the back garden, her knees

e bushes to hide her movements as she sprin

ack door. The air inside smelled

on a stool near the front

purebred black stallion in the third stall.

heavy leather saddle and stra

e and hauled herself up. She swung her leg over

thighs tightly agai

t out a sharp w

out of the sta

ard the commotion. They spun around, raising the

the leather riding crop and brought

ful front legs leaving the ground. The

he cobblestone streets outside the es

shing wooden carts and pedestrians carrying baskets screamed and s

hair, sending long, dark strands whipping around her face. She flattened

on. The golden, domed roofs of th

massive oak logs lost control. The draft horses panicked,

ns with all her strength, desperatel

n its hind legs, letting out a

hor her, the violent, upward jerk d

ched off the

h the air in a

estone street. She rolled violently, her sh

ing pain erupted f

had been grabbed and twi

e around the fallen noblewoman, murmuring in shock

skin split. The metallic taste of fresh blood flooded

ay the hands r

at against the rough sto

earing, agonizing pain shot up her leg. Her knee

the back of her riding shirt.

, her eyes were feral.

l in the palace clock

Dong

p. Daryl w

rd. Every single step caused the broken bones in her ankle to gr

reached out and snatched a thick, sturd

ned his mouth

riding habit. With a violent yank, she tore it free, ripping the fabric, and threw the expensive pie

ed in street grime and her own blood. She looked like a beggar, but the s

, the massive, black iron gat

avily armored convoy of carriages, each bearin