[ Buckingham clenches his teeth, making an effort to sound marginally less keen on immediate murder of the culprit. For the boy, you understand. ]

Not the stables on the grounds, no. I keep my own, by the mansion, but... I had to look elsewhere, to be sure.

[ He arches an eyebrow. ]

Why? Has something happened to the horses as well?

[ He saw Athos' glorified mule in its box, perfectly content. He paid little attention to any of the others. ]