30. Meadows of Heaven
NEEEEEIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGHH!
The horse raised up on its hind legs, rearing its front hooves. Then it jumped towards Joseph.
“SHIT!”
“Stay there!”
“IT'LL KILL ME!”
The doctor backed away, momentarily forgetting about his injured foot. A deep sting brought it back to his awareness, and he fell to the ground, sitting on his butt.
“ACK!”
“Easy! Easy, girl!” The prince was in front of the beast, holding its bridle and caressing its red, shaggy mane.
*Girl?*
The prince turned to Joseph, smiling as the horse kept shaking its head and snorting.
“Her name is Tallulah. She’s just scared because she doesn't know you yet.”
*I wonder if “she” is some sort of demon, too… Like that Mabel creature.*
The prince offered Joseph his hand, helping him up. The doctor couldn't help but gaze at the horse the whole time. She was already grimacing and showing her teeth to him again.
“Uh...right. Let me guess... We’re riding...her?”
“Correct.”
“She hates me. Can’t you see that?”
“She shall not harm you, as long as I'm in command.”
Joseph rolled his eyes, sighing.
There wasn't much he could do. It was unbearable to walk on his foot, he was practically fasting, and his stomach was already growling. They were too far from the college, and it would probably take 5 hours for him to reach his home in this state. They were in the deepest northwestern parts of the cemetery, too, which was already very dangerous, but with the monster that kidnapped Svoboda still around...
*Of course this infernal mare is my best option...*
After hanging Joseph's crutches and their bags on the giant animal's saddle, Tariq brought her closer by the reins. Joseph suddenly realised just how huge she was.
Joseph wasn't especially tall, but not particularly short either, being 1.77 m in height. Tariq was indeed tall. Over 1.90 m, for sure, and still...the top of his head couldn't even reach the saddle of the creature.
"I don't mean to sound snide or anything...but why is this bloody thing is so huge?"
The prince smiled and shrugged.
"She eats well in the Astral Plains, I suppose."
"ASTRAL WHAT?!"
The doctor shook his head. It was too much for him to process. In less than two months of meeting the prince for the first time, he had already seen things that would haunt the minds of most people for their whole lives.
*I mean, this thing came out of the cross...literally. Why am I even trying to compare it to a normal horse?*
A hot puff of air smelling of blood and rotten fish reached the boy's nose.
The horse let out a whinny.
Joseph turned his head just in time to see the horse’s canine teeth, and her snorting at him again.
Joseph screamed and backed off, covering his face.
"Be nice to her, I implore you. Astral creatures are very sensitive. She can smell your fear and it annoys her deeply." With that, the prince all but climbed the horse, taking his seat as easily and gracefully as a dancer.
The doctor raised his eyebrows, frowning and shaking his head again.
"Come here."
Joseph clenched his fists, every inch of his body shaking. He looked up, staring right into the red eyes of the mare.
Prince Tariq was gazing over at him with deep, gloomy eyes. He guided the animal with mighty hands, looking so majestic and handsome, with that ballsy ponytail and that dark green tricorn hat...
Nevertheless, Joseph felt like his wobbly legs were stuck to the ground.
"Come over here, doctor. Now."
"I'm... I'm sc-cared...of horses."
"I'm with you. You're safe."
"St-till...I ap-pologise, my p-prince".
"Close your eyes."
"Eh?"
"Do as I say."
Joseph swallowed. Again, he was trapped. Tariq was a prince of the land, after all, and Joseph was just a simple foreigner, barely accepted into the country.
He closed his eyes tightly, wrapping his good arm around himself.
"Stay like that, no matter what. You understand?"
*Oh my God! What is this madman up to now?*
Everything went silent except for the cold breeze buzzing past Joseph's ears.
*Clack! Clack! Clack!*
The sound of the horse's hooves came closer to him in a crescendo, then slowly faded away, as if it had passed around him before continuing on.
The absolute silence remained for a few moments.
His heart skipped two beats and his blood froze in the realisation that he was all alone.
*I can't believe it! That rascal just left me here, without my things and my crutches?*
The boy pouted and he couldn't help it when his face deformed into a grimace of agony. It was such a cowardly thing to do, to leave a disabled person in a place like that.
Joseph covered his eyes with his healthy arm, not even trying to control the tears as he sobbed miserably.
After the disaster that was that week...this was the final straw.
*Was he angry because of the mare? My God, what am I even supposed to do now?*
Something grabbed him by his waist, suspending the boy in the air.
“Gaah!”
Joseph instinctually opened his eyes and saw the landscape before him, of tombs and bare trees, rushing past at odd angles.
"LET ME DOOOOWWWWNN!"
He was moving. Very quickly. The dry wind in his hair was almost scratching his face.
"AAAAHH!"
Whatever was holding him just pulled him up further, and suddenly, he was sitting side-saddle, like a lady, on that black mare in front of Prince Tariq.
The prince was holding him tightly with one hand, close to his body, as he held the mare's bridle with the other. He raised both eyebrows in worry.
"Why are you crying?"
Joseph felt his stomach turn from the motion around him, so he looked instead at the prince's face...making it impossible to hide his red, teary eyes.
"I th-thought...you had l-left..."
He noticed Prince Tariq swallow and frown, his forehead creasing.
"I’m sorry. Truly."
The doctor blinked several times, unable to find any words, his mouth open in utter disbelief. He never expected such deep sentiment in a reply.
*Why...isn't he laughing at me?*
The landscape seemed to move past more slowly, and he noticed the horse had fallen into a trot now. The animal seemed very obedient and tame under the prince's hands, and a good part of the fear from when they first met was gone. As a matter of fact, the rhythm of its walk became soothing. Sunlight came from the west, bathing Joseph's shoulders in warmth and brightening the black hair and red mane of the animal in a faint yellow. They kept going up and down, almost like they were floating in a boat.
They had left the cemetery, the college grounds, and the ruins beyond, and had reached an open land, covered in a surprisingly green blanket of grass. A few plump, joyful sheep were running and bleating, jumping gratefully for that generous warmth. The gold of the sunlight in the grass made it look like a painting inspired by an old forgotten fairytale.
The doctor closed his eyes; the wind had turned into a soft whisper as he inclined his head forward.
Tariq's arm shook him, and he opened his eyes immediately.
*Was I dozing off again?*
"If you turn around and sit with your legs spread, like a man, it might be more comfortable." Tariq smiled, talking too close to Joseph's ear.
The doctor felt the hair on his nape stand up, and a wave of warmth washed over his face and chest.
"Oh...I'm s-sorry."
Joseph did as Tariq suggested, always supported by the prince’s strong arm. His eyes widened at the beauty of the scene unfolding in front of him.
The road was bordered by the meadows of sheep to the west, but now, Joseph could see a huge lake to the east, the waters so still they mirrored the sky and snowy mountains surrounding it perfectly. Endless woods of dark green pines became a natural wall for the scene. Far beyond, a group of sheep were crossing the road, heading towards the lake. Infinitely tall blue mountains, covered in eternal snow, emerged from the horizon, becoming more and more grandiose as the boys approached their base.
*Baaaa! Baaaa!*
The smell of grass and pines on the breeze invaded Joseph's nostrils; the sheep were so fluffy and bleating at them. Some even accompanied them for a while when they interrupted their walk to the lake. Joseph's attention was caught on one with a black face and a white coat. He stretched his arm, but the horse was too tall for him to touch it.
"They're so cute!"
The prince laughed. “Yes, they are."
"This place...is too beautiful. I had no idea there was anything like this here."
Tariq rested his chin on Joseph's shoulder, holding him tighter around his chest. The boy could feel the prince's body curling around him like a shield.
Joseph’s whole body trembled, and a wave of warmth, like the sun around them, took him by surprise. His face was burning, and his heart felt as if it would jump from his mouth when Tariq's cheek rubbed against his as he embraced him.
"After the darkest night, all that’s left is a brand new day, Doctor."
Joseph understood he was talking about the cemetery, and everything that had happened the night before… About his injuries, about the tears he just witnessed, fallen for all the times he had been left behind.
It was impossible to escape from Tariq's embrace. His arms were strong, like they were made of the most solid marble. Yet they were so warm, so reassuring...
For the first time in many years, Joseph felt safe. Completely safe. And he smiled, amused by his own fears.
These were indeed the Meadows of Heaven… With no beginning or end. With no demands or deceptions… Just the two of them, riding into an endless Now.
The heir of all that land, the son of a lineage of warriors... He had walked by Joseph’s side at the college… The champion of a crippled, reeking foreigner on Bohemian land.
*This is the safest place I could be...*
His body was so full of warmth and joy that he felt he as if he could float away like a balloon. And it certainly seemed, from on top of the mare's back, like they were flying.
Slowly, Joseph ran his hand over Tariq’s arm and held him back, tangling his fingers with the other boy's. The prince responded, holding him even tighter and burying his face even deeper into the doctor's shoulder.