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“Now is our chance, Sire,” Brecc whispered.

The king needed no further prompt. Leaving the safety of the wall, he started across the central square with Brecc matching him stride for stride. They were three-quarters of the way across when Brecc heard a familiar crackle. It was a sound he appreciated when sitting around a campfire; it was one he dreaded during a conflict.

“They’ve lit a fire.”

“I smell the smoke.” The king glanced over his shoulder at the great hall. “Where is it coming from?”

The words were no sooner out of his mouth than a gust of frigid air hit them, and then, like a newly released wild beast, flames roared across the stable roof, consuming the thatch and sending ash spiraling upward. The doors to the stable burst open, and the shriek of terrified horses cut through the groans of weakening timber.

Brecc dropped the pitchfork he was holding and broke into a sprint. A cluster of people stumbled out of the stables, a few of them leading horses. The animals were tugging wildly at their ropes. Moments later, more horses appeared, bolting for freedom across the courtyard and grassy area.

Weaving through the frantic cluster of men, women, and horses near the doors, Brecc entered the burning building. “Rinc!” he yelled. At least a dozen more mounts tore past him in a flurry of hooves. “Rinc!”

“Over ’ere, sire!”

The boy’s voice came from his right. Lifting his arm so it covered his mouth and nose, Brecc ran down the narrow path between the stalls. Already, the smoke was making visibility all but impossible.

“I need two fast mounts, lad,” he called. “Do you have any left?”

A thud at Brecc’s right had him pivoting. The whites of Rinc’s eyes shone through the gloom. The boy was tugging at a rope.

“This ’un, sire. I reckon ’e’s the strongest charger in the stable, but ’e’s got ’imself in a bind by tanglin’ ’is lead rope through the wooden slats.”

“Fetch me a knife.”

“’E’ll bolt, sire. The moment Forca senses freedom, ’e’ll be gone.”

“Let me worry about that,” Brecc said. “A knife, lad. Quickly.” With a cough, the boy disappeared, only to reappear moments later carrying a short-handled blade. “Good,” Brecc said. “Now, listen closely.” Rinc coughed again but appeared to be listening. “I need you to pass me the lead rope of the next horse you come upon. The moment I have the rope in hand, I’ll cut Forca free and will lead them both out.”

“Beggin’ yer pardon, sire, but given ’ow upset they are, they’re not goin’ to take kindly to walkin’ nicely.”

“I realize that.” It was going to take every ounce of strength Brecc possessed to hold on to two frantic horses. He could only hope that King Alfred would be in a position to help as soon as Brecc reached the doors and the horses smelled freedom.

“Hand me one of the ropes.” The king’s voice cut through the horses’ shrill cries and the creaking roof.

Brecc straightened, relief coursing through him. The king had followed him inside. “You heard King Alfred, lad.”

The boy’s gasp produced another coughing attack, but he scuttled out of the stall.

“There’s no time to saddle them, Sire,” Brecc warned. With one hand firmly grasped around Forca’s lead rope, he placed Rinc’s blade against the portion trapped in the slats.

“I am aware.” There was no hiding the stark reality of their situation. Above the shrieks and thuds, they could hear the voices of the other stablehands working to free the last of the horses from the other end of the stables. “There is no more time for any of us. The servants must leave when we do.” As if to underscore the king’s words, the roof above them cracked, and a shower of sparks rained down on the straw-covered floor. Instantly, the straw ignited. “Fire in the stables!” King Alfred shouted. “Everybody out!”

“’Ere, Yer Majesty,” Rinc wheezed, staggered up to the king and handing him the rope of a white horse.

“Outside, lad,” the king urged, taking the rope. “Make no delay!” Flames were licking up the edge of a nearby stall. The horse on the other end of the rope reared, but the king held firm. “Brecc?”

One more slice and the rope in Brecc’s hand gave way. The charger backed into the corner of his stall, his hooves pounding the hard floor wildly.

“I have him, Sire,” Brecc said, wrapping his fingers more firmly around the rope. The stallion shook his head violently. Brecc felt it all the way to his arm socket. Gritting his teeth, he tugged at the rope. “Now is not the time to allow fear to overcome your courage, Forca.”

Two more newly freed horses cantered out of the stable. The king followed, leading the skittish palfrey in his custody. With an anxious snort, Forca trembled.

Allowing his instinct to overrule logic, Brecc released his hold on the rope with one hand and set it on the stallion’s shoulder. “Steady, boy,” he said, willing the cough that threatened to erupt to subside. “We can escape this inferno together if you’ll allow it.” Forca shook his head again, but notwithstanding the rapidly encroaching fire, his quivering seemed to lessen a fraction. “We don’t have time for a long discussion,” Brecc continued, attempting to keep the urgency out of his voice. “But if you will behave nicely, we shall speak at length once we are gone from here.”

Barely daring to hope, he lowered his hand from Forca’s neck and set it below his other on the rope. Slowly, he backed out of the stall, steadily pulling the rope as he walked. Forca shifted uneasily, and then he took a few hesitant steps toward him. Another timber cracked. Forca reared, his nostrils flaring.

“Come, Forca,” Brecc said, pulling the rope more sharply. “It is time.”