"The hunters, though, they have their orders, too.  Better run."<br/><br/>The girl giggled again, rolling suddenly to one side and recovering her feet.<br/><br/>"The only answers will be found under Her Majesty's thumb, screaming for Her Whip."<br/><br/>The thud-thud-thud of footfalls came closer...closer...Karen felt it through the earth beneath her feet.  And then the Beast rounded the copse: it looked rather like a Bobcat of Impressive Size bedecked in chain barding and the surcoat of a knight's charger with a knight sitting on its back, lance at the ready.  Fortunately for her, the rider had a closed visor and probably couldn't see worth a darn.<br/><br/>The mount, however...