White Horse Talisman by Andrea Spalding

will be even stronger.
    Chantel patted the horse’s neck. I’ll try to help you.
    The hooves of the White Horse struck the downs and horse and child took to the air, leaping through sunsets and sunrises, jumping the stars and swooping through swirling galaxies. They galloped together until the heavens rang with Chantel’s laughter. Eventually, breathless and exhausted, she shouted, “ENOUGH!”
    The White Horse paused on a silvery mountaintop.
    Where are we? Chantel asked.
    The Place Beyond Morning. What do you see?
    Chantel looked around and smiled. A land of silver. It’s pretty.
    Equus sighed. Are you tired, child?
    Chantel nodded. Yes. It’s hard to hold on.
    Then lie along my neck. We will return.
    Chantel lay forward along the smooth white neck, clasp–ing her arms around it. Sleepily she rubbed her cheek against the warm skin and smiled, as she smelled the horse’s musky scent. His muscles bunched beneath her and the air streamed past, lifting strands of mane to tickle her face. A smile still on her face, Chantel felt her eyelids droop. She slept.
    CCC “I took the child to the Place Beyond Morning,” said Equus.
    â€œDid she understand?” Ava asked.
    Equus shook his head “How could she? All she saw was silvery beauty. She didn’t recognize the emptiness.” He sighed. “She is so young. Everything in her world is new to her. How can she understand what is happening in the universe? Even we were vanquished because we didn’t un – derstand in time.”
    Myrddin grunted in protest. “Not vanquished. We re – treated! Our land is still there. We will be back. We must go back. The balance must be kept. Light and dark …There must always be light and dark.”
    â€œBut the dark is such a fearful dark,” Ava cried. “The Dark Being has grown so powerful that now the light is extinguished where she passes.”
    â€œTake heart, Ava. Even the Dark Being could not per – manently darken the Place Beyond Morning. Though empty, it shines still,” said Equus.
    Ava ruffled her feathers uneasily. “For how long? Last night I saw a small star go out. The Dark Being has become stronger. We must find a way to become stronger too.”
    â€œWe will. My heart tells me the other children will soon hear me and help.”
    â€œTake care with the humans, Equus,” Myrddin cau – tioned. “As they waken our old magic, the Dark Magic stirs.
    Dark and light, light and dark. There cannot be one without the other. The human children may not recognize which is which. Take great care.”

C HAPTER F IVE
F OUR FOR A B OY
    While Chantel slept in her hospital bed, Adam tossed and turned in the lower bunk. Owen slept peacefully on the top, but Adam couldn’t sleep. He was wrestling with his conscience.
    He had known looking after Chantel in England would be a pain, but now things were really awful.
    It’s not her fault, suggested the voice of his conscience, but Adam knew it was. If Chantel hadn’t whined to be in–cluded, if his mother hadn’t been on her side, then Chantel wouldn’t have come to England and fallen! Now instead of Owen and him having fun together, they were making stupid trips to the hospital.
    â€œIt’s not fair,” Adam said out loud as he thumped his pillow angrily into another shape. “She spoils everything.” He slammed his head on the pillow. He was sick of his mom and dad dumping Chantel on him. They were always fight–ing and wanting her out of the way. Then when things went wrong they blamed him. It wasn’t fair. He wasn’t Chantel’s parent. He was a ten-year-old kid.
    A surge of anger washed over him. He was angry with his parents and their secret discussions about a “trial separation.” As if he didn’t know! He was angry with Chantel and angry with himself for being angry with her. He was scared too, really scared.