Battle Horse

Chapter Sixteen

     Embarrassed by the out come, Horace immediately stumbled to his feet, glaring at them all. He fetched a fallen branch from the ground and swung it widely over his head at the horse.

"I'll show you and your dumb horse!" He yelled. He swung at Tug, who promptly danced away, avoiding all harm. He raised it once more to strike again, but not before Ena had forced her way in between the little horse and Horace. The blow was already sent, and it happened all to fast for Horace to stop it. The branch whipped across Ena's arm, tearing her sleeve as she let out a yelp of pain. Blood could be seen running down her arm through the tears.

"Ena!" Horace said in horror, biting his lip. Before anyone else could do anything, Will was on him. He landed on Horaces back and his weight knocked them both down. Ena didn't pay much attention to them. There was a dull throbbing in her arm that was beginning to feel more prominent. George ran to her side.

"Are you alright?" He asked. He looped an arm around her waist and lowered her to the ground, placing her head in his lap whilst Alyss cut Ena's sleeve to reveal the wound.

"I think this requires stitches, Ena." Alyss said warily. "It's fairly deep."

"What’s going on here, you two hooligans?" A loud angry voice thundered. Ena caught a glimpse of Sir Rodney holding Will wriggling in the air.

"We need to get her back to the castle." George whispered to Alyss, allowing Sir Rodney to sort out any mess Will and Horace had caused.

"Is everything alright?" Sir Rodney's voice had softened and he approached Alyss and George caring for Ena. Jenny was off to the side staring in horror.

"I'm fine, sir." Ena managed to mutter. She was far from fines and was feeling rather light headed.

"We will care for her, Sir." Alyss assured. Sir Rodney nodded.

"Stay out is trouble." He hissed at Will and Horace as walked away. Once the Battlemaster was out of sight, the two boys ran to Ena's side.

"Is she alright?" Will asked, Glancing at Enas wound.

"No. We need to get her to the infirmary." Alyss said.

"I'm fine, Alyss. There's no reason to be so dramatic." Ena insisted. She gripped George's arm to help her stand. Once she was on her feet however, a dizzy spell hit her, causing her to collapse in Horace's arms.

"Oh gosh, Ena, I'm so sorry!" He said in a panic. "I didn't mean to hit you!"

"But you meant to hit my horse." Will mumbled bitterly. Alyss jabbed Will in the ribs with her elbow.

"Get over your petty arguments! Ena needs help!" She growled. Horace bent down and swept Ena's legs out from underneath her, cradling her in his arms carefully.

"I'll get her to the infirmary." Horace said.

"You're the one who caused this! Why should we trust you with her?" Will argued. Horace gave him a fierce glare.

"Though I may try to hurt you, I would never, ever hurt Ena on purpose." He growled. His answer left his wards in wonder as he made his way down the hill towards the castle.

"I'm fine, Really, Horace." She insisted. He rolled his eyes.

"No you're not, and it's my fault, so I'm going to make sure you are well looked after." He told her.

He was silent the rest of the trip to the infirmary. She didn't want to bother him since he looked in deep thought. When they arrived at the infirmary, a nurse came to greet them, having Horace lay Ena down on one of the cots prepared.

"Will she see the doctor?" Horace asked the nurse. She shook her head.

"It's not too bad. I'll sterilize the wound and maybe give it a stitch or two." She said. "What happened?" Horace was ready to answer, but Ena beat him to it.

"We were racing down a hill to see who was fastest and I tripped and hit my arm on a rock." Ena lied. Horace eyed her, but something in his eyes looked grateful she hadn't revealed he was the one who casued the wound.

"Alright, well let's get that stitched up. Do you have a craft master, Ena?" She asked.

"Yes, Horsemaster Ulf." Horace told her. The nurse rose an eyebrow.

"I must alert him that you have been injured, we need to make sure you rest your arm so it can heal properly, and that can't happen if he's working you at your normal pace." She explained. Ena groaned.

"Fine." She knew Ulf would see right through her lie. The Nurse sent a page boy off to fetch Ulf. Horace wandered away from her cot and towards the door, where the rest of the their ward mates ran in.

"Is she alright?" George asked, his voice full on concern.

"Yes. They're going to stitch her up, but they're fetching Ulf right now." Horace explained quietly. Will slipped away from the group and made his way towards Ena, Dropping down in the chair beside her cot.

"How are you feeling?" He asked.

"A bit lightheaded." She said, holding her head with her good arm.

"You've lost quite a lot of blood." He said.

"I'm fine though. I don't want my work load lessened. The boys already think I'm not good as it it." She complained.

"Ena would you rather prove to the boys you can do something they can, or would you rather be able to use your arm again in the future? You don't want it to heal badly, right?" He reasoned. She nodded reluctantly.

"I suppose." He smiled.

"And thank you for sticking up for Tug. It caused all of this, but I'm grateful." He said. Ena glanced over at where Horace was arguing with Alyss.

"I couldn't stand to see anyone treat a horse like that." She said bitterly. "They deserve as much respect as the knight himself, even though that will never happen." Will smirked.

"I know. You should come work for the ranger horse trainer, old Bob. He understands what you're feeling completely." He said. She rose an eyebrow.

"You have curious horses. I'd love to meet the man who trained them." She admitted. He nodded.

"I'll talk to him some time about it. I bet he'll want to meet you just as much when I tell him you defended Tug." He said. She blushed a bit.

"Thanks, Will." Just as he was going to answer, a loud voice filled the infirmary.

"Where is my apprentice? Where is Ena?" Ulf voice boomed. Will stood, standing out of the way so Ulf could see her. "Who did this to you?" He asked harshly. Ena was feeling weak, and didn't have much strength left.

"No one sir, I fell." She said weakly.

"Rubbish, Ena. That's not like you." He snapped. He knew when an apprentice was lying, and Ena was. Horace stepped forward.

"It was my fault sir." He said. Ulf's furious gaze turned to Horace, burning holes through him with his eyes. "I'm very sorry."

"You're sorry?" Ulf said in disbelief. "I've heard the way you speak to her, and I know you're not sorry." He said scoffing.

"There is no excuse for my actions, sir, I understand. But please know I would never harm Ena on purpose." He sounded so sincere, that Ulf's expression softened. He sighed and nodded.

"Yes, I know you never would." He turned to the nurse. "How long till she can be back to work?"

"Two weeks at the least." She said. Both Ena and Ulf groaned at the same time.

"Really?" Ulf asked.

"Yes, unless you want her arm damaged." The nurse scolded. Ulf nodded stiffly.

"Fine. Two weeks it is. Ena, you can continue grooming with your good arm." He said. Ena nodded.

"Yes sir." The nurse then shooed everyone out so she could tend to Ena's arm.