"Passage to Dilfar" by Roger Zelazny (1965)

Originally appeared in Fantastic, February 1965.

Plot: Dilvish's army is destroyed at Portaroy but Dilvish survives to take the message of the Colonel of the West, Lylish's advance on the city of Dilfar. The story recounts the five riders who tried to out-ride Black and failed and finally Lance, a knight with inpenetrable armor that Dilvish defeats by having Black drive his hooves into his breastplate, leaving two deep wounds. Dilvish delivers his message to the king of Dilfar but he knows someday he will have to face Lance again.

Monsters:

Black - Dilvish's demon steed of steel who is able to jump rivers and pierce impenetrable armor.

History: Inspired by Lord Dunsany, this tale of Dilvish is the most "old-fashioned" in tone. Later the Dilvish stories would become for like modern Fantasy. One of my favorite mock-Dunsany pieces, right up there with the best of Lovecraft's.

1

2

1

1