Home – Page 5 – THE LEGEND OF THE GREAT HORSE trilogy

#12 – The story of El Morzillo

“Cortés was forced to leave his prized stallion behind with natives who knew nothing of horses. They fed him only meat and wine until the poor animal wasted away and died. Frightened of Cortez’s wrath, the natives made an enormous statue of the horse to worship.” —excerpted from Eclipsed by Shadow (Book #1 of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy

Inside Mrs. Bridgestone’s strange library of Great Horses …

Meagan moved respectfully to an onyx sculpture beside the painting. The work was of a horse sitting on his haunches with both forelegs stretched in front of him. “Who is this?”

“That was the Great Horse El Morzillo, dear, the mount the Spanish conquistador Cortés rode to conquer Mexico.

“Cortés was forced to leave his prized stallion behind with natives who knew nothing of horses. They fed him only meat and wine until the poor animal wasted away and died. Frightened of Cortez’s wrath, the natives made an enormous statue of the horse to worship.

“When missionaries returned—I want to say Franciscans—they threw the statue into the lake surrounding his temple. It is said El Morzillo looks up from the bottom of that lake, still waiting for his master’s return.”

« “A Strange Library” || “The next of the Great Horses” »

The above excerpt is from “Home,” the 1st section of Eclipsed by Shadow, and is set in modern-day California. (p. 51 Hbk)

The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy is an adventure through history … each section is from a different time period.

Eclipsed by Shadow (Book #1 of the trilogy) won national awards including the Eric Hoffer Award for best Young Adult Fiction, and the Mom’s Choice Award for best family-friendly Young Adult Fantasy.

__________

Quick Links:

» See All Excerpts from The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy.

» Read the 1st Chapter online.

» Check out Book #2 of the trilogy: The Golden Spark.

» See the Media Kit for more information about the trilogy.

Check out the trilogy’s page on Facebook!

In the strange library of Mrs. Bridgestone

“The Four Winds swirled into a shape of beauty that moved to thunder … the Angel took form and became the first Horse.” —excerpted from Eclipsed by Shadow (Book #1 of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy)

This excerpt is from Eclipsed by Shadow, Book #1 of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy, an adventure through history―on horseback.

The scene is set in modern-day California, when Meagan hears the legend for the first time…

“The great art of riding,” the Knight began in a loud voice,
waving his right hand as he spoke “is to keep…”
Here the sentence ended as suddenly as it began,
as the Knight fell heavily on top of his head
exactly in the path where Alice was walking.

– Lewis Carrol (1832-98) Through the Looking Glass

________

The Four Winds swirled into a shape of beauty that moved to thunder … the Angel took form and became the first Horse.

Since that time, the Angel has lived an unbroken line of lives, inspiring and teaching, even as the Angel’s children have carried Mankind to mastery of the earth. Upon each death the Angel takes another form and again a Great Horse is born.

Meagan listened raptly. “I like that story, Mrs. Bridgestone!”

The woman refolded the letter and set it upon the tray. “I am happy to hear that, dear.” She pointed to a portrait of a magnificent horse, head bowed, carrying a haughty rider in white. “That painting shows the stallion Bucephalus, one of the eminent Great Horses of history. When he was first presented to King Philip of Macedonia, no rider could mount him. The king’s own son was a boy about your age, and he called out—”

“I’m almost thirteen,” Meagan interrupted.

“Really, dear? Splendid.” Mrs. Bridgestone smiled at Jennifer. “They grow so quickly, don’t they? It seems my grandniece went from diapers to driving in the space of an afternoon. Well, to continue, when the King’s son saw the wonderful stallion being led away to be banished, he cried out, ‘What an excellent horse they have lost for lack of skill!’ Naturally the king was annoyed with his son’s manners. To teach a lesson the King had the horse brought back for his son to try what the others had failed.

“The boy had noticed the young horse was shying from his riders’ shadows, so he turned the stallion into the sun and mounted easily. He rode Bucephalus for thirty years, and conquered more armies than any man before or since. Do you know that boy?”

Meagan shook her head.

“He was Alexander the Great, dear. The stallion Bucephalus carried his master from Egypt to India, and no one else ever rode him. Not once.”

__________

Links:

» See All Excerpts from The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy.

» Read the 1st Chapter online.

» See the Media Kit for more information about the trilogy.

» Order Books

Check out the trilogy’s page on Facebook!

Eclipsed by Shadow - Book #1 of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy - Bookcover (straight-on, drop shadow) 142px by 203 px

Into the Dark - Book #3 of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy - Bookcover (straight-on, drop shadow) 142px by 203 px

#10 – “Do you believe in legends, dear?”

“If you mean education-related, yes. Horses are said to be excellent teachers and only so much can be taught in a classroom.” The woman cleared her throat delicately. “Do you believe in legends, dear?” —excerpted from Eclipsed by Shadow (Book #1 of ‘The Legend of the Great Horse’ trilogy (p. 48)

The following excerpt is from Eclipsed by Shadow, the award-winning 1st volume of “The Legend of the Great Horse” trilogy.

Book II: The Golden Spark will be available Fall 2010.

After lunch, Mrs. Bridgestone adjourned to a warm room whose coziness made Jennifer wonder if brandy and cigars would be forthcoming. A low fire burned in an ornate fireplace, below a polished marble mantle inscribed with flowing letters in a foreign language. Dark leather punctuated with brass fasteners covered couches and stools, and framed art of horses filled the walls.

Beside the door, a pedestal bore a brass sculpture of a bearded, trident-bearing man mounted on a flipper-tailed horse. Meagan stood before it and reached out a finger.

“Don’t touch, Meagan,” Jennifer warned.

“No, let her, Jennifer. The child won’t hurt it.” Mrs. Bridgestone walked slowly to a pair of facing couches in the center of the room. “That is a statue of a Hippocampus, dear. They were the mounts of Poseidon, god of the sea. The ancients believed the horse came from the deep ocean wearing the froth of the waves for its mane. Do you like it?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Meagan answered quietly, and walked in wonder to an antique vase set upon a white pedestal. A team of horses charged over the curved surface.

“You may touch the vase, dear, it is only a copy. The original is sixth century B. C. Do you see the images of black horses over the red background? It was an early, crude form of vase painting called ‘black figure.’ Red figures were developed later, but I like the severe lines. Personal taste.”

Meagan softly agreed.

“They were interesting people, our forebears the Greeks. That particular vase shows a four-horse chariot called a Quadriga. Chariot racing grew so popular under the Roman Empire that it was considered a form of madness.”

Meagan walked on to an antique globe, hands clasped behind her. Dancing curlicues of fanciful horses adorned its colorful seas.

“I obtained that piece in Delhi, dear. I have a friend who believes the horse is the only animal to have reached Nirvana. He says Allah placed fear in the horse so that he would remain earthbound, to be an inspiration and guide to mankind. You find religion and early horsemanship very much intertwined.”

Jennifer moved to sit across from the woman. “It’s very nice to be here, Mrs. Bridgestone, but I am still not sure why. As lovely as this has been … I thought this meeting might be school-related?”

“If you mean education-related, yes. Horses are said to be excellent teachers and only so much can be taught in a classroom.” The woman cleared her throat delicately. “Do you believe in legends, dear?”

Copyright © 2008 John Royce

« “Horse Talk with Mrs. Bridgestone” || “A Strange Library” »

The above excerpt is from “Home,” the 1st section of Eclipsed by Shadow, and is set in modern-day California. (p. 48 Hbk)

The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy is an adventure through history … each section is from a different time period.

__________

Quick Links:

» See All Excerpts from The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy.

» Read the 1st Chapter online.

» Check out Book #2 of the trilogy: The Golden Spark.

» See the Media Kit for more information about the trilogy.

Check out the trilogy’s page on Facebook!

#9- Horse Talk with Mrs. Bridgestone

‘ “It is fascinating how closely horsemanship and culture coincide. When Europe fell into the Dark Ages, their horsemanship deteriorated into barbarism. It was not until the Renaissance that humane methods were rediscovered.” Mrs. Bridgestone stepped to the fence and reached a frail hand to stroke the filly’s neck. “In owning a horse, I feel I own a living piece of history.” ’ —excerpted from Eclipsed by Shadow (Book #1 of ‘The Legend of the Great Horse’ trilogy (p. 46)

The following excerpt is from Eclipsed by Shadow, award-winning 1st Book of “The Legend of the Great Horse” trilogy.

Book II: The Golden Spark will be available Fall 2010.

Mrs. Bridgestone leaned to Jennifer. “Tell me something, dear. You have practical knowledge about horses. Are they really as intellectually … limited as one hears? It has always upset me to think so.”

“You mean, are horses stupid?”

“I have heard it said, and I am sorry. They are such splendid animals.”

“Don’t be sorry, Mrs. Bridgestone.” Jennifer was amused. “They are so different than humans. Right now that horse is watching Meagan, you and me and almost everything around her. And she will never forget, because horses have a photographic memory. Horses hear and smell almost as well as a dog, they are so sensitive they can feel a fly’s landing, and can even recognize people by the vibration of their walk.”

“Yes, yes,” the old woman said, “I have discovered the most engaging facts in my readings. Did you know that the horse’s eye is one of the largest in the animal kingdom, even larger than an elephant’s? I understand horses are timid because in nature they are prey. Have you found that to be true?”

Jennifer nodded. “It is hard to imagine how differently a horse sees the world. But the more you try, the better they respond.”

“How charming. It is fascinating how closely horsemanship and culture coincide. When Europe fell into the Dark Ages, their horsemanship deteriorated into barbarism. It was not until the Renaissance that humane methods were rediscovered.” Mrs. Bridgestone stepped to the fence and reached a frail hand to stroke the filly’s neck. “In owning a horse, I feel I own a living piece of history.” Guinevere reached to sniff Mrs. Bridgestone’s hand. The woman smiled. “Magical beings, aren’t they? There is history in their hoof beats—or is it hoof steps? I should tell you, my friends and staff have questioned my sanity since I started my horse project … but sometimes a touch of madness produces the sanest result.” She sighed, watching Guinevere trot off with her tail high. “I was surprised to learn horses have never been domesticated. Their instincts remain. Horses return easily to the wild, as with the American mustangs. I like that, somehow. In all the centuries they have never forgotten themselves.”

“Yes,” Jennifer said regretfully, “though we don’t need horses anymore. Now they are only expensive playthings.”

Mrs. Bridgestone looked at Jennifer sharply. “I wouldn’t say that, dear. I wouldn’t say that at all. People are no authority on what they need. Ignorance about our needs is one thing that separates us from animals. Oh, I truly wish we had had this meeting long ago, Jennifer. They say horses rush men to folly. Well, they do it to old women, too.”

Copyright © 2008 John Royce