A Blood Red Horse Read Online Free PDF Page B

tail. Sir Walter, shouting for his own groom, declared that he was exhausted and asked William to get Old Nurse to organize some food to be sent to one of the smaller chambers. He could not face the great hall tonight. William nodded, then felt he should try to make amends.
    â€œIt will be all right,” he said to the old man. “I know it will.”
    Sir Walter sighed. “Well, William,” he said, “I am not going to pretend that I don’t think you have made a mistake. I just hope you will not be too proud to go back for the bay if I turn out to be right. Remember, pride and an unwillingness to admit being wrong are the ruin of many a young knight. Anyway, we shall see, eh? Right now, I must get these boots off and lie down.”
    â€œThanks, sir, for coming with me.”
    â€œI think you are a young fool. But go on, get your dinner.”
    William turned away and went up the steps to where he could hear the noise of a meal in full swing. Splashing his face with water from the barrel, he hoped to escape detailed questioning this evening. By the following morning Hal would have burnished Hosanna until he gleamed, and maybe the horse would behave. If only he would float and jump, as he had eventually done at the stud, William thought his father would understand why William had to have him.
    Fortunately for the boy, as he took his place at the top table Sir Thomas was deep in conversation with Gavin and his friend Adam Landless, an impoverished young knight whom William knew only slightly. Ellie was sitting next to his mother’s empty seat and Sir Percy next to her. Percy was telling Ellie some story to which she was onlyhalf listening. When she saw William, she at once tried to extricate herself, but William shook his head and Ellie obediently remained where she was. Sir Thomas waved his tankard at his younger son. He looked grave.
    â€œYour brother is off tomorrow,” he said. “The king has asked him to escort Queen Eleanor to Normandy. It seems that despite having lost one son, King Henry is still squabbling with the others. Really, I do wish fathers and sons could manage to get along better. Anyway, never mind that for the moment. How did you do? Where is Sir Walter? Did Keeper John have something suitable?”
    â€œSir Walter has gone to lie down, sir,” replied William. “I did come home with a horse. I hope you will like him, Father.”
    â€œI am sure I will. We will see him in the morning before Gavin goes and when Sir Walter is back on his feet. Poor Walter. Getting old, I suppose—like all of us.” With that Sir Thomas dismissed William with a kindly nod. William wolfed down his supper and vanished to his bed, leaving Ellie, rather puzzled and not a little hurt, to go to hers.
    Amid the bustle of the departing knights, Hal brought Hosanna out into the castle courtyard for inspection the following morning. Compared to all the other warhorses stamping their feet and arching their necks in mock male fury, the new stallion did look very small and slight, even to William. Sir Thomas was most surprised but said nothing. Gavin, despite his best intentions, was much less reticent. Standing on one leg as his squire, a dumpy man called Humphrey, buckled on his spurs, he laughed out loud.
    â€œLook, Humphrey!” he chortled. “Lucky for you that you aren’t William’s squire. Look what you might have to ride!”
    Hal had been up since dawn, currying off the sweat marks and washing Hosanna’s mane and tail. The horse had stood patiently, even when Hal tipped water over his rump. The boy visibly winced at Gavin’s scorn. He was glad when William came to stand beside him.
    â€œI thought it was a destrier you were after, Will,” Gavin hooted at his brother. “This horse is a midget.”
    â€œSize isn’t everything,” said William coldly.
    â€œWell, it was you who said it was,” Gavin rejoined. “It was you