Ragnar cut the distance steadily, guiding his horse through the large expanse of land that surrounded his estate. The terrain grew rougher as the trees thickened, ducking under leafless low hanging branches as he rode past. The man he was pursuing glanced back once, his panic clear even from a distance.
Ragnar urged his mount harder.
The chase did not last long. Snow slowed the man at every step, while Ragnar's horse tore through the drifts with relentless force. The fugitive stumbled toward a ravine, breath coming in sharp, desperate gasps. Ragnar anticipated the move and veered sharply to the side, cutting off the only clear path of escape. His horse reared slightly as he pulled on the reins, bringing it to a halt just as the man skidded to a stop, trapped between the looming slope and Ragnar's towering presence.
The man spun around, chest heaving, and his hand darted toward his coat. But Ragnar was already moving.
