The army of knights drove through the contingent of guards like a finely honed wedge. Thierry found himself, Kira and Nogai packed into the center of the group so tightly that he had not even the space to swing his own blade. Nogai’s alarm was evident, for his nostrils flared in agitation.
They gained the hall, then the staircase, the group of men pressing relentlessly on despite the cries of those who rose against them. Thierry felt a waft of outside air with relief, then he exhaled when they passed into the courtyard. He was not certain how many of the king’s men fell and how many were injured. There seemed to be more confusion than shed blood.
How would they find their horses? Their escape was doomed!
Thierry immediately spied their distinctively shorter ponies saddled before him. Ho
