Equinus the Spirit Horse

by Adam Blade

  “The hand’s already halfway around,” he said in frustration. Then he straightened his shoulders. He knew that getting upset wouldn’t save Storm. “We’d better keep on moving.”

  They climbed up and up until the ground seemed a very long way down.

  “We must be at the hiding place,” said Tom. “Look, the hoof marks don’t reach this far.”

  “Check the branches and the trunk,” said Elenna. “Whoa!” She flung her arms tightly around the trunk as the tree began to shake. Tom clutched desperately to the tree as well.

  A sudden wind had sprung up. It circled the tree, tugging at their clothes and making the branches shudder. It howled and whistled with a strange, unearthly noise.

  “The wind sounds like it’s laughing,” said Elenna, as she struggled to keep her hold on the decaying bark.

  “It is laughing,” Tom said, through gritted teeth. “This is no ordinary wind. I think it’s been sent by Malvel to stop us.” He gripped the tree even more tightly. “Blow all you like!” he shouted into the powerful breeze. “We’ll never give up. We’re going to find the amulet piece!”

  The tree began to sway more violently, crashing against its neighbors. Branches fell about Tom’s head. Bark was being stripped from under his fingers by the evil tornado, and Tom felt his feet slip. For a moment, he held on with his arms alone. If he lost his grip, he would knock into Elenna and send her plunging to the ground with him. He knew he would land safely if he fell — Cypher’s tear in his shield would make sure of that, but it wouldn’t help Elenna. Tom searched for a foothold with the toe of his boot and, at last, found one.

  “I don’t know how much longer I can hold on,” Elenna shouted up to him.

  “You can’t let go,” Tom yelled back above the evil, screeching roar. “We’re too high. You won’t survive the fa — “He broke off in shock, as Elenna seemed to suddenly lose her grip on the tree.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  TERROR IN THE TREES

  TOM’S HEART POUNDED FIERCELY IN HIS CHEST, but he breathed a sigh of relief as he saw that his friend was gripping the tree trunk tightly with her legs and had let go with her hands so she could pull an arrow from her quiver.

  “I’ve got an idea!” she told him quickly. “It’ll keep us both safe.”

  She untied the rope from around her waist and fixed it to the feathered end of the arrow. Tom was impressed that Elenna managed to tie a knot while the dreadful wind shook the tree fiercely.

  “I’m going to shoot this arrow deep into that branch,” she said, pointing up to a thicker, sturdier limb higher up in the tree. “Hopefully it will hold firm, and then we can tie ourselves to the rope. That way we won’t fall.”

  “Brilliant plan!” exclaimed Tom.

  She pulled the bowstring back and aimed the arrow at the top of the tree. The arrow shot upward, and Elenna’s aim was true.

  Tom gave the dangling rope a hard yank. “It’s holding!” he said. “Well done, Elenna!”

  He tied a loop of the rope around his waist and handed the end to his friend so that she could do the same. The shrieking wind was so strong now that it seemed to snatch the breath out of Tom’s mouth as he pulled himself up the tree. Elenna was right behind him.

  And then Tom saw a patch of bark that looked different from the rest of the tree — uneven and protruding.

  “Here!” he shouted to Elenna. “This part’s been pulled off and then rammed back in.”

  “Peel it off, Tom,” she said eagerly.

  Bracing himself against the wind, he worked at the bark with his fingertips. “It’s coming away!” he yelled. The bark came loose and tumbled to the ground far below. Tom peered inside the hole. There, glowing brightly within the decaying tree, was a jagged piece of silver with a blue enamel inset.

  “It’s the second piece of amulet!” cried Tom in triumph. He gently put his hand into the hole and picked it up. It seemed to shine even more brightly in his grasp, although the wind threatened to pluck it away. Tom showed his precious discovery to Elenna before safely putting it in his tunic pocket.

  “Let’s get down,” Elenna said.

  Untying the rope from their waists, they held on to the end as they bounced down the trunk in huge bounds until they were back on the firm, dusty jungle floor. Tom then used his super-strength to pull the rope, and the firmly embedded arrowhead fell from the branch high above their heads.

  Elenna tied the rope back around her waist. “Right, let’s get going. We’ve finished one part of our Quest, but we still have a Ghost Beast to find.”

  But before they had a chance to move on, they heard a terrible creak behind them, and then the sound of fracturing wood. They both looked up and saw the massive tree that they’d just climbed toppling toward them.

  “Watch out!” yelled Tom. They dove out of the way just as the tree hit the ground, missing them by a hairbreadth. The wind gusted madly around them for a moment and, with a final howl of fury, blew away.

  The jungle was suddenly silent again. “Looks like Malvel has given up,” Tom said with a grin as he and his friend staggered to their feet. Tom reached into his pocket for the piece of the amulet. Then he took hold of the leather cord around his neck, on which the first piece hung, and fitted the second piece to it. Elenna touched his hand.

  “What’s that on the surface?” she asked, pointing at the silver disk. There were faint lines scored into the metal. “What do you think they mean?”

  Tom shook his head. “I don’t know,” he said. “This is one mystery that will have to wait. First, we must track down Equinus.” He pulled out his compass and checked the secret clock. The hand was now climbing slowly toward the top.

  “We’re running out of time,” he told Elenna gravely. “And that means time is running out for Storm.”

  “We need to head farther inward,” said Elenna, peering through the tightly packed trees.

  Tom heard a faint sound from far away. He and Elenna froze in their tracks and listened hard. Something large and powerful was plowing through the branches and creepers of the dense jungle toward them.

  “Equinus!” whispered Elenna.

  Tom nodded. “He’s found us.”

  With a roar, the huge Ghost Beast burst out from the trees, his black heart thumping in his transparent chest. Tom and Elenna watched with horrified fascination as Equinus switched from his ghostly form to his flesh-and-blood form, before turning back again with a cold shimmer. The Beast whipped his tail viciously and stamped his hooves, churning up the dust all around him. The bones in his skeletal face stood out sharp as knives.

  His evil, blazing eyes glared in hatred at Tom, and Equinus charged straight at him.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  DOUBLE TROUBLE

  TOM HAD TO THINK QUICKLY. Now THAT he had found the second piece of the amulet, he knew he must have lost another gift. He just didn’t know which.

  “Good thing I still have my super-strength,” he called quickly to Elenna. “I’m going to need it. Stay here.”

  Pushing his doubts aside, he scrambled up onto the recently fallen tree trunk. He had an idea, but he needed to get as high as possible if he was to stand any chance against this terrible Beast. He planted his feet as firmly as he could on the trunk, and its branches quivered and sent a shower of gray dust to the ground. With luck, the tree would hold his weight long enough for him to put his bold plan into action.

  As the Beast stormed at him, Tom saw Equinus become solid and his black heart disappeared under his ivory skin. It was clear: Equinus didn’t want Tom’s life force — he wanted to crush him. Tom smiled to himself. This was exactly what he hoped the Beast would do. By becoming solid, Tom knew that he might be able to wrestle the Beast to the ground. And once he’d done that, he would find a way to plunge his sword into the black heart of the Ghost Beast.

  Equinus was almost on top of him now, and at the last possible moment, Tom threw out his arms and grasped at the Beast’s torso with all his might. A terrible shock of cold
stabbed through him as he fell through the Beast and crashed onto the ground. In that instant, Equinus had taken on his ghostly form once more and, as Tom had passed through him, freezing ice had made him shudder. The ice-cold feeling seeped up his arms and threatened to take over his whole body. Tom realized that the Ghost Beast was in fact trying to take away his life force. He summoned up all his strength of heart and climbed to his feet, ignoring the trembling that shook his body as he felt his energies draining away. He saw Equinus begin to turn back into his solid form. This was Tom’s chance! He threw himself at the Beast, wrapping his arms around his enemy’s body. Equinus gave a scream of anger and pain.

  As the Beast writhed, Tom gave a violent twist, using his arms to yank Equinus to one side. The Beast stumbled and fell to the ground, dragging Tom with him.

  Tom landed heavily, and lay choking in the dust. His eyes streamed in the gritty air. He spotted the blurry shape of Elenna’s hand leaning down toward him. He grasped it gratefully and felt her pulling him to his feet. But as he wiped his eyes quickly on his sleeve, he heard a sharp, desperate howl and saw Equinus rise up from the dust, hooves flailing.

  “Look out, Elenna!” Tom shouted in warning.

  Elenna staggered back, but she was looking openmouthed at the Ghost Beast. “He’s changing!”

  Tom stared in disbelief. Elenna was right. Equinus was transforming, but not to his ghostly form this time. The cold ivory tone of his skin was changing as a faint flesh color spread over his head, neck, and chest. His ashen-gray horse body and legs were becoming a vivid, shining chestnut.

  “Tom, by holding on to him, you did something. I don’t think he can turn into a ghost anymore!” exclaimed Elenna.

  “My strength of heart must have given me the power to stand up to him when he tried to steal my life force,” Tom replied. “Thank goodness I didn’t lose that gift!” But which gift have I lost? he thought.

  “What do we do next?” Elenna whispered.

  “We fight him,” Tom replied defiantly, drawing his sword. “It’ll be a fairer fight now that he can’t change.”

  A horrible ripping noise filled the air. Before their eyes, Equinus became two separate beings. In a flash, a huge manlike creature, covered in coarse bristles, was standing firm on new human legs. He was dressed in a hemp tunic and leggings, and by his side a giant horse stamped his hooves and tossed his head wildly. The Beast’s yellow eyes flashed angrily. He was ready to attack. Now they had two enemies to face — and defeat — if they were to save Storm!

  Equinus gave a roar of laughter. It was harsh and sounded like the cracking of rock.

  “Death comes in two parts!” he jeered. “Dare you follow?” He turned and disappeared into the jungle. They heard him crashing through the undergrowth.

  “You’re not getting away that easily!” shouted Elenna. She gave chase. “I’ll stop him,” she yelled over her shoulder at Tom. “You deal with that horse.”

  Tom studied the animal. The Beast’s eyes were rolling in his head, his breath coming in panicked snorts, and foam spraying from his mouth. Tom leaped onto a nearby rock and vaulted onto the horse’s back. He reared and bucked, trying to throw him off, but Tom squeezed his legs around the horse’s flanks and held on to the Beast’s chestnut mane. If things continued like this, the horse would tire himself out, and that was exactly what Tom wanted.

  The horse soon began to pant, and Tom gave a silent cheer of victory. The Beast suddenly paused and then charged at a tree. A low-hanging branch rammed into Tom’s midriff, knocking him off the horse. He landed on his feet but was winded. He fumbled for his sword. This needed to end now. Elenna was all on her own against the other part of the Beast.

  The horse charged toward him. Raising the sword high, Tom brought the hilt down against the Beast’s sweating temple with all of his magic strength. With a tremendous crash, the horse collapsed into the dust, unconscious.

  Now to find Elenna. Tom knew she was strong and brave, but Equinus was a devious Beast. He followed the trail that the Beast had left in the dust on the jungle floor. He sped between the trees, dodging huge, dry leaves and clinging creepers. He didn’t want to imagine how little time might be left on the special clock in his compass. All he knew was that he had to destroy Equinus as soon as he could to restore Storm’s life force.

  Bursting through a clump of ferns, he found Elenna and Equinus. The Beast was pinned to a tree by one of her arrows. The point had gone through the hemp of his tunic and he seemed to be stuck fast. Elenna stood with another arrow ready to fire if Equinus moved. Tom kept his sword in his hand just in case. Elenna didn’t take her eyes off the Beast, but she gave Tom a grin of welcome. “I went hunting and look what I found,” she said.

  “Nice work,” Tom said.

  The sight of Tom seemed to enrage Equinus and give him new strength. In an instant, he had torn himself free from the tree and grabbed Elenna. He spun her around and snatched away her bow and arrow.

  Elenna tried to wrench them back. But with a thrust of his arm, Equinus flung her to the ground. And before Tom could go to her aid, the Beast had pulled back on the bow and was pointing an arrow directly at Tom’s heart.

  CHAPTER NINE

  THE FINAL BATTLE

  TOM STARED AT THE DEADLY SHARP POINT OF the arrow. He had never thought he would find himself facing one of his friend’s weapons.

  Holding the Beast’s gaze and keeping his face blank to hide his intent, Tom suddenly hurled his sword through the air. The flat blade flew in an arc and smacked against the Beast’s hands, and with a cry of pain Equinus lost his grip on Elenna’s bow and arrow. They fell to the ground, along with Tom’s sword. Quick as lightning, Elenna snatched them up and threw Tom his sword.

  Equinus turned his mighty head this way and that, desperately looking for another weapon. He reached up and ripped a huge branch from the tree above. He swished it menacingly about his head.

  Tom weighed his sword in his hand. It felt good. He stepped forward to face Equinus. He would fight until the end. Storm’s life depended on him.

  With a roar, the Beast swung his makeshift club viciously at Tom’s head. Tom ducked the blow nimbly. He made a thrust with his sword, but Equinus parried it with the branch, sending a shuddering force through Tom’s arm. This enemy was strong. But as Equinus raised the branch above his head, Tom noticed sweat beads on the Beast’s face. He felt hope rise inside him. Equinus was not invincible. He was finding the fight took effort.

  Tom leaped aside as the branch came swinging toward him again, and he slashed at Equinus, nicking one of the Beast’s bristly arms.

  “Go, Tom!” Elenna yelled, but he couldn’t see her now. Their fight was raising a tornado of dust around them.

  The Beast was moving about clumsily in the thick, choking air. He wasn’t used to being on two legs, Tom realized. He may be stronger than me, he thought. But I am more agile.

  Tom darted about the clearing, each time avoiding the swing of the vicious club. The Beast was panting and sweating hard now as they fought. But his strength was not diminishing. He swung his weapon in front of him like a battle-ax. Tom found himself having to jump back again and again. I can’t break through his defenses, Tom thought with frustration. An evil grin played upon the Beast’s face as if he had a secret — as if he was sure he would win the deadly contest.

  Stepping back to avoid another ferocious swipe of the club, Tom felt his foot slip. He risked a quick look down and utter horror thrilled through him. He was teetering on the edge of a huge, dark pit with sheer sides. Equinus had been very clever. He was pushing Tom toward the drop.

  Tom struggled to keep his balance; the ground was slipping from under his feet. Stones and earth were tumbling into the pit, but he didn’t hear them hit anything. The pit was bottomless. Tom knew for certain he had no gifts to protect him from an endless fall.

  With a smirk of victory, the Beast lunged at Tom, using his club like a sword. For one terrible moment, Tom could feel that he was toppling ba
ckward and slipping over the edge of the pit.

  “Not while there’s blood in my veins!” he yelled defiantly, and he propelled his body forward and regained his balance. Then he saw his chance. As Equinus lunged at him once more, Tom ducked beneath the club and threw himself as hard as he could at the Beast’s legs.

  Now Equinus was completely off balance. With a cry that echoed around the jungle, he stumbled over Tom’s diving body and toppled headlong into the pit. As he did so, he thrust out a hand to grab Tom’s ankle, but Tom rolled out of the way of the grasping fingers.

  The Beast gave a cry that became fainter and fainter as he plunged downward. And when the dust from their fight had settled and Tom peered over the edge, he couldn’t see anything — only a great, gaping black hole.

  Equinus was swallowed up by the darkness. Had Tom defeated the Beast?

  CHAPTER TEN

  SAVED!

  “TOM!” ELENNA RUSHED TO HIS SIDE. “THANK goodness you’re all right! I couldn’t see you, but I could hear the fight. It sounded so terrible.”

  “It was,” Tom said grimly. “But it’s over now. With any luck, Equinus has gone for good.” He hoped he was right. Then he felt a great surge of relief as the outline of a tall figure appeared in the air. “Elenna, look!” He pointed over Elenna’s shoulder. She turned, and before them stood an image of Taladon. Right away Tom could see that his father looked more solid.

  “Well done,” Taladon said, and the light around him made Tom feel warm, just as it had done before. “I cannot thank you both enough. As soon as you retrieved the piece of amulet, I felt new strength returning to me.”

  “Equinus has gone,” said Tom. “But what of the horse? I brought him down, but I didn’t see what happened to the Beast after that.”

  “You need not fear,” Taladon told him. “The horse turned to dust when you defeated Equinus. You have fulfilled your Quest. Now you must make haste. There is another who wishes to thank you.”