Magus of Stonewylde Book One (41 page)

‘Hey, Mum, we can go down to the Great Barn together, can’t we?’

‘Well, I haven’t actually started mine yet. But I’ll walk down with you. I’m so proud of you, Sylvie! What a special day – my little girl becoming a woman!’

Although nothing could match the embarrassment of the previous month when she’d been left behind at the Hall, Sylvie felt shy going into the Great Barn. But she was warmly received by the many women already there.

‘Do come over and sit with us, the pair of you,’ called a Village
woman whom Miranda recognised from her recent visit to the Nursery.

‘I haven’t started yet,’ said Miranda, having learned the protocol of the Dark Moon Gatherings. ‘So I’m going home now, but I expect I’ll be down later.’

There was some tongue clicking at this and Sylvie saw one woman wink across at another. She knew exactly what they were thinking, for it was what she’d thought herself. Had Yul been right? Had Magus succeeded in making Miranda pregnant up at Mooncliffe on the night of the Blue Moon?

By the time Sylvie’s first period was over, the Summer Solstice had almost arrived. The women grumbled at the inconvenience of the Dark Moon coming just before a major festival when there was so much to do. During her time spent in the Great Barn, Sylvie had learned all about the Summer Solstice festival at Stonewylde, the biggest celebration of them all, falling at a time when the weather was usually fine and warm. Starting on Solstice Eve, the week-long festivities were given over to sports events, craft displays and competitions, swimming galas down at the beach, and daily picnics out in the open air. It was also Magus’s birthday, which added to the holiday excitement.

Miranda hadn’t joined the women in the Barn, but explained that her last period had been very early and she’d probably reverted to her old cycle. Sylvie knew better, but had other things on her mind to worry about – how to get to Quarrycleave and set Yul free. Every day more Hallfolk arrived for the festival, and on the nineteenth of June, the students and teachers would return from Exeter. Sylvie decided this would be a good day for the rescue, when everyone’s attention was on the homecoming students. Yul must be back by Solstice Eve on the twentieth, ready for sunrise the following morning. She went to the library to look for a map of the estate.

She found some beautiful hand-drawn maps, meticulously coloured and labelled, and realised what a distance it was to Quarrycleave. She’d have to allow plenty of time and she hoped
Yul would be strong enough for the long walk home. She knew he was tough, but the thin, cowering boy she’d seen at the quarry was not the same person who’d won the tree-climbing competition at Beltane, ridden Nightwing along the ridgeway and carried her back through the woods on the night of the Blue Moon. He was weak and beaten now. The journey could be too much for him.

Poring over the map, Sylvie decided to follow the ridgeway westwards for several miles before cutting over the hills to the north and across the other side to Quarrycleave, tucked up in the far north-west corner of the estate. She couldn’t follow the easier route the Land Rover had taken, nor the tarmac road route up to the Gatehouse and along the top of the hills in case someone was out driving that day. She’d never walked that far in her life and wondered if she’d make it there and back herself, never mind Yul.

Sylvie had just rolled up the maps and returned them to the shelf when Magus walked into the library, shutting the door behind him. He came over and looked down at her, gauging her mood. Then he smiled, but it didn’t reach his dark eyes.

‘I gather congratulations are in order.’

‘What?’

‘I hear you’ve started menstruating.’

She blushed at this.

‘And just before your fifteenth birthday. You’ll be an adult before you know it.’

‘I’ll never take part in that disgusting Rite of Adulthood ceremony, if that’s what you’re thinking,’ she retorted sharply. ‘And talking of menstruation, I’m sure you’ll also have heard that my mother didn’t. So your “picnic” at Mooncliffe was successful, it seems.’

He grimaced and took her arm, guiding her over to the deep window seat; the same place he’d sat with Miranda when he’d asked her to stay permanently at Stonewylde.

‘It’s time we talked, Sylvie. You’re so hostile and negative towards me and I know who’s the cause of that. Of course I’m
delighted that your mother may be carrying my child, although it’s very early days and we mustn’t jump to conclusions. But there’s no need to be nasty to me about it. Unless you’re jealous?’

‘Jealous? Don’t be ridiculous – I’d love a little brother or sister! I just hate to see my mother being taken for a fool. She’s mad about you, but you don’t love her or even really care for her.’

‘Of course I care for her!’

‘Not in the way she needs. You just wanted to impregnate her. It’s horrible – so cold-blooded.’

‘There was nothing cold-blooded about it, I can assure you,’ he said dryly.

‘Maybe not the act itself, but the planning behind it, coming back specially for the Blue Moon like that. You’re like a great spider sitting in its web, manipulating everything around you.’

He laughed at this and shook his head.

‘I’m not going to win you over easily, am I? I don’t like your rudeness and if you ever speak to me like that when other people are present, I shall have to cut you down to size. But between you and me, Sylvie, I do like your spirit. You’re brave and loyal and those are qualities I admire.’

She shrugged, dismissing his compliments, and glared at him.

‘I misjudged you when you first came here,’ he continued. ‘I knew you were special, but you seemed so timid and meek, such a little mouse. How wrong could I have been? There’s a spark in you that I like very much, even though you infuriate me too.’

‘When’s Yul coming back?’

He groaned. ‘Oh for Goddess’ sake, you’re not still going on about him? You’ve seen the state of him, and that was a week ago. He’ll be much worse now after another week of hard labour in the quarry and Jackdaw’s rough treatment. Can’t you leave the boy alone? He said he wanted nothing more to do with you, remember?’

‘Of course – I’ll never forget it. Nor shall I ever forget your cruelty.’

‘It’s not cruelty, Sylvie, it’s how Stonewylde society works. Yul broke our laws and had to be punished. His father gave him a very thorough whipping the night we found him in that hut in the woods, and was keen to whip Yul again. If I’d sent Yul home, he would’ve done. So I’ve actually done Yul a favour by taking him up to Quarrycleave for a fortnight.’

‘Oh please!’ Sylvie rolled her eyes. ‘I’m not stupid, you know.’

‘No, you’re not, which is why I can’t understand your persistence. If you feel any sort of sympathy for the boy, leave him alone.’

‘All I want to know is this – are you intending to collect him before the Solstice, when his two weeks is up?’

‘No, Sylvie,’ he replied wearily. ‘I’ve already explained this. I’ll be too busy. I’ll collect him after the midsummer holiday. That’s my final word.’

‘Thank you. That’s all I wanted to know.’

On the morning of the nineteenth, Sylvie awoke early to the sound of querulous cawing outside her window. It was Mother Heggy’s crow. He stayed a while, pecking at his wing feathers, and then flew away. But his message was clear and Sylvie understood that the things were ready to collect from the doorstep, so she dashed up to the cottage before breakfast. She spent a busy morning organising everything she needed for the journey and packed a bag carefully, conscious of the weight she must carry and noticing how fine and clear the day was. It would be hot and she must take enough water for both days.

Sylvie was very nervous, scared that something terrible would happen. She could get lost or sprain an ankle. Magus or Jackdaw could discover her. She might have no opportunity at the quarry to rescue Yul, with all the men about. But she had to trust to destiny. Hadn’t two magical people both foretold she’d travel on a journey and was destined to be a saviour?

Miranda was distracted that morning, still waiting for her period, and barely noticed Sylvie. She certainly wasn’t checking up on her, particularly as Yul was safely out of the way. Sylvie said she must practise a Solstice dance with the Hallfolk girls and would stay the night in the girls’ wing at the Hall, and Miranda accepted the plausible story without question. Sylvie had earlier hidden the salves and potions from Mother Heggy in a cupboard at the Hall, and the cake wrapped in rhubarb leaves was concealed safely under her bed in Woodland Cottage.

Magus left Stonewylde at midday and would be home that evening with the students. If their return was anything like their departure, nobody would notice her absence in the chaos. Cherry’s sister, Marigold the cook, had packed her a picnic and hadn’t asked many questions; like everyone who worked at the Hall, she was so very busy. Cherry was up to her eyes organising bedrooms and laundry for the many guests, assisted by an army of extra servants drafted up daily from the Village. Marigold and her kitchen staff struggled to cater for the vast number of extra mouths to feed, particularly as for many of the visitors, the delicious organic food at Stonewylde was a highlight of their stay. Sylvie felt sorry for all the Villagers who had to work so hard during the holiday.

It was early afternoon when she finally left the Hall. The backpack was bulky and heavy and she worried it was too much to carry. But everything inside was needed; she’d packed no extras. She left by a side door, cutting over a lawn towards a path leading into the hills of the ridgeway. She’d only gone a little way across the lawn when she heard a familiar voice.

‘Going somewhere, Sylvie?’

Holly and Rainbow sat under a tree by the lawn and Sylvie’s heart sank.

‘Just a walk. It’s too crowded here.’

‘Looks like a long walk with all that gear on your back. Where are you going?’

She stared at Holly’s pretty little face, her brown eyes bright
with curiosity. This was the first time Holly had spoken to her in ages. Maybe she was ready to make up.

‘I’m not sure. Just wandering wherever my feet take me.’

‘How poetic. You’re not running away then?’

‘No, of course not.’

‘Don’t you know they’re all coming back today?’ asked Rainbow, busy weaving a daisy chain into her long hair. ‘Don’t you want to be here when they arrive?’

‘Well, yes. I mean … I’ll see them later, I’m sure.’

‘It’s not very friendly though, is it, Sylvie?’ said Rainbow. ‘We’ll be waiting for them by the porch and I’ve made a huge “Welcome Home” banner.’

‘You haven’t really integrated into our world at all, have you?’ said Holly. ‘You’re not one of the Hallfolk, not one of us in any way. Several of the visitors have wondered what on earth you’re doing here. I couldn’t enlighten them because I have no idea myself.’

Sylvie frowned at her. So much for being ready to make up.

‘Don’t get nasty with me again, Holly,’ she said. ‘Just because Buzz isn’t coming back there’s no need to take it out on me.’

Holly’s eyes glittered at this and her mouth became mean.

‘And I bet if he was coming back today, you wouldn’t be disappearing off like this!’ she said. ‘You’d be waiting at the door with your tongue hanging out, and—’

‘I can’t be bothered to listen to you,’ said Sylvie firmly. ‘See you later.’

‘I hope you fall down a rabbit hole and break your ankle!’ called Holly.

‘Or sit on a viper and get your backside bitten!’ yelled Rainbow.

‘Why don’t you both grow up?’ retorted Sylvie, marching off to the sound of their mocking laughter.

She tried to put the unpleasant scene behind her as she slowly climbed up into the hills of the ridgeway. She really disliked them both, and with July, Wren and Fennel due back, it could only get worse. Thank goodness Buzz wasn’t returning too. The only one she had any time for was Dawn, but she was older and
had her own circle of friends. Sadly, Sylvie acknowledged that Holly was right; she hadn’t integrated into their world at all and she wasn’t one of them. But that wasn’t such a bad thing, she thought angrily. They were horrible – arrogant and selfish. The only person whose company she really enjoyed was Yul’s, and his friendship had been forbidden. She thought again how much happier she’d have been as a Villager.

Sylvie was walking steadily along Dragon’s Back, hot and sticky in the blazing sun but trying not to drink too much of the precious water, when she saw a figure approaching in the distance. She groaned at the prospect of another encounter, though at least it couldn’t be Magus who was safely in Exeter. She was a poor liar and worried she’d give herself away. As the figure drew closer she was dismayed to recognise Clip, in robes the colour of speedwell. He wore a piece of cloth, shot through with gold thread and decorated in an Indian pattern, loosely wrapped around his head. He raised his staff in greeting as he drew near, and she thought desperately what to say if he asked questions. It hadn’t occurred to her that she’d bump into people on her journey.

‘Blessings, Sylvie!’ he called, his weather-beaten face breaking into a smile. ‘I imagined I was alone in trying to escape the hordes.’

‘Too crowded, isn’t it?’ she agreed. ‘I had to get away.’

‘You’re carrying a heavy load!’

‘Yes. I …’

She couldn’t think of any reason why she should be. He stared down at her, his pale eyes twinkling.