Beyond the Twilight Mist
an excerpt

Chapter One:
Midnight Mischief

 In the late night, hooves cannonaded against the gritty sand of the Arabic seashore. She thrust her black head proudly into the fog and deeply breathed in the air which was filled with the peculiar smell of salt water. With a snort she pawed at the ground and swished her white tail. Suddenly she charged into a rhythmical gallop, the wind beating against her glistening chest as she thrust her weight fiercely against it. With glee she pounded the air, flailing her hooves aimlessly into the darkness and whinnying with freedom. Mischief glinted in the horse’s blue eyes as it glanced around at the waves and the sparkling moon.

“Twilight!” came an echoey voice as a loud whisper. “Twilight Mist!”

The horse whipped around on her black heels and bounded toward the faint sound of her owner’s voice. A silhouette of a girl came into her keen eyesight, and instantly she recognized it as Nadira Sana — meaning rare radiance. Black hair flowed from her tan head while her soft brown eyes stared blankly at Twilight Mist.

“How are you, girl?” she grinned, brushing a violet veil from her flawless face. “I’m sorry that I mist come so late in the night, but you know our custom here in Arabia. Females are not permitted to ride or show their faces. How much I would sacrifice to be a horse like you! I would be free to do as I liked . . . to run beside the water or soar over the rock ledges!” she sighed and slumped onto the wet sand.

Twilight lowered her head into the girl’s lap and nudged her downcast face. Nadir Sana caressed the pink muzzle fondly and pressed her lips against the coal-colored nose. Almost immediately, Nadir Sana smiled big and bright exclaiming, “But I do have good news! Well, it’s partly good news. It’s the race! The endurance race! We can enter. I’m of age!”

The girl scrambled hastily to her feet and clutched the long, white mane on Twilight’s slender neck. With impenetrable faith, she hugged the horse and wrenched her fingers into the cool fur. She sniffed in a mammoth breath of the sweet aroma of an equine’s sweet hide and pressed her head closer to the animal’s skin. The breath of Twilight Mist felt warm against her hand.

Nadira Sana snatched her hand away, “But, I’m a girl. That means I cannot enter. But I have a plan, Twilight. A marvelous plan! I shall pretend to be a boy! I know I’m quite small to look like a sixteen-year-old boy, but that does not matter. Just so long as they don’t suspect us. Think of it! Wandering across the desert, evading every cursed custom, and plunging toward every sign of a rugged adventure!”

The horse nickered while her pointed ears perked to an even more erect position. She shoved the girl with her head once more, then leaped backwards in innocent playfulness. The girl grabbed a silky handful of mane and swung effortlessly onto the horse’s sleek back. The trousers beneath her dress saved her the hassle of trying to ride sidesaddle bareback. With an encouraging cluck, Twilight jumped into a smooth canter, splashing her hooves in the chilly water beneath her.

Nadira explained to her companion as they glided along, “The race registration ends tomorrow, so I shall reserve our post then. I don’t think we need to bother with training. After all, Manirhi rides you for hours every day. You should be very good at endurance by now, with you being five and all. The challenge is very soon. In fact, it begins in two days. That should be enough time for me to acquire everything we’ll be needing for the trip. I think we can win it!”

The girl eased her bare heels into Twilight’s sensitive flank, and together they progressed into a speeding gallop. Nadira threw back her head and laughed crisply, “If you go half this speed, we can win! I know it!”

Gradually the horse resided to a trot, then a walk. As the tops of buildings came into view, Twilight skidded to an awkward stop. Nadira gracefully slid to the dust and rubbed the horse’s shoulder. She crept into the shadows, glancing around her before taking another tentative step. The horse waited patiently and kept her elegant ears perked straight ahead.

“Go on,” the girl demanded as she turned around to face Twilight. “I have to get back to the palace, and you must hurry on back to the stables. I will come for you tomorrow.”

Abruptly, a strong, heavy hand grabbed Nadira Sana by her shoulder. The girl winced with recognition that she had been caught. Slowly she turned toward the man who had discovered her sneaking through the night. The man looked at her with stern, but kind eyes and shook his head. He put his other hand heavily on her other shoulder and blinked.

“Nadira,” he said in a reproachful tone, “what are you doing out here at night? And with that horse? You know women aren’t permitted to ride, and being out here in the middle of the night doesn’t make a very good name for yourself.”

“I know, Manirhi. But I have to ride her! And since I cannot do it during the day, I must come do it in the night. There is no other way. And I had to tell her about the race,” Nadira explained.

“Why did you need to tell Twilight about the race? She isn’t entering as far as I know; no one wants to ride her. You aren’t entering either. You’re a girl. You can’t.”

“But maybe I can. I look boyish enough, and I can spread mud over my face,” the girl pleaded.

Manirhi stared at her. He looked her over, his eyes moving from her veil which she had pulled back over her face to her bare feet. “Your clothes,” he remarked, “won’t fool anyone, I’m sure.”

“But that’s where you come in! You work at the stable. Surely you can snag some clothes for me! I can get other things by myself. We’ll need a canteen, camel milk, goat cheese, money, and we’ll also need something to keep us warm at night.”

The man shook his head and chuckled, “Oh, you’ll need much more than that. I’m not going to take part in this either. What if someone found out?”

“What if no one found out?” the girl retorted. “Please help us! Just think if we won the race!”

“Just think if you didn’t! If you disappeared. . . .”

“But I won’t! I’m a good enough rider! You should know that by now! I’ve been riding ever since I was three!”

“Yes, but there are many other dangers than falling of your horse! There are raiders and sand pits, not to mention all the wild animals and the dust-storms!” he warned.

“I know I can get through all of that! Please help me!”

“Look, I don’t care what you do, but I am not going to help you this time! It’s too dangerous! The king would kill me if he knew.”

“Well fine! Bad night to you! I hope you fall into quicksand!” Nadira yelled and stomped away toward the back window of the palace.