Free Eye of the Storm by Linda Chapman Page B

in a sea of grey bodies and swirling manes. She stroked and patted, touched the stone to horse after horse. They tossed their heads as the stone’s magic worked.
    Erin turned to Tor at last. ‘That’s it.’ She looked about. The cloud land was now a very different place than when she had arrived. The horses were grazing, trotting, the foals playing, the mares nuzzling each other and scratching each other’s necks. Their eyes were bright and calm and happy.
    Tor walked over to her. ‘Thank you,’ Tor said softly. His eyes met hers and Erin instinctively knew it was time to go. She got on to his back and wrapped her hands in his mane. He cantered forward, his neck arched, his ears pricked. Erin could see the magical gateway in front of them. It looked like a giant hagstone made out of clouds. For a moment the cloud world swept by and then she felt Tor gather himself up and leap into the air. Clutching his mane, they soared through the gateway and then they were gently spiralling down and down in a golden haze until they landed in a clatter of hooves. Erin blinked in the darkness of the cave as Tor stopped.

    ‘We’re back,’ she whispered, realizing they were inside the cave.
    ‘Yes,’ said Tor. ‘And it is time to say goodbye.’
    Erin slipped off his back and looked at him. The moonlight was still flooding through the hole in the cave roof. She could see the sadness shining in his eyes.
    ‘But not goodbye forever, Tor. We can keep this gateway open. Only Chloe and I know about it now Marianne’s gone. I know we mustn’t come to the cloud world, but you and Mistral could come here and see us sometimes.’ The words tumbled desperately out of her even though she knew in her heart what Tor was going to say.
    ‘No, Erin. The gateway must be sealed. The two worlds should not mix.’
    ‘But we won’t come through. You can come to us. It’ll be all right,’ said Erin, her voice rising. She couldn’t bear to say goodbye to Tor forever.
    ‘It won’t,’ said Tor gently. ‘Who knows who else Marianne told about this gateway. She lived for many, many years. We cannot take the risk that someone else will use it. You must seal it and keep it sealed, just as your mother did before you.’
    Erin looked at him. He really meant it – she was going to have to close the gateway. ‘But… but I can’t say goodbye to you!’ she burst out desperately.
    ‘You must. You have Chloe, your family.’ Tor stepped forward. ‘We’ll still be able to talk through the hagstones. Even if we cannot see each other in this way, we will still be part of each other’s lives. I will watch you down here, and you can watch me in the skies.’
    ‘But I don’t want to just watch you! I want to see you,’ Erin whispered, tears starting to prickle in her eyes. After all they had been through, to lose him, to never see him again…
    A sob burst from her.
    Tor touched her face, but didn’t speak, and then she really knew that she was going to have to say goodbye. She flung her arms round his neck and, burying her head in his long mane, started to cry.
    Tor nuzzled her shoulder tenderly until her sobs slowed down. She took a deep, trembling breath and rubbed away the damp on her face with the backs of her hands.
    ‘We should go, Erin,’ he said softly. ‘Chloe and Mistral will be wondering where we are. It is not quite goodbye yet.’ He swirled into mist. Moving slowly, her thoughts in turmoil, Erin walked along the tunnel, sensing him beside her.
    ‘You’re back!’ said Chloe in relief as Erin squeezed out past the rockfall. ‘Is everything OK?’ she asked, seeing Erin’s face.
    Erin didn’t know what to say. She felt numb, like her heart had been frozen.
    Tor formed out of the mist beside her. ‘The sky horses are healed, Chloe. The skies are calm. Without you two, this could never have happened.’
    ‘I’m just glad everything’s OK now.’ Chloe looked uncertainly at Erin. ‘It is OK, isn’t it?’
    Erin forced the