Chaos, my friend, I have something I want you to guard for me. I wouldn’t trust it to anyone but the king you are because those fools wish to take it and hurt me. She paused and then went on quickly. However, there’s one other thing you should know that you might not entirely like…

She had to stay with Chaos over an hour instead of the twenty minutes she’d told Gilroy would be necessary. “I think it will be okay,” she said as she left the stall. “But it’s up to you if you want to risk it. These days Chaos doesn’t trust anyone but me, and he’s very protective. He doesn’t have a hell of a lot of respect for my ability to do it myself. I’ve told him that I’ve chosen you to take care of me whenever he’s not around, because you’re brave and will stomp on anyone who tries to harm me.”

“Stomp?”

“He respects stomping.”

“I see.”

“In the end, what it will come down to is if Chaos believes I’m smart enough to be a good judge of your qualifications in that arena.”

“Is there an audition for this stomping?”

“Lord, I hope not.” She shook her head. “Stop joking. It could work out fine, or you could end up dead if I don’t get to you in time.”

“Well, we’d better see which it’s going to be.” He reached out and slowly opened the stall door. “Where did you put the burlap bag?”

“Underneath the straw between his front two hooves. I thought it would be better if he could see you at all times. He’d feel more secure.”

“By all means, let’s not make him nervous.” He looked the stallion directly in the eyes as he edged past him into the stall. “One of us is enough.”

“You don’t have to do this.”