The risky route worked out as well as Klane could have hoped. When Lyr reached the next checkpoint they had a clear lead and it was a surprised marshal who passed over the verification token in the brief moment before they set off again. Apart from the shorter distance, the nature of the terrain and the enforced walking pace had allowed the horse to recover some energy for the cantering that followed. Now they kept to a steady pace to conserve energy but Lyr wasn’t naturally suited to endurance racing, and little by little the rest of the field began to catch them. The Rider leading the group behind gave a shout of astonishment when he finally saw Klane in front of them all but by this time, they had come within sight of the finish line at Ironhope. Lyr needed no urging to gallop and picked up the pace. Sprinting was his strength. The race finished in a close blur as they crossed between two great stones sunk into the grass which marked the end of the course, cheered by a few dozen spectators on either side in makeshift wooden stands. Klane and Lyr had won!