found Goldmane’s stall in the dark, took a few precious seconds to rub the startled stallion on the neck and say some calming words, then led him out by the halter.

The housecarls had been roused by the shouts and were running toward the guesthouse, and he thought he could see the provost of the manor silhouetted against the doorway to the great hall. But the bobbing torch was already starting toward him.

“Is he there? He’s there! He’s got his horse! Don’t let him get away!”

He leaped onto the stallion’s back, and Goldmane began to run even before he had his balance again. He lay sprawled across the horse’s neck, levering himself into position with his legs. Goldmane whinnied and sprang upwards-clearing a wall or a ditch, he could not see what-almost losing him in the process.

“Good horse, good boy,” he muttered, seizing handfuls of mane to pull himself up. “Are you still mine, or have you joined Gizor’s employ?”

But then he laughed, the night air whipping across his face. Clouds tore away from the moon. He could see now where they were, coming out of the lane onto the high road. He slapped the stallion joyously and settled down to ride.

Even if the king’s warriors managed to get away from the manor without answering the questions the provost would doubtless pose them, they would never catch him before he reached the castle. Goldmane was a stallion of voima, who had triumphed in every race against every horse since Roric had won him from the troll.