He rode across a bare stretch where the rough footing was all black ash.
He turned away and walked back to his horse, stumbling carelessly in the rough footing.
Moving backwards, Daniel pretended to stumble on the rough footing.
Despairing they scuttled and backed away, keeping in among the rough footing.
In the dark, on the rough footing, one or another sometimes stumbled.
Now, as darkness approached, however, Derry's horse stumbled and slowed on the rough footing.
He took Royan's arm to help her over the rough footing, and they started down.
The rough footing was too difficult to cross in the dark.
He merely caught her by the arm and helped her over the rougher footing.
Also, some rough footing on the course was smoothed out, making it faster.