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Although Thornden was not the first to reach the stables and catch his horse, he was one of those leading. The air was filled with the hubbub of cheerful, excited voices as everyone who owned a horse worked their fastest to saddle up and mount. Thornden gathered his bridle and saddle and then went to his horse and pulled him away from all the others. Then, in the open with room to spare, he quickly prepared his mount and swung up on him. Already someone was galloping away from the group, and before Thornden put his horse into motion, he saw two more people mount up. Shouts came out through the darkness,
“They’ve gone through the scar! They’re heading across the plain!”
Thornden laughed. Eodwine had chosen the best place for a gallop, and the best place for them to be overtaken. He urged his horse forward and immediate the animal sprang into a swift canter. Through the gap in the scar they went, picking their way across difficult rocks at a hurried trot, and then with a new surge of energy, they shot down the incline and onto the plain.
He came abreast of Erbrand and for a second he considered saying that they should split up and circle around the bride and groom and so force them back towards the others. He decided against it. Erbrand probably wouldn’t listen, for one reason, and there was not enough room for the horses to loop ahead of Eodwine and Saeryn for another. The decision made, he loosed the reins and galloped ahead, his horse taking the ground six yards with each stride.
“They are gaining on us, Eodwine,” Saeryn said. The wind was cool and fresh on her face, and Eodwine at her back provided a strong warmth. With his arms about her, she felt safer and happier than she ever had, and now that the chase seemed to be coming to a close, she wished it could continue going on. “Could you turn him up into the hills and perhaps lose them among the rocks and the trees?”
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