Free A Blood Red Horse by K. M. Grant Page A

from one side, then the other, until they filled the high vaulted chapel.
“Benedicamus Domino. Deo gratias.”
The familiarity soothed Ranulf. He shut his eyes and gave himself up to the music. “Lord,” he found himself praying, although not sure where the words were coming from, “Lord, if You save Hosanna and give him back his strength, I will remain true to You here. I will follow the abbot’s instructions. If You can really cure the suffering of this horse, I promise not to use him as a means of escape. I even promise that if it seems appropriate, I will give Hosanna back into Your service through returning him to Hartslove and to the boy who brought him here.”
    â€œIn te, Domine, speravi.”
    â€œI ask this through your own suffering. Amen.”
    Hugh did not attend compline. He remained leaning on the wooden partition, looking at Hosanna but not really seeing him. Out of habit, however, the words of the divine office came almost unbidden to his lips, and he found himself praying over the horse. The stables were completely still, as still, the abbot found himself thinking, as the stable at Bethlehem. He prayed on, closing his eyes. As his prayer drew to an end and he opened his eyes again, the luminous rays of the setting sun were pouring through a crack in the stable wall. Though the rest of the animals were shrouded in shadow, Hosanna, still lying down, was lit up, a beam of extraordinary intensity catching the top of his head in such a way as to produce the effect of a halo. Hugh caught his breath. He felt he was seeing a vision. Without thinking, he dropped to his knees.
    He was not the only one. Hidden behind the grain sacks was Brother Andrew. Hours earlier he had crept into thestable out of curiosity to take a look at the horse that so obsessed Ranulf and whose destruction, he believed, was now imminent. He had been on the point of creeping out when Ranulf had appeared. Andrew hid himself to wait until the coast was clear and then was trapped again by the abbot. Now he was paralyzed with fear. This great shaft of light seemed to have deliberately picked out this horse whose fate Andrew’s dishonesty was helping to seal. It was uncanny and disturbing. Andrew assured himself that he was not superstitious. But a voice in his head told him some things were obvious. To have produced such an effect, this horse must have magical powers. The light was unearthly. And surely only God could produce a halo? Unknown to the abbot, in his dark corner Andrew also fell on his knees and began to pray.
    Once the light vanished, Hugh, treating the horse with new deference, got up and left. It now became possible for Andrew to climb out of his hiding place and approach Hosanna directly. He tentatively touched the horse’s ears. They were warm. Andrew drew a small piece of apple out of his pocket. Hosanna took it and licked Andrew’s hand, which the sweat of fear had made as salty as Old Nurse’s. Suddenly Andrew found himself again on his knees.
    â€œLord,” he said, “I think You have sent me a sign. Help me to give up my dishonest ways. Sin led to Your death on the cross. I see this clearly. Now this animal is also to die for my sins. What can I do to make amends?”
    It did not take Andrew long to figure out the answer. From another of his voluminous pockets he brought out the flagon of oil brought from the Holy Land and rubbed the horse’s legs with it. Then finding a bowl, he made a small mash out of the peas and bread that were ready forthe horses’ suppers. He knelt down again. Hosanna sniffed carefully at the mash, pushed it about with his top lip, then began to eat. He ate until there was none left and, as Andrew slipped quietly back to the almonery, shook himself and got to his feet.
    The following day, despite Peter raising his eyes to heaven with exasperation, Hugh sent the butcher away empty-handed. He never saw the evening vision repeated, but over