Read Online White Horse Talisman by Andrea Spalding - Free Book Online Page A

head against the cool glass on the windowpane. “Let’s hope nothing happens. Then I’ll know for sure that Chantel’s been hallucinating, and I just had a crazy dream. Stress, that must be what’s causing it … stress.”
    The lump in his throat grew larger and a dry sob escaped. He swallowed and muttered fiercely, “But if the talisman is real, then the dragon magic is real. If I make the talisman whole and free the dragon, I can use the power.”
    Adam clenched his fist around the talisman and thrust his arm in the air. “I’ll fix my parents,” he roared. “I’ll fix everyone and everything. I’ll fix the whole darned world so no one is ever unhappy again!” Then his body sagged, the lump in his throat grew too big, and for the first time in years Adam cried.
    Owen paused outside the bedroom door, his hand on the knob. He heard the muffled sob, sat down on the stairs and waited until all was quiet.
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    The sun shone brilliantly. Adam’s spirits rose as he followed Owen and Holly to the stables. He didn’t care what his mother said. He was going riding!
    The ponies whickered a greeting. Adam slapped Mis–chief’s rump. She moved over so he could curry-comb her coat; then she turned and nuzzled his pockets for the carrot she knew would be there.
    After grooming and saddling up, Adam and his two cousins rode sedately through Uffington. Adam gazed around with interest. Seated on Mischief he could see over hedges and into the gardens of the thatched cottages. The cottages were old, with wavy roofs and black timbers standing out starkly against the whitewashed walls. It was like riding through a storybook.
    Holly and Owen waved to several people, who smiled and waved back. Then the road curved around the grounds of the Big House. They clopped past the church and the Blowing Stone Inn.
    â€œThe Blowing Stone?” questioned Adam as they passed under the painted inn sign. “Chantel mentioned a Blowing Stone in her dream.” He pointed upward. The painting showed what looked like a man bending over a gigantic stone. “Why is that dude kissing a rock?”
    Holly and Owen reined in their ponies and turned to look up at the sign.
    Owen grinned. “It’s supposed to be King Alfred blowing into the stone. He doesn’t look much like a king, though, does he?”
    Adam shook his head.
    Holly squinted up. “He has a gold band on his head. My history teacher says that was a crown in Alfred’s time.”
    â€œSowhat’s this Alfred dude doing?”
    â€œHe’s making the stone sound like a trumpet.” Holly looked at Adam. “You do know who Alfred was, don’t you?”
    Adam shook his head.
    â€œHe was the greatest of the Saxon kings,” said Owen. “The one who burnt the cakes.”
    Adam still looked blank.
    â€œAnyway, he was really important in English history,” contin–ued Owen. “And village stories say he was crowned around here … in Uffington … or maybe up there on White Horse Hill.”
    â€œMind you, the people of Wantage say he was crowned there,” interrupted Holly. “No one really knows, but everyone agrees it was somewhere around here. The Blowing Stone was on top of White Horse Hill inside Uffington Castle. For thousands of years it was sounded as a warning when there were raids on the fort or to celebrate things like Alfred’s coronation. The sound carried for miles and miles and warned everyone. The inn sign shows Alfred blowing into the stone.” She paused and looked up at the sign. “I don’t know if Alfred really blew it, though.”
    Adam smirked. “So you really believe there once was a big rock that had a hole in it. And it made a noise like a trumpet that everyone could hear for miles and miles. Yeah, right!”
    â€œSeveral holes, actually, but most of them are bunged up with dirt,” laughed