"Let me guess. You're the groom, and you're loyal to your king?" he said, secretly pleased at finding someone who was a devoted subject.
"What? Hells no. I don't give a damn about the king. But I've been warned that there's a stick jammed fair up the royal arse when it comes to his horse, and I'd like to keep my job past the first week. So if you could find a different horse to steal, or better still take none at all, I'd appreciate it."