Horse Stories

Tales of the Travelers, and Legends of the Travelers. YA Fantasy Novel Series from Untold Press
Tales of the Travelers

Sabaska’s Tale
Amazon

Sabaska’s Quest
Amazon

Legends of the Travelers

Saga
Amazon
A portion of ebook proceeds goes to The Wings Program.

Jarl
Amazon

Saga’s War

Amazon

“Once again, Campbell lures us into a fantastical world in which animals remind us what it means to be human.” – Anne Michaud – Author of Girls and Monsters.

“Sabaska’s Tale is an enchanting read that explores the rich dynamic between horses and humans in a way I’ve never read before. Rich with characterization and factual details about the secret world of horses, I was captivated from page one! You will be, too…”
~ Rusty Fischer, author of Zombies Don’t Cry

Sabaska’s Tale
To Anna, horses were more than a fascination, they were everything. Luckily, she had the opportunity to spend every summer on her grandmother’s horse ranch in Colorado. Life was perfect, until she received the devastating news that her grandmother had been tragically killed. Anna knew she was the only member of her family who could take over the ranch and hopefully find new homes for her grandmother’s beloved Arabians.

Anna wasn’t alone for long. Her grandmother had hired a local teenage boy to help tend the horses for the summer. Anna didn’t stand a chance against Cody’s quiet charm and the two rapidly become friends. however, even with the responsibilities of the ranch, Anna quickly discovers the secrets her grandmother had been hiding and a legacy that sends her on an adventure she never thought possible. An adventure in the saddle of a horse that wasn’t a horse at all. Sabaska, her grandmother’s favorite Arabian, was a Traveler; a magical being that could travel between worlds. With Anna at the reins, they find themselves trapped in a fight against evil with the highest of stakes… Their very survival.

Sabaska’s Quest
Last summer, Anna’s world got turned upside-down. It’s hard to believe her travels to different worlds and fantastic yet dangerous adventures really took place. Little things, like the twinge of pain from her healing ribs, and a few relics, remind her that her journeys did actually occur. David, a ghost she met on her travels, suddenly reappears, bringing both old friends and foes back into her life. To help Sabaska, Anna must attempt to rescue captured Travelers from a Vanir stronghold, and still get home in time for school. An easy task compared to dealing with her mixed feelings for Cahir.

Uncovering a Vanir plot to find a powerful lost mage will test her strength and dedication to the Travelers. With the help of new and old friends, they set out in search of the mage. He could tip the balance of the war in either side’s favor and it’s up to Sabaska and Anna to get there first.

Legends of the Travelers, Saga
Taken from her people as a foal, Saga is plunged into a world completely foreign to her. All Travelers know other worlds exist, but they don’t expect to actually experience them until they are adults. Saga must learn to adapt to her new surroundings if she wants to survive to adulthood so she can return to her people.
Jarl is the son of the Vanir High Mages and heir to the throne. Though young, his parents entrust him with the care and training of the captured Traveler foal. However, none of the Vanir understood just how intelligent the Travelers were and they may have given Jarl more than he can handle.
When Saga escapes the High Mages decide she is too much trouble and has to be killed. Jarl defies his parents and goes after her. Will they remain enemies when Jarl finds her, or will they form a bond of friendship strong enough to save Saga’s life?

Legends of the Travelers #2, Jarl
Together Saga and Jarl managed to survive their years at school, guarding their secrets from even their closest friends. When Jarl graduates as a full mage and Saga becomes a weapons master, it is time for them to return to Vanaheim where Jarl will continue his studies as future ruler. This training includes extensive travel in the countryside so Jarl can meet many of his future subjects and practice his Wayfarer skills.
Saga, feeling confined after so many years at the school, can’t wait for the adventure and freedom the travel will bring. The hints that they may be in danger doesn’t deter her enthusiasm. Especially when they discover her people may be behind the rumors.
Jarl is also excited about the adventure, but is a bit more apprehensive about the danger they may face. He worries how his parents will react if Saga’s people are present on his world, and fears for Saga’s safety.
They start their adventure together, but will they end apart as they face the ultimate test of their loyalty and friendship.

Legends of the Travelers #3 Saga’s War

With Saga finally reunited with her people, she learns the crystal parasite can be destroyed, giving her hope to free her partner’s race. Jarl’s people, the Vanier, have no idea that they are being controlled by the parasitic crystal that enhances their magical abilities. However, Saga must figure out a way to convince Jarl of the crystal’s evil.

Jarl, meanwhile, is still mourning Saga’s loss. With hopes to change the way the Vanier treat Travelers, he finds himself at odds with his people on the eve of his betrothal. He must make a decision. Will he fall from grace or become a traitor to himself and his beliefs?

Can Saga and Jarl find a way to bring about the end of a war? Or will they be forced to watch as the destruction unfolds?

Excerpt from Sabaska’s Tale:
Footsteps came down the hall toward her grandma’s bedroom. Anna’s hands shook. They would have heard her footsteps if the carpet hadn’t muffled them. She crept away from the door and slipped into the bathroom. A small window with frosted panes opened on the roof. Though she had thought it odd at the time, her grandma had shown her an escape route. “Anna, in case there is a fire and you can’t get out the door, you can go out through this window. Come on, follow me. It’s safe.”
She set the shotgun down across the sink and climbed on the toilet and slid the window open. The bright moon clearly lit her path. She climbed into the warm, dry air and reached back for her gun. Just to be sure, she shut the window behind her, and then noticed a curious thing. It locked from outside.
What had Grandma been involved with?
Anna latched the window and crouched, holding the shotgun to her chest. It was one thing to follow her grandma onto the roof in broad daylight, it was quite another to escape intruders in the middle of the night. The light from the moon didn’t seem so bright now. Shadows danced everywhere. She wished the shotgun had a sling. She considered staying hidden by the window. They wouldn’t get through the window without breaking it.
One of the horses screamed. Anna’s blood ran cold, but it broke her out of her crouch. Before she could think better of it, she crawled across the roof, being sure to stay in the shadows. The shingles scraped her knuckles where she clutched the gun. They weren’t doing her jeans or her knees any favors either.
“Damn it.” The harsh whisper echoed in the night.
Anna flattened herself against the roof, heart trying to climb out of her chest. The next muttered curse might have come from the barn. Yet she heard both so clearly, they could have been right beside her. It must have been a trick of the night air. Anna clenched her lips tight, smothering a whimper and started crawling again. At the trellis, she paused, trying to decide what to do next.
“Maybe the Traveler is gone, M’lord,” a man said underneath her.
“It won’t leave the girl.” The second man spoke. She knew that voice. Blue shirts and mean sports cars flashed through her brain.
“The girl isn’t here,” another man said.
“She’s here.” He sounded very confident. “Just be ready to track them if they get a chance to run.”
The men faded out of hearing range.
You have to get off this roof! She tried to get herself to move, knowing she wouldn’t get a better chance.
A quiet, encouraging nicker caught Anna’s attention and a dark shape in a clump of evergreens moved slightly. The faint outline of horse dissolved into the shadows.
What the hell?
With no time to figure it out, she carefully scooted to the edge of the roof and climbed down onto the reinforced trellis. It was awkward with one hand occupied by the shotgun but the shadows hid hid the trellis from view and the foot and handholds were predictable. The faint scent of crushed leaves tickled her nose and she fought a sneeze. That would be just perfect; reaching the bottom without falling only to have a sneeze give her away. She made it, though she breathed hard and her limbs shook–only partially from exertion.
Okay, now what?
The dark shape moved again. If she could get to the horse maybe she could get away. Horses could go a lot of places trucks couldn’t. Maybe she could find a way to call the police. Of course she left her cell phone behind, but Sherrie’s neighbors were far enough away to be safe and would let her use their phone.
Anna checked for the intruders. Nothing moved so she darted across the open ground and into the bush. She hoped her sudden appearance didn’t startle the horse into making noise. The horse stayed silent, bumping her head against Anna’s arm in a reassuring manner. Sabaska, of course.
Why would the horse hide in a clump of trees waiting for her to climb off a roof? Sabaska turned to let her climb on her back. She leaned the shotgun against a tree and scrambled ungracefully onto the horse. Sabaska edged closer to the gun without being asked and Anna picked it up, not sure how to carry it, ride bareback and direct her horse, but Sabaska didn’t seem to care. Anna got settled and grabbed a hold of the horse’s mane while cradling the gun awkwardly.
“M’lord,” one of the men called more loudly.
Sabaska snorted, tossed her head, and started moving, slowly at first, and then her muscles bunched.
“No,” Anna whispered.
The horse ignored her and she held on, stifling scream as the little horse burst from the trees into a dead gallop.
“M’lord! There!”
“Catch them before they Travel!”
She clung to Sabaska’s back as the horse galloped toward a fence. Needing both hands to stay astride, she tossed the shotgun to the ground and held on. Anna screamed as Sabaska leapt the fence. In the air, she came off Sabaska’s back, but the little horse landed underneath her and did a funny jig to keep Anna from falling.
The men shouted behind her, but as Sabaska ran, the air grew muffled and dense and the voices faded. Anna thought she might be passing out and clutched the horse tighter. Sabaska slowed and trees scraped against her legs and arms.
Leafy trees.
Cold frosted her breath and she started to shake. No deciduous forest surrounded her Grandma’s property and though it could get cold in the summer in Colorado, there wasn’t usually snow on the ground. Overwhelmed, she stopped thinking and clung to Sabaska’s back while the little horse pushed through the trees. Anna hoped she knew where she was going. The numb, suffocating feeling came and went several times that night. Anna thought she saw the sun high in the sky a few times, but when Sabaska finally did stop, the sky had just begun to lighten. Incomprehensible trees surrounded them. She blinked at the red blur of leaves and smooth silver bark and then passed out. In her dreams, an unseen entity chased her until a distant voice woke her.
“Sabaska! What are you doing?”
Her horse snorted and though Anna wanted to sit up, exhaustion sent her back to sleep.

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