A Blood Red Horse by K. M. Grant

himself free and pushed past her, running up the stone stairs.
    â€œNow then,” said Sir Thomas, catching Ellie before she could go after him. “This is a horrible business. We will do what we can, Ellie, but if the worst comes to the worst, we must all be brave for Will’s sake. Come, my dear,” he said gently as Ellie started to cry. “Come, come. We must not cry but rather pray to the Virgin that Hosanna pulls through. Let’s try to be calm and put our trust in the Lord and Old Nurse’s paste.” With this, he took the girl into his arms and allowed himself to wipe away an unwanted tear of his own with her hair.
    Hosanna did not die in the night, but the morning brought no improvement in his condition. When William clattered happily into the courtyard just after breakfast with Sir Walter trailing along behind him, he was met by Hal, his eyes hollow.
    Hal said nothing but the horse’s name before William was off his courser and into the stables. Hosanna’s stall was empty. William looked round wildly.
    â€œHe’s in the loose box,” said Hal from the doorway. William rushed to the horse and fell to his knees. “How did this happen?”
    â€œMaster Gavin took him hunting yesterday.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œMaster Gavin took him hunting yesterday. He sent Mark for him, and I thought you had agreed.”
    William never took his eyes off Hosanna. “What were my last words to you before I left for the stud?”
    â€œYou said you were giving Hosanna a rest day.”
    William knelt in silent agony. He stroked Hosanna’s neck. “Take Sacramenta. Get Keeper John. He may know some old remedies that could help.”
    â€œYes, sir.” Hal was glad to have something active to do.He had sat all night massaging the horse’s legs, changing the cold cloths, whispering and weeping into Hosanna’s ears. The horse had never moved, only groaned occasionally as small drops of blood still emerged from his nose. Hal would never have got through the night if Ellie had not sat with him. They had huddled together, the difference in rank forgotten in their misery.
    She appeared now and knelt beside William in silence. Eventually, she got up, stoked the fire, and began to change the cloths herself. The blood seemed to have ceased flowing, and it seemed to Ellie that Hosanna’s breathing did not rattle quite so much. Whether this was a good or a bad sign, Ellie did not know.
    For the next few days Hosanna was motionless. The three people who loved him most took turns nursing him, but everybody tiptoed about with anxious looks on their faces. Keeper John provided a funnel down which they tried to push a thin mash of linseed and ale, together with concoctions made by Old Nurse consisting of bread, water, and white wine. Most ended up on the straw. Old Nurse knelt down and tried with a small bone spoon. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, the horse remained so gravely ill that Sir Thomas and Sir Walter talked privately about when the end should be called.
    Gavin slunk about, eventually preparing to leave on the pretext of being needed in the north. Christmas was a subdued affair, and as soon as it was over, Gavin set off. As he stood waiting to mount Montlouis, Ellie came by dragging a sackful of hay to see if Hosanna could be tempted by the smell. She stopped when she saw Gavin, but was unable to think of anything to say. Gavin stared at her, seemed about to speak, but was put off by Adam Landless and two otheryoung knights who came down the stone steps and into the courtyard. They were leaving with Gavin and were laughing and joshing among themselves, relieved to be getting away from what they thought was a ridiculous fuss over a horse. Looking round to make sure Sir Thomas was not within earshot, they began to tease Ellie.
    â€œHave you not had enough breakfast, Miss Eleanor? Or are you turning into a horse?” they joked in a good-natured enough