Odo gave the courser a final pat and slid his hand down its back onto its rump as he followed the reeve. It never occurred to him the animal could lash out at him with its deadly and powerful legs.

"...and I think ye need to be careful. After everything what's happened." The reeve shook his head. "And if Lady Constance is behind it all, as ye believe, then she won't rest until yer dead."

Odo said nothing and looked at the reeve. He noticed the sword that now swung from ...