Shadows at Stonewylde (28 page)

‘Hold on to her, Gef,’ he commanded, and turned to Jay for a whispered conference.

‘She said she were going to get her own snips,’ said one of the women at the table. ‘But that were a while back and she never showed her face again.’

‘Well, I expect she felt tired and stayed on at home,’ said Rosie quickly, putting an arm around her mother.

‘But Rosie, what—’

‘Come on, Mother, let’s get you home and we’ll see if she’s there,’ said Rosie. ‘If Leveret’s been so good lately and really turned over a new leaf, I’m sure she will be. And if she’s not, we’ll come back here and wait for her. There’s bound to be a good reason why she’s disappeared like this so don’t fret.’

They fetched their cloaks and made their way out into the brilliantly moonlit night, their breath clouding around them. Their boots clattered on the cobbles as they walked along the wide paved area outside the Barn. When they reached the Jack in the Green, the noise and brightness flared out at them. Many men helped out with the Yule preparations in the Barn, but others felt they’d earned a few tankards of cider after a day’s hard physical labour and left the ceremony provision to those who still had some energy left in the evenings.

The two women walked past briskly to the darker, quieter lane ahead, radiating out of the heart of the Village like a spoke on a spider’s web. An owl flew past, it’s white wings ghostly in the darkness, and everywhere the moon cast her silver glance. Her beams were caught in the shadowy thatch of the cottages, glinting off the little panes of glass in the windows, dancing back from any shiny surface she could find. The Bright Lady walked the night in her silver shoes and the dew turned imperceptibly to glittering frost. It was a beautiful, magical night.

‘Oh, Rosie, what you said about her gallivanting out with Magpie …’

‘I wish I’d never said that! This is our Leveret we’re talking about. She’s not a bad girl, not in her heart. I’m sure she’ll be curled up at home by the fire with her nose in a book and the Yule decorations completely forgotten.’

‘I hope so, Rosie,’ said Maizie dejectedly. ‘She promised to be good for me and I trusted her. If she’s let me down again …’

A minute later the other youths were told to untie Magpie, who lay in a heap apparently unable to move however much they encouraged him with their boots. One of the small barrels was brought across and the spout tipped over Magpie’s face so the cider washed him, removing the rabbit’s blood.

‘Take him back to his cottage,’ said Jay to the youths. ‘Don’t disturb the women as they’ll be busy during the Moon Fullness. Just kick him through the gate – even that idiot can find his own way from the garden gate. We don’t want him wandering around like this on the Green in case any questions are asked.’

The youths nodded, staggering slightly, and hauled poor Magpie to his feet. He could barely stand as they prepared to frog-march him home. He didn’t even seem aware of Leveret’s presence but was making a horrible noise – a combination of sobbing and screeching.

‘Oh, one more thing before he goes,’ said Jay casually. Entirely without warning he bunched his great fist and punched Magpie full in the stomach. It was a mighty blow and the grunt of air escaped from the boy’s lungs in a sickening burst. Magpie jackknifed instantly but the youths on either side wrenched him back upright, retching and groaning, and began to drag him home, skirting around the edge of the Green. Which left Leveret alone with Jay, Sweyn and Gefrin.

‘Shall we give her some delicious rabbit as well?’ asked Gefrin, who still had her arm twisted up behind her back in a painful grip. ‘I reckon she needs feeding up, skinny little runt that she is.’

The other two laughed but Sweyn shook his head.

‘What have you been doing, Leveret?’ he asked again. He seemed to have calmed down from his earlier excitement and she wondered if maybe he was going to let her off lightly after all.

‘I was helping Mother in the Barn,’ she replied, trying very hard to keep the fear from her voice for she knew it only egged them on. ‘I just went home to collect some snips for cutting the lanterns. That’s all.’

Jay surveyed her with narrowed eyes. His face was beaded with perspiration despite the cold night and like Sweyn he stank of sweat and cider. His belligerent face loomed closer and peered into hers.

‘She’s lying. She ain’t been home at all.’

‘No, I don’t think so neither. Let’s see what she’s got hidden under her cloak.’

Leveret began to struggle then, terrified they’d take the sacred knife from her, and she moved so suddenly that Gefrin lost his grip. She managed to wriggle free and stood with her knees slightly bent, eyeing all three like a cornered animal ready to launch into flight.

‘Don’t even think about it!’ warned Sweyn, edging closer to cut off her retreat. But she did. With a sudden sideways leap she darted off, jinking across the grass with the three young men hot on her heels. There was a moment when she thought she might get away but it was short lived – she didn’t stand a chance against them. Jay brought her down hard, launching himself into a tackle that knocked her flying. He landed squarely on top of her, crushing her so she couldn’t breathe, and laughed triumphantly.

‘Any other girl lying under me on the grass at Moon Fullness would be fair game,’ he said, his breath wafting over her in foul waves. ‘But this one – eugh! She’s got to be the ugliest girl at Stonewylde and she’s more like a boy than a girl. So not tonight, darling – sorry to disappoint you.’

He shifted his weight and pushed himself off her, still pinning her arms to the ground.

‘I’d kill myself before I went with scum like you!’ she hissed. ‘You stink like a torn cat and you’ve all the wit of a farmyard animal. I’m not into bestiality – sorry to disappoint
you
.’

With a swift swipe he clouted her hard around the side of the head so she saw violent colours and her skull rang with noises.

‘Bitch!’ he spat. ‘Don’t you speak to me like that!’

‘No!’ cried Sweyn. ‘For goddess’ sake, don’t hit her hard or there’ll be proof.’

‘Never hit her very hard,’ added Gefrin. ‘You got to do things that don’t leave marks.’

They dragged Leveret to her feet and took her back to the fire that still smouldered under the chestnut tree.

‘I’ll search her,’ said Jay, eyes still dark with anger at the way she’d insulted him. He’d never been spoken to like that before, enjoying a certain elevation amongst his peers. The fact that it had come from such a small, young girl only made it worse. He wrenched her cloak open and began to frisk her roughly, deliberately poking her hard and offensively.

‘Get your hands off me!’ she growled through clenched teeth. ‘I’ll tell Yul that you’ve assaulted me.’

He jabbed her ribs at this.

‘Don’t flatter yourself! You got the most disgusting body I ever seen. Nobody in their right mind would assault
you
, you ugly little bitch. And Yul wouldn’t believe you anyway.’

He’d found nothing, of course, but then her cloak fell to the floor and he saw the way she glanced at it.

‘There’s something in her cloak!’ he said triumphantly, whisking it off the ground, and when she began to struggle in Sweyn’s grip they knew he was right. She closed her eyes in sorrow, knowing they’d desecrate the precious gathering knife. Finding the big pocket sewn inside the cloak, Jay rummaged and then pulled out the flaxen bag with a flourish and a whoop of delight. Sweyn and Gefrin laughed in anticipation and all three crowded round the torchlight to see inside the bag.

‘Mistletoe!’ he exclaimed incredulously. ‘Is that it?’

Her heart sank as he turned again to the pocket; she knew the knife was nestling in there, tucked into the seam. But after groping around inside, he shook his head.

‘That’s it.’

‘This is good!’ said Sweyn. ‘She’s been out on her roaming again, gathering things. Fancies herself as a bit of a witch, does our Hare-brain, and Mother told us she wants to be the new Wise Woman. Competition for Old Violet!’

‘Mother’ll go mad with her!’ said Gefrin gleefully, following his brother’s train of thought. ‘Lev’ll be in big trouble now!’

‘Yeah, just when Mother thought she could trust her little girl too. She’s going to be so angry and disappointed when we tell her.’

To her dismay Leveret burst into tears at this, sobbing but unable to hide her face in her hands for they were pinned behind her by Sweyn. He jeered as she cried, and the others joined him in his mockery.

‘Pathetic little cry-baby!’ said Gefrin. ‘Just like you’ve always been.’

‘Was that a bit close to the truth, Leveret?’ laughed Sweyn. ‘I think we should get her back to the Barn right now, boys, and let Mother see what sort of a daughter she’s got.’

‘What, and that’s it? Aren’t we going to do anything to her first?’ asked Jay, unable to contain his disappointment. ‘Not have any fun with her at all?’

‘No … unless … lie her down on her back a minute. I’ve got an idea.’

Jay held her down on the ground, prickly with fallen chestnuts cases, whilst Sweyn picked up the barrel and began to pour cider into her mouth. She kept it shut and twisted her face to one side so the sticky liquid ran off into her hair and all over the grass. But then Gefrin grabbed hold of her head to keep it still and Jay sprawled across her, pinning her arms painfully to the ground by her sides. He held her nose shut and grasped her chin. She could barely breathe anyway and had to open her mouth, her eyes wild and pleading. Sweyn poured the cider in steadily – although much of it still ran down the sides of her face – and she started to choke.

‘Mother’ll be upset Lev’s been up to her old tricks again, sneaking about in the night. But when she sees Hare-brain drunk as well …’ he chuckled. ‘I reckon our little sis might even have to miss Yuletide for this.’

Y
ul sat cross-legged on the Altar Stone waiting for the sun to rise. It was two days before the Winter Solstice and the Stone Circle was almost ready. The bonfire was huge, with a hollow centre and ladder reaching to the tiny crow’s nest on top. Here the Herald of Dawn would wait with his unlit torch for the first rays of the rising sun to appear. This year Yul had chosen his half-brother Rufus for the role and Miranda had been so pleased, not realising it had been Sylvie’s suggestion. Miranda tried not to push her son forward for special treatment, but she also wanted to ensure he didn’t miss out on something just because he was Magus’ posthumous last-born child.

Yul glanced around at the vast standing stones, noting how the decorations weren’t quite finished yet. There was holly, ivy and mistletoe painted beautifully on every stone in an intricate design, and several deer leaping gracefully across them, for the deer was the totem animal of this festival. All that remained to be done were the golden discs of the sun, the fiery emblems always present at the two solstice festivals. Doubtless the artists would be back today to finish them off.

Yul looked at his watch, wishing impatiently that the sun would rise so he could get back to his office. He hadn’t been up here for a while to mark sunrise or sunset and had realised, as he faced the ordeal of yet another restless night, that he was losing touch with what really mattered. He should be up here every day receiving the Earth Magic and honouring the goddess as he’d always done in the past. It was just that he was so very busy all the time and there were so many demands on him.

But the thing that was really affecting him so adversely was the breakdown in communication with Sylvie. This, more than all the work piled on him, made him tired and irritable and unable to function properly. He’d always taken their happiness for granted, basked in the harmony of their love and passion without realising that at some point it could come to an end. Had it come to an end? He didn’t know – Yul thought she still loved him, but things had gone very wrong between them. He was terrified that she was becoming ill again; that the present problems were an early indication of the return of her psychosis. He loved her so much and couldn’t bear the thought of watching her slowly disintegrate again before his eyes. Last time it had started with irrational behaviour and the hearing of voices, and history seemed to be repeating itself.

Yul hung his head – he couldn’t cope without Sylvie by his side and if she wasn’t there, he wouldn’t even want to. She was so much part of Stonewylde that the two were inextricable. He felt unutterably weary, exhausted by worry and lack of sleep. There was also the problem of his damn sister to contend with. The morning after the last Moon Fullness Maizie had marched up to his rooms early in the morning with a puffy-eyed Leveret in tow. The girl had obviously been sobbing her heart out for she could barely see and her breath was still catching in convulsive gasps. But he’d never seen Maizie so hard-hearted and cold towards her daughter, ignoring Leveret and speaking as if she didn’t exist.

‘I wash my hands o’ her, Yul. I’ve had enough – do what you like with her. I don’t care if she stays with you in this wing or joins the other boarders – just keep her out o’ my sight.’

‘What happened?’ he asked, shocked at the way she was speaking. It really was as if she didn’t care any more. She was dull-eyed and the lines around her mouth were sharp. Maizie shrugged, glancing at her stricken daughter with dislike.

‘She let me down. Again. I really believed that this time she were going to behave. I trusted her and I was so proud of her …’