White Horse Talisman

by Andrea Spalding

  Nausea gripped Adam as he climbed upward. His head began to throb and the anger gnawed at his stomach. How dare Holly take his talisman and meet with the dragon? The dragon was his. He needed its power; Holly didn’t. With each step upward, his emotions grew stronger, until Adam was trembling.

  They heard voices.

  “No!” Holly’s clear tones carried though the night. “I won’t say the words.”

  Owen unexpectedly touched Adam’s arm. Adam jumped and swung around, his fist clenched, ready to fight. Owen backed off, his face puzzled and uneasy in the red glow. “Is she talking to the dragon?” he whispered.

  Adam dropped his fist and nodded. Both boys began to wriggle on their bellies up the last part of the slope.

  “Say the words of power, and I’ll fly you home,” they heard the dragon wheedle in a voice that dripped honey. “We could fly anywhere. What great wonders would you like to see?”

  Adam was furious. The dragon was offering Holly the same things he’d offered Adam.

  Holly’s voice rang out, “Listen, bonehead, all I want to see is my bed.”

  “Uh-oh,” whispered Owen. “She’s furious. I wonder why she’s not stomped off. That’s what she usually does when she’s mad.”

  Adam barely heard. He concentrated on raising his head until he could see across the flat top of Dragon Hill. The small plateau was bathed in a red glow from what had been the bald spot on the ground. Now it was a pulsing, transparent membrane cover–ing a hole filled with fiery red light. Holly, in her pajamas, was standing on the far side, facing them. Her arms were folded defiantly across her chest, and her chin jutted.

  “Why doesn’t she run away?” Owen whispered. He shuddered.

  Adam stared across at Holly. “Shut up and listen.”

  “Don’t you like power?” The dragon’s voice oozed entic–ingly. “Think what you could do with the power, if you and I were partners.”

  “Power! Is that what you offered Adam?” Holly blurted out. “He’d like that. He’s feeling pretty awful right now with his mum and dad splitting up and Chantel in the hospital. You would! Just like the fairy stories. Find the weak person and offer them power. Huh!” She gave an angry laugh. “You got me instead!”

  Adam drew in a sharp breath, as though he’d been kicked in the stomach. How could Holly say he was weak? How dare she talk about his parents divorcing? What did she know, anyway?

  A scaly tail swirled under the surface of the membrane. “You’re angry. That makes you more powerful,” hissed the dragon. “Though your anger is not as good as the boy’s. His anger almost fills his being. When he held the talisman I could feel his rage. As it grew so did my power.” The dragon laughed, and the membrane glowed a deeper red. “I feel it even now. The boy’s anger is so strong, it’s as though he were right here.” The dragon laughed again. “He feeds me.”

  Holly stamped the ground. “You make Adam angry so you can use him? That’s horrible.”

  At the rim of the plateau, Owen turned to stare at Adam.

  Adam’s face burned with humiliation. He felt betrayed.

  The dragon wasn’t his friend; he was using him.

  “The boy was nothing, just a passing human whose anger helps me grow strong. But you … you’re different. You are a very clever girl. Sometimes it’s hard for clever girls to gain power.” The dragon’s voice grew sweeter with every word. “But I could change all that. Imagine having all the power you need, everything you want within your grasp, everyone at your command. That’s what you and I could achieve together. The talisman is the key. Now I am stronger, I need not wait for the other half. Hold it and say the words of power. And I will give you your heart’s desire.”

  Holly ignored him.

  Adam stared through the dark, trying to read Holly’s face. He knew what was happening. She was considering the dragon’s offer. She was going to say the words of power. Once again, he would lose out! He could contain himself no longer. Erupting onto the plateau, he yelled at the top of his voice, “What about your promise to me, Worm? It’s me who needs the power, so I can fix things! You promised!”

  The dragon heaved under the membrane and showed a flash of teeth. “So I could feel your presence,” the dragon hissed. “You were hiding on the hill. Why?”

  “Adam!” Holly cried. “Don’t talk to him. He’s a dragon. He lies. That’s what dragons do.”

  The dragon sweetened his voice again. “So you’ve come to help me, Adam. That’s good. I missed you. I’m sorry. I thought you had changed your mind and given the talisman away. I’m glad you came after it. You can say the words of power instead of this silly wench. She’s only a girl. She doesn’t understand.”

  Adam paused uncertainly.

  “Chauvinist pig,” said Holly coldly. “It’s you that doesn’t understand. I have the talisman, remember?” She held it up. The light behind the membrane dimmed.

  Only Owen noticed.

  “Put it away!” cried the dragon with a roar. “I don’t need to see it … I need you to hold it and say the words of power. Quickly! Then we can all have what we desire.” The membrane stretched upward as a claw thrust against it.

  “Forget it,” Holly retorted. “Adam, listen to him lie. That big red lump’s never going to let a kid share his power.”

  “Silence,” roared the dragon. “Children should respect their elders.”

  “What century are you from?” retorted Holly.

  The dragon’s voice sank to a musical whisper. “See, Adam? The girl doesn’t understand, but you do. You realize what power can do. She doesn’t even want power. I know what she’d like, though. Give the talisman to Adam, girl, then choose your reward. The jewels of a princess, servants, velvet dresses? Anything. Then we can all have what we wish.”

  Holly burst out laughing. “You’re so retro!” she sputtered.

  Adam stared at her. He never understood girls. How could she laugh? He looked down through the membrane. The dragon stared up at him and grinned.

  Feelings slid out of the red pit and wrapped around him. Adam shivered. They were nothing like the feeling of friend–ship from the horse, or the magic from Wayland’s Smithy. The overpowering feeling here was hate. Horrified, he stepped back, but it was too late. He had looked into the dragon’s eyes.

  “Don’t go, Adam. You can help me,” whispered the dragon. His hypnotic voice filled Adam’s head and the ha–tred filled his body. “Take the talisman from the girl. You don’t need her. She’s like the others; she’ll stop you doing what you want. Take the talisman. She cannot run away. I’ve put a barrier spell around her. Take the talisman. Take it.

  Take it! I’ll teach you the words of power. You and I will do everything we planned.”

  The words became a drumbeat in Adam’s head. “Take it!

  Take it! Take it!” His feet turned and marched him around the pit towards Holly.

  White-faced, Holly watched his approach. She tried to step back, but the invisible barrier stopped her. She clenched her fist and placed it protectively behind her back.

  Adam stopped in front of her. “Give me the talisman,” he said. His voice was empty and his eyes blank.

  Holly shook her head “Give me the talisman.” Adam’s lips moved, but his voice was the voice of the dragon.

  Holly froze with terror. She stared mutely back.

  “I will destroy you!” The dragon’s voice screamed out of Ad–am’s mouth as Adam’s hand penetrated the invisible barrier.

  Against her will, Holly felt her hand move towards Adam’s.

  As their fingers met, out of the darkness leapt Owen, weirdly dancing and singing around the membrane.

  “Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, think I’ll go and eat worms …” he sang, his voice becoming a shout. “Get it, you creep … WORMS!”

  Adam’s hand stopped. A flicker of life returned to his blank eyes as he heard Owen’s voice. A look of horror crossed his face. He snatched his hand back through the barrier. “No!” he shrieked. �
�You can’t make me do things.” He fainted.

  A roar of anger rose from the pit.

  Owen danced frantically past Holly. “Use the talisman. The worm’s scared of it,” he whispered. “Call the White Horse.” He waved his arms and did silly movements with his legs, then danced away, singing at the top of his voice, “Big fat chewy ones, icky slimy gooey ones …”

  “WHO are yoooou?” roared the dragon. The red mem–brane heaved and shuddered as he tried to keep track of Owen’s movements.

  At Holly’s feet Adam stirred. “Yes,” he whispered. “Call the horse … sacrifice the talisman. Mr. Smythe said … throw it away.”

  Stubbornly Holly shook her head. “The dragon will get it.”

  “See how they wriggle and squirm … you worm!” yelled Owen. He danced past Holly again. “Call, you idiot,” he hissed.

  “Call the horse. I’ll help,” Adam muttered groggily. He struggled to stand.

  “Bite off their heads, and suck out the juice, and throw the skins away,” roared Owen around the edge of the mem–brane. His gyrations grew more ridiculous. “Nobody knows how I exist …”

  Adam turned his face towards White Horse Hill. “White Horse,” he croaked. He turned to Holly. “Help,” he said. Tears were running down his cheek. “Sacrifice the talisman.”

  Holly looked at the pit, at Owen’s gyrating figure and back at Adam’s desperate face. She gave a little nod and held the talisman high. “White Horse, help!” she yelled, and tossed the talisman in the air.

  Brilliant light surrounded them, illuminating a great white stallion who reared over the pulsing red membrane with flailing hooves.

  “NOOOOOOooooooo!” roared the dragon as the membrane split.

  A column of fire shot into the sky.

  The ground shuddered as the hooves pounded and smashed, the claws and teeth ripped and snapped. The whirl–ing white light and red fire spiraled up to the sky, growing so intense the children covered their eyes.

  Everything went black.

  The silence was total.

  The dragon and horse were gone.

  “Owen? Adam? Is anyone there? Please be there.” Holly’s voice trembled.

  “I’m here, Holly. It’s so dark I daren’t move. I’m scared of falling in the dragon’s pit,” Owen answered. “Adam, are you there?”

  “I … I’m here … I just can’t see.” Adam’s voice shook.

  Gradually their eyes adjusted and the dark became less dense. The three cousins could pick out each other’s silhou–ettes against the sky.

  “I still can’t see what’s in the middle of the plateau,” Owen shouted to Adam and Holly. “Stay put. I’ll walk around the edge.”

  Adam stretched out his hand towards Holly. “I’m so sorry, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean It wasn’t me. It was the dragon.

  He was inside me saying and doing things. It wasn’t me!”

  Holly grasped his hand tightly. “I know. It’s okay.”

  They watched as Owen walked around the circle to join them.

  All three hugged.

  “Has the dragon been destroyed for good?” Holly asked.

  “Dunno,” said Adam. “He just went up in the sky.”

  “So did the horse. Did you see the white light? It sort of spiraled around the red fire and wrapped it up. It was brilliant,” said Owen.

  “Let’s go home,” Holly sniffed. “I hate this place.”

  They helped each other inch backward down the steep slope.

  “I didn’t shake when I was arguing with the dragon,” Holly said between chattering teeth. “Don’t know why I’m doing it now.”

  “Shock. That’s what you told me after Chantel’s acci–dent,” Adam said.

  The children supported each other. Together they stum–bled down the lane as the clouds parted and a fitful moon gave enough light to show their way.

  Adam looked across Holly to Owen. His teeth gleamed as he gave a crooked grin.

  “Think I’ll go and eat worms! Was that the best distrac–tion you could think of?”

  “Worked, didn’t it?” retorted Owen.

  Three sets of shoulders shook, this time with giggles.

  The giggles grew into chuckles and the chuckles to gales of healing laughter. The laughter rose in the air and was swept by a breeze to circle the stars.

  “You and the children prevailed?” asked Ava.

  CCC

  “This time,” replied Equus wearily. The half-talisman on his forelock gleamed dully. “But my talisman must be made whole. The dragon grows in strength.”

  Myrddin nodded. “Does the dragon know the Dark Be–ing is approaching?”

  Equus shook his head. “Not yet. He recognized only the stirring caused by the Magic Child, and his ability to feed on anger. But there is no way of preventing his further increase of power. Soon he will recognize the truth.”

  “He is gone from Dragon Hill?” asked Ava.

  “Yes,” replied Equus. “I cannot strengthen earth bonds until the talisman is whole. Dragon Hill can no longer contain him. I used star bonds as confinement. But he and I will clash again.”

  Myrddin sadly nodded agreement.

  “Return the talisman to the Magic Child, Equus. Hope she and her cousins can renew it before your next struggle.”

  Ava gave a shiver. “Other supporters from the dark side are beginning to stir. I feel them. I wish the Lady was awake to guide us.”

  “Soon,” said Myrddin. He and Ava held out their arms beseechingly and called across the sky, “Traa dy liooar?”

  Equus leapt once more through time and space. He dropped the talisman on Chantel’s pillow without waking her and returned to the stars.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  TOGETHER AGAIN

  Owen, Holly, and Adam slept late the next morning.

  Holly was first up. Grabbing a banana from the kitchen, she sat on the paddock wall and let the sunshine chase away the dark dreams. Owen joined her, hair rumpled and eyes bleary.

  “You look terrible,” Holly said. She offered a bite of banana.

  Owen pushed it away. “You wouldn’t win a beauty pageant either.” He sat beside her. “Did you see Mum’s note?”

  Holly shook her head.

  “She’s gone to the city to fetch Chantel. Where’s Dad?”

  Holly waved her arm. “Around. He and Mr. O’Reilly are wait–ing for a buyer. There’s been an uproar in the village, though.”

  “Oh. What’s up?” asked Owen without much interest. He leaned against the gatepost and lifted his face to the sun.

  Holly looked sideways at her brother. “Some vandals set a fire on Dragon Hill. All the grass is burnt and everyone is up in arms because the downs could have caught alight. The police are checking it out for clues.”

  Owen’s eyes snapped wide open and he sat up so fast he nearly fell off the wall. “What?”

  Holly chuckled. “I made up the last bit. No police. At least, not that I’ve heard.”

  “Jeez … What a crazy night!” Owen glanced at his sister. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m fine … it seems unreal. If Mr. O’Reilly hadn’t men–tioned the fire, I’d have thought it was a dream.”

  The family station wagon drove into the farmyard. Ch–antel leaned out of the window, waving frantically. Adam appeared from the kitchen, and Uncle Ron ran out from the barn. Everyone converged on the wagon, offering help.

  “No thanks. I can do it myself. See?” Chantel eased herself up on her crutches and swung her leg forward. “I can even go fast.”

  “No you don’t, young lady.” Auntie Lynne caught her by the waist. “Not on these cobbles. We don’t want to risk another fall.”

  Chantel laughed up at her. “I promise I’ll go slow on the cobbles.” She crossed carefully to the farmhouse door and looked back in triumph.

  “You’re a regular little Hopalong,” Uncle Ron winked.

  “Don’t overdo it. Rest when you’re tired. Glad you’re back, Shrimp, but I’ve got
someone waiting to see me.” He headed back to the barn.

  Auntie Lynne followed everyone into the kitchen. “If you kids are happy entertaining Chantel, I’ll catch up on the ac– counts. Call if you need anything.” She drifted upstairs.

  Everyone waited until her footsteps were heard overhead, then started talking at once.

  “I had another dream,” said Chantel.

  “Wait till you hear what happened to me,” Holly said.

  “Last night was amazing,” said Owen.

  “We had a fight with a dragon,” said Adam.

  “Stop!” yelled Chantel, and put her hands over her ears.

  Everyone laughed.

  Holly dropped her voice. “We shouldn’t talk here. Mum and Dad might hear.”

  “Let’s go to the stable,” suggested Owen.

  “Mr. O’Reilly’s there. Let’s take Chantel to meet Mr. Smythe. He needs to hear everything anyway,” said Holly.

  Chantel pulled a face. “We’re telling an adult?”

  “He’s helping us,” Holly explained. “He knows about horse magic. And he knows about the lost red horses.”

  Chantel sat up sharply. “He does? Mr. Smythe knows where to find the red mare?”

  “Yes,” chorused three voices.

  “Let’s go.” Chantel reached for her crutches.

  “We’ll phone first. He might be busy.” Owen picked up the mobile phone and wandered out into the sunshine, dial–ing. Holly ran after him, leaving Chantel and Adam alone.

  CCC

  “Er … I’m glad you’re home,” Adam said, not meeting her eyes.

  Chantel beamed. “Really?”

  Adam flushed but nodded.

  Chantel waved a crutch. “You can try these if you like.

  They’re fun.”

  Adam gave a strained smile. “Mom and Dad phoned you, didn’t they?” he said.

  “Yes … I don’t remember much. My head hurt.”

  Adam chose his words carefully. “So you don’t remember how they were?”

  “You mean, if they were fighting again?” said Chantel sadly.

  “You know about the fighting?” Adam asked, astonished.

  “I’m not a baby. ’Course I know.” Chantel’s lip trembled.