“It was the crossbows that decided Turkos, although his decision was almost too fast to be described as thought. Even as they emerged from the shadow to gloat over their prisoners, he reared his horse - his precious horse, that he loved, Athena. She reared obediently, and her broad stomach and long neck took all six of the crossbow bolts meant for him. And because she was all heart, she landed on four feet and continued forward after her iron-shod forefeet crushed the skulls of two warriors. And then she fell.”