Red horse is a political Nihilist that believes the government should have no authority over its people or any people. He is a old man with extreme views, "The old man-he was nicknamed Red Horse-had perpetually startled look, round, red eyes and mouth, white hair that flared around his high, empty dome like the beams if the sun: the look of a man who has suddenly remembered something"(Gardner,116). The man is trying to help Hrothwulf overthrow the government but his idea is to change the whole system of the hierarchy. "If you want me to help you destroy a government, I'm here to serve" (Gardner, 120). He believes that destroying the government is the only way to progress human civilization in which many nihilist's believe this.