Chapter 10Rinter reined his horse to a clattering halt, nearly tumbling from his saddle in the process. Atlon, by contrast, while remaining slightly to the rear of Rinter, moved quietly to one side, positioning himself to the left of the man standing in the centre of the pathway. It was an innocuous movement, intended to provoke no response, but it was also one that placed him where the man would need to take a backhand stroke if he wished to attack, thus allowing the horse enough time to retreat or to lash out with its forelegs and end the matter. It had been trained thus, but so had its countless sires and dams through the ages, and the movement to protect both itself and its rider was almost instinctive. As was Atlon’s complete trust in it. It was the way of his people. He knew that the
