White Horse Talisman Read Free Page A

“Widdershins?”
    â€œAnti-clockwise … four … five … keep counting.”
    â€œSo what? What’s it supposed to do? Turn her into a frog?” Adam laughed.
    â€œâ€™Course not, but she’ll get whatever she wishes for in either seven minutes, seven days, seven weeks, seven months, or seven years.”
    Adam laughed again. “Yeah, right. What are you trying to do? Freak us out?”
    Holly laid a hand on his arm. “I’m not trying to freak anyone out, Adam Maxwell. I’m just telling you what they say in the village. And I hope your little sister has wished wisely, because she has just been round the eye seven times.”
    Chantel stopped and gazed down at the ancient chalk face. Her dream memory of the beautiful horse was clear and vivid. “I wish I could see you again,” she whispered. “I wish you were my horse for the summer.”
    A roll of thunder rumbled around the valley.
    Startled, Holly, Adam, and Owen lifted their faces sky–ward. Dark blue and purple clouds had built up behind them, rolling, boiling and rapidly obscuring the clear sky.
    â€œBetter boogie,” shouted Owen. “That’s a heck of a storm. Let’s get the ponies before they’re spooked.” He ran uphill towards the fence, Holly following.
    Chantel was listening to the voice in her head. She crouched down and scraped frantically at the surface of the chalk eye at her feet.
    Adam ran to Chantel, grabbed her arm and tried to pull her away. “Come on, you idiot. We’ll be caught in the storm.”
    Large drops of rain began to splatter the ground.
    â€œYou’re hurting me.” Chantel shook off Adam’s grip. She scraped at the chalk again, and plucked something from the ground. It glimmered gold as she closed her palm around it.
    â€œWe’ll leave you behind,” yelled Adam, running uphill. “You’ll never find your way back on your own.”
    â€œWill so,” muttered Chantel as she followed.
    The ponies shifted uneasily beside the fence, but quieted when the children arrived. Adam ignored his sister, so Holly helped her mount, then swung up herself.
    The rain became a downpour, soaking everyone. The thunder rolled.
    â€œCut across the hill,” called Holly. “It’s the short way home. Lean backward as we go downhill. Follow that magpie.” She pointed to a lone bird flapping towards the village.
    Holly dug her heels into Harlequin’s ribs. He snorted and headed across the side of the hill. Adam followed. Chantel held the reins in one hand and clutched the gold in the other. She urged Snowflake forward. Owen brought up the rear.
    They were halfway across the slope when it happened.
    A spear of lightning sizzled and struck the ground in front of Chantel and Snowflake. A thunderclap shook the earth.
    With a whinny of fright Snowflake reared, tossing Chantel like a rag doll. She flew through the air and fell silent and unmoving on the wet grass. Her hand stayed tightly clenched around the gold fragment.
    As fast as it had started, the storm stopped.

C HAPTER T WO
T WO FOR J OY
    The Wise Ones held council.
    Equus’s eyes shone. “I’ve made contact. A girl child sees and hears me.”
    Myrddin groaned. “One child. Millions of people, but only one child hears us.”
    Equus stamped a hoof, and a shower of stars sparkled the heavens. “Celebrate, Myrddin! One child is better than none. Besides, three other children were with her. Take heart. Given time perhaps they too will hear us.”
    â€œTime is short,” snapped Myrddin.
    â€œShhhh,” Ava soothed. “Traa dy liooar, remember. Time enough.” She ran a wing down the horse’s neck. “Be gentle with the child, Equus. Humans are afraid of powers they do not understand.”
    Equus hung his head. “I know. I sent a lightning message to them all. But it made her fall, and she broke a leg. She is in a