Back in the Saddle is the seventh main quest in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.
After you finally get an audience with Lord Otto von Bergow, Henry and Hans Capon must deliver a call to arms to 
Nebakov Fortress to answer a growing bandit threat.
This quest is a turning point. You get your equipment back, secure a horse, return to the open world, then ride with Hans to peel back the conspiracy at Nebakov.
The quest continues from For Whom the Bell Tolls and leads into Necessary Evil.
Recovering your gear
Right after the audience with von Bergow, follow Chamberlain Ulrich through the castle.
He leads you to a room near the forge with a storage chest. Everything taken from you earlier in the story is inside. You can sleep here and save.
If you unlocked 
Mutt earlier, he rejoins you here.
Your clothing presets are reset, so re-equip your favorite outfits manually.
Von Bergow also leaves a fresh kit: a Riding Waffenrock, a Military Sword, and a Saxon Hauberk.
Up the stairs, loot a red sack on the table for 17 Groschen.
The sword can beat what you already carry, but it starts around 80 Durability, so sharpen it. Use the sharpening wheel at the gallows.
Which horse is better: Pebbles or Herring
Go to the Trosky Castle stables and talk to Kabat. He offers Herring. Herring's base stats are higher than stock Pebbles, so he looks like an easy upgrade.
We do not recommend taking Herring if you already have Pebbles. After you ride Pebbles for a few hours, she gains a secret perk that raises Stamina and Speed. With that perk she becomes one of the best horses in the game and is much stronger than Herring overall.
See a direct comparison below. With the secret perk, Pebbles wins on the stats that matter for long journeys.
The choice is still yours.
Accepting Herring: You get a stronger horse on paper and riding tips from Kabat that raise Horsemanship.
Keeping Pebbles: If you decline the gift, Kabat hints at a deal to sell Herring to traders at Nomads' Camp. You can pass a skill check for double the sale price, then sell him there. Talk to Horse Handler Mikolai about the horse black market and park Herring under the red triangle tarp.
Either way, equip the new tack on whichever horse you keep.
You can free-roam and leave the castle before riding to Nebakov with Hans. Besides general side content, good stops include:
- Opus Magnum (tower book under the outer castle: use the Opus Magnum guide for the exact route)
Demons of Trosky (only available for a short window at quest start, strong loot while the castle is open; full fireplace route)- Selling Herring for profit if you took him (see above)
The journey to Nebakov
Meet Hans at the gate in the early morning.
If you finished Mutt or Bad Blood, Henry can mention helping Bozhena, which gives a large reputation boost with Hans.
On the ride, Hans challenges you to a race to a shrine southwest of Troskowitz.
You do not need to follow the road. Cutting through the fields is fastest. Winning gives 55 Groschen and reputation.
At Nebakov Fortress, Sir Jaromier Nebak agrees to meet Hans alone. Henry stays with adjutant Michael.
Investigating Nebakov Fortress
You have about six in-game hours while the meeting runs. You can skip time, but exploring pays off. Listen for odd behavior, too many horses, and rumors of a prisoner.
Talk to the guard on the fortress to learn someone is held captive.
Michael
He probes for information about Hans. Deflect or accept a friendly duel. Winning in the training ring rewards Rowel Spurs.
Blacksmith Steer
Near the gate forge. He gets nervous if you offer help with fortifications. A small Craftsmanship dialogue check can draw out more detail.
Romance with Klara
Near the center she may ask you to gather herbs. Follow her to the pasture and collect marigold (orange), poppies (red), and sage (purple).
Bring the herbs, then follow her into the woods. Answer her riddle correctly for romance (pick the first option). The scene is only mildly explicit.
You gain the unique Hidden Flower buff (+2 Strength, Agility, and Vitality).
Groom Peltzel
He offers a race. Winning earns a Hungarian Saddle. His story about where all the horses came from conflicts with Michael's if you press both.
Mark
On the guard platform above the main gate he runs an archery contest with an Old Field Crossbow as the prize. You can repeat bets for 80 Groschen.
If you demand the crossbow up front while you have none equipped, you lose reputation. You can retry the challenge without extra penalty if you lose.
You can also play dice in the courtyard.
Finding the true Lord (Old Raven achievement)
The key reveal sits near the tower by the dice table. Sneak toward the prisoner route early so you are not spotted, which also helps the Old Raven achievement later.
Steps:
- Go to the upper yard behind the dice table.
- Climb the stairs to the palisades and enter the metal door.
- Lockpick the easy inner door and take the Nebakov Jail Key from the table.
- Return downstairs and unlock the wooden jail door in the corner.
- Speak with the prisoner. The real Lord Nebak is imprisoned while bandits run the fort.
If guards keep catching you, reload the first autosave where Nebakov opens for exploration, grab the key, then reach the prisoner before Michael reaches the courtyard.
Nebak asks you to ride back to Trosky and beg von Bergow for an army. You still wait for Hans, so finish optional goals first if you want them.
Reporting to von Bergow
When the six hours end, meet Hans at the stables. You can also skip time at the meeting point.
If you learned the truth, Henry tells Hans and you ride straight back to Trosky.
The interrogation choice
Von Bergow says they captured a bandit and asks you and Hans to interrogate him, possibly with torture.
- “We'll get it out of him the hard way”: reputation gain with von Bergow
- “Interrogation is fine, but no torture”: no reputation change
- “I don't want to torture anyone”: reputation loss
Whatever you pick here, your actual behavior can still change in the next main quest, Necessary Evil.
Reporting suspicious activity
Von Bergow asks whether you noticed anything odd in Trosky. Depending on completed side content, you can report many threads.
Do not report everything blindly. Some reports have serious consequences.
For the easiest path toward the Silence is Golden trophy, answer “I don't know of anything.”
Mentioning that Young Semine left his own wedding can trigger a harder investigation in Necessary Evil and may end with the Semine fortress burning.
Possible reports and outcomes (examples):
- Kreyzl / gunpowder after Materia Prima: Otto worries about gunpowder and wants the bailiff informed.
- Inquisition in Troskowitz: Otto is curious and sends Ulrich to investigate.
- Crusader knights after The Hermit.
- Murder in Troskowitz: Otto blames the bailiff for neglect.
- Nomads if you visited Nomads' Camp: Otto comments on Sigismund's letter and their right to roam.
- Young Semine and the wedding: suspicion around Olda's disappearance tied to Otto's attack (risky for Necessary Evil).
- Tachov vs Zhelejov feud after Frogs or Mice quests: Otto treats it as an old bailiff problem.
- Robber Baron Gules in Semine after The Jaunt: Otto weighs sparing Gules but likes that you handled bandits.
This finishes Back in the Saddle and starts Necessary Evil immediately.
Rewards
If you uncovered the bandit plot at Nebakov, von Bergow offers a special reward.
Speak to Black Bartosch to claim one armor piece and one weapon of your choice (longsword, short sword, axe, war hammer, or polearm).
Back in the Saddle FAQ
Should I take Herring or keep Pebbles in Back in the Saddle?
If you already have Pebbles, keep her. After several hours of riding she unlocks a secret perk that raises Stamina and Speed and makes her one of the best horses overall. Herring has higher base stats but Pebbles outclasses him after the perk.
How do I find the true Lord Nebak at Nebakov Fortress?
Get the Nebakov Jail Key from behind the metal door on the palisades above the dice table, unlock the jail, and speak to the prisoner. That reveals the bandit plot and feeds the Old Raven achievement.
How do I win the horse race against Hans?
You do not have to stay on the road. Cutting across the fields is fastest. Winning earns 55 Groschen and reputation.
What are the best von Bergow interrogation dialogue options?
“We'll get it out of him the hard way” gives reputation with von Bergow. “Interrogation is fine, but no torture” is neutral. “I don't want to torture anyone” loses reputation. Your actions can still diverge in Necessary Evil.
What should I report to von Bergow for the easiest Necessary Evil path?
For the easiest path toward Silence is Golden, choose “I don't know of anything.” Reporting Young Semine leaving his wedding can trigger a harder investigation and possible Semine fortress burning.
What rewards do I get for exposing the bandits at Nebakov?
If you uncovered the plot, von Bergow offers a special reward through Black Bartosch: one armor piece and one weapon from the listed categories.