It's perfect! From It didn't look like a knight's horse, but it did look like Ser Chrisfer's horse to said Ser Chrisfer talking to his Horse! Lance is wonderful here, so sensible and down-to-earth and more than slightly disconcerted by his knight's quirkyness. I'm looking forward to hearing more about the unlikely pair :-)

our leading man has proved extra-elusive, and has slithered from our grasp

That's bad! Hope you'll find a replacement without too long a delay.