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Pangur Bán Celtic Fantasies #6
The White Horse Is Running
Princess Finnglas and the white cat Pangur Báan set out to recapture an unbroken white colt which, according to legend, may unwittingly force their people into battle.
168 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1990
57 people want to read
About the author
Fay Sampson
67 books35 followersFay Sampson graduated in Mathematics, and trained as a teacher. Combining teaching with writing, Fay's children's books were frequently featured in 'Children's Books of the Year'. When she became a full-time writer, she turned to writing novels for adults, based on history and legend. She now lives with her husband in a Tudor cottage in mid-Devon.
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March 15, 2022
Finnglas has just returned from the adventure in Senargad in time to discover that her uncle Manach has betrayed the kingdom and released the white colt. Wherever it goes, the warband will follow and take the land it gallops over, as an ancient prophecy foretells. Since the Summer Land is an island, all will be well - unless the white colt finds the causeway to Erin that only appears at the lowest of low tides.
And of course, he does.
When the warband splits in two, Finnglas follows one section and Niall the other. Finnglas gives Niall her gold torc so he will have the authority to speak in her name to the warriors under Manach's control. But it is not just Manach who opposes her, it is also her aunt - the witch, Gormgall the Fair.
The warband doesn't survive its first encounter in Erin. They are tricked into a bog by Ocha, the king of Cuan. Ocha decides that, whatever anyone tells him, he doesn't believe other than that Niall is the king - after all, he has the gold torc.
Meantime, the white colt has found its way with Pangur Ban to the Mare who calls in the blood.
A group of dwarves keeps the stables of Ocha and they whisper counterfeit truths to the horses - including the ones of the captured warband. They are also responsible for guarding Ocha's elder brother Donall who abdicated the kingship so he could read books and acquire learning.
When Finnglas follows the warband and the colt, she comes across Donall and is made into his servant. She is incensed by such an irresponsible king who has no idea what his people are like and has allowed his brother to foster war.
A lovely thought from Argadnel, the white colt: the prophecy of the colt was never about leading to conquer a kingdom but about finding the country of the heart.
And of course, he does.
When the warband splits in two, Finnglas follows one section and Niall the other. Finnglas gives Niall her gold torc so he will have the authority to speak in her name to the warriors under Manach's control. But it is not just Manach who opposes her, it is also her aunt - the witch, Gormgall the Fair.
The warband doesn't survive its first encounter in Erin. They are tricked into a bog by Ocha, the king of Cuan. Ocha decides that, whatever anyone tells him, he doesn't believe other than that Niall is the king - after all, he has the gold torc.
Meantime, the white colt has found its way with Pangur Ban to the Mare who calls in the blood.
A group of dwarves keeps the stables of Ocha and they whisper counterfeit truths to the horses - including the ones of the captured warband. They are also responsible for guarding Ocha's elder brother Donall who abdicated the kingship so he could read books and acquire learning.
When Finnglas follows the warband and the colt, she comes across Donall and is made into his servant. She is incensed by such an irresponsible king who has no idea what his people are like and has allowed his brother to foster war.
A lovely thought from Argadnel, the white colt: the prophecy of the colt was never about leading to conquer a kingdom but about finding the country of the heart.
Displaying 1 of 1 review