Moondance of Stonewylde (26 page)

Buzz managed to push Yul off and stagger upright. His face was a complete mess; his nose a bloody pulp and both eyes swollen almost shut. A cut above one eye was bleeding profusely down his face, adding to the darker blood pouring from his nose, and his breath was ragged.

‘You’ve done it now, you little shit!’ he cried at Yul.

His voice was high and cracked and Yul realised that despite his aggression, Buzz was very scared.

‘No,
you’ve
done it now, Hallfolk scum! You’re going to get what you deserve at last!’ spat Yul, his eyes ablaze with vengeance. ‘Rosie’s only fourteen – how
dare
you do this to her? How
dare
you attack my sister?’

They circled each other, fists clenched and legs slightly bent, ready to attack.

‘I’m going to finish you this time!’ screamed Buzz, finding it difficult to see through the veil of hot blood and puffed up eyes. His nose was excruciatingly painful.

‘Come on then!’ called Yul, his voice trembling with adrenalin but feeling very much in command of himself. ‘Come on, you fat, lazy Hallfolk bastard! Let’s see what you can do without your gang of friends to hold your hand! Let’s see how you fight one against one!’

Yul launched his offensive in a frenzy of ferocity. He kicked Buzz hard in the stomach and twisted away fast, throwing a nasty side swipe at his head as he pulled back. Buzz staggered, doubled over in agony from the brutal kick. Yul leapt in again and punched upwards, his fist connecting with Buzz’s chin. His lower jaw smacked sickeningly into the upper one and more blood sprayed everywhere. Buzz howled, spat and a tooth flew out with the mouthful of blood. Yul closed in, fists pounding relentlessly, thumping Buzz in the chest, stomach and shoulders.

Buzz tried to retaliate at first but he could barely see or breathe. His face was one livid mass of swollen tissue and he was winded. He slowly doubled over and sank to his knees, curling up, trying to protect his head. Yul flew in yet again, a whirlwind of snarling rage. His face was contorted with hatred as he roared and screamed abuse, kicking Buzz in the buttocks and kidneys. He knew very well where it hurt most.

‘STOP!!’

At first the shout didn’t register. Yul continued to lay mercilessly in to Buzz’s crouched form, oblivious to his screeches and bellows of pain.

‘I SAID
STOP
!!’

This time Magus waded in and grabbed Yul by the collar, hauling him off. Yul stood there shaking, panting and gasping for breath, his face white and hollow with the desire to kill. He was covered in blood. Rosie came running up with Maizie following breathlessly, and both stared at Yul in horror.

‘What’s he done to you, Yul?’ cried Maizie, trying frantically to examine him. ‘Where’s it bleeding?’

Magus, surveying the scene, barked with laughter at this.

‘I don’t think Yul’s bleeding anywhere,’ he said. ‘The blood is all Buzz’s.’

He stepped over to where the youth crouched, huddled and squealing with fear, all self-control gone. He prodded Buzz disdainfully with the toe of his boot.

‘Be quiet, for goodness’ sake! You sound like a stuck pig. Stand up!’

Slowly, Buzz stopped his noise and tried to straighten up. He was in considerable pain and started to cry with loud, hoarse sobs. His tears mixed with blood and snot to form a cascade of red slime. Yul, his breathing now almost recovered, turned away in disgust. He had never, ever cried like that in all the years of beatings he’d taken.

‘Are you alright, son?’ Maizie asked him again, still looking for injuries.

‘I’m fine, Mother,’ he replied, shaking with the aftermath of fury but in control of himself. ‘Is Rosie alright? What did he do to you, Rosie?’

All eyes but Buzz’s turned to her. She clutched her torn blouse together trying to cover herself. Her hair was tangled and her hands and cheeks were scratched.

‘He … he tried to force me,’ she said in a small voice.

Maizie gasped. Yul took a deep breath and stepped towards Buzz again, his fists clenched ready for another go.

‘Hold on!’ commanded Magus curtly, putting out a hand to stop Yul. ‘Enough, Yul. You’ve given him a beating he’ll never forget. That’s quite enough. Are you sure, Rosie? He wasn’t just messing about?’

She shook her head, staring at the ground in shame and embarrassment.

‘Can you tell us exactly what happened?’ asked Magus, more softly. Maizie put her arm around the girl, who burst into tears.

‘He were sitting on that stone, like he were waiting for me,’ she sobbed. ‘I was coming back from the dairy, as I come back this way every day. I saw him and I was a bit scared but I tried to be polite, and …’

‘Tell us, Rosie,’ said Magus gently. ‘We need to hear the truth.’

‘I was walking past him fast as I could,’ she gulped, still staring
at her feet, ‘but he jumped up and grabbed hold of me and started kissing me. I thought he were just fooling about at first – maybe a bit drunk or something. But he meant it. He said he’d warned Yul what’d happen if he ever told tales. He said I was his revenge. He pushed me down against the bank there, and I tried to fight him off. I didn’t give in, but he was so strong. I was trying to stop him but … but …’

‘And that’s when Yul arrived?’ asked Magus, his mouth a tight white line of fury. ‘Did Yul arrive before Buzz managed to do anything?’

She nodded, sobbing uncontrollably now. Maizie held her close and looked over her head at Magus. The bright spots burned on her cheeks.

‘That’s enough questions now,’ she said, her voice shaking. ‘Thanks to my son she weren’t harmed. Though if Yul hadn’t come along when he did, I’m sure that this … this animal would’ve forced her. I hope you deal with this proper, Magus. No sweeping it under the rug. ‘Tis against the laws what he were doing and we all know it.’

Magus’ face was tight as he surveyed the snivelling youth who could barely stand.

‘Just so. Buzz will be dealt with appropriately. In the meantime I apologise on his behalf. Rosie was ill-treated.’

‘And no punishment for Yul,’ she said, looking straight into Magus’ dark eyes. ‘’Tis plain he were only defending his sister. You can see that.’

Magus nodded curtly.

‘As you say, Maizie. Yul was blameless in this incident.’

He flicked a glance to where Yul stood upright and taut, protectively close to his sister. Yul glared at him.

‘I’d like to say something,’ he said.

Magus’ eyes narrowed.

‘Well?’

‘Buzz did this to get at me. Rosie’s honour and welfare mattered nothing to him at all. So I want this known. If Buzz ever crosses me like this again I’ll finish him properly.’

‘Yul!’ cried Maizie in horror. ‘Don’t say such things! I’m sorry, Magus. The boy’s upset. He don’t know what he’s saying …’

‘Oh I think he does,’ said Magus quietly. ‘He knows exactly what he’s saying. And he’d do well to curb his tongue before I do it for him. Take your children home, Maizie, but send Yul up to the Hall when you’ve cleaned him up. I want him checked over by the doctor. I think he may’ve damaged his hand.’

Yul had indeed hurt his hands; one finger broken, another dislocated, and a sprained wrist as well, all of which were strapped up. But as the doctor said, he would soon mend and it was nothing compared to Buzz’s injuries. Hazel frowned at Yul, whom she remembered as a pleasant boy from their encounter in the cottage after Alwyn’s seizure.

‘It was a really vicious attack. Buzz is much heavier than you. How did you beat him so severely?’

Yul shrugged, shaking the dark curls from his face, his mouth hard.

‘He’s had it coming a long time. Those who stand against me will fall, one by one.’

Word spread around Stonewylde like wildfire. Magus had led Buzz back through the Village after the fight and many people had seen the state of him. At first, the Villagers thought it was Magus who’d beaten him and were horrified. But then the truth came out – Yul had done it defending his sister. People were shocked. Like the doctor, they found it hard to believe Yul had caused such damage to someone so much bigger than him, and virtually without injury to himself.

They didn’t understand Yul had been fuelled by pent-up rage, his desire for revenge, his toughness and fitness and, above all, his first-hand knowledge of exactly where to hit to make it hurt the most. Buzz had never stood a chance. Yul was hailed as a hero for defending his sister’s honour so bravely. That night he was carted down to the pub again and toasted with cider. People looked at him with a new respect; it was about time someone
stood up to the Hallfolk. They waited to see how Magus would deal with Buzz.

‘You bloody fool!’ spat Magus, standing over Buzz’s bed. The youth was now back in his own bedroom and in a terrible state. Both eyes were swollen almost shut, the puffy skin a deep, dark purple like a pair of plums. His nose was in a splint, having been badly broken, and his mouth was bulbous and raw. He’d lost a bottom tooth, although with his lips so swollen the loss hardly showed. He had to keep very still because of a cracked rib and was in agony from the deep bruising all over his body. He wasn’t used to pain and made a great deal of fuss about it, whimpering in distress whenever the painkillers wore off.

‘What the hell were you thinking of, having a go at a Village girl? And one not yet an adult? Have you
any
idea of the trouble you’ve caused me? I’d already had to deal with your previous incident, when you jumped Yul with your gang. Don’t you understand how much I
hate
having to pander to the Villagers? Having to stand there and kow-tow to them, demean myself,’ Magus ranted.

He banged his fist hard against the wooden shutter at the window, unable to contain his rage.

‘It’s the worst thing, the very worst thing in the world, to have that
bloody boy
looking at me like he’s beaten me! Touching my damn horse as if he owns it, not showing me any respect in front of all those men, and then having to let the little
bastard
get away with it! I could have slashed his face to ribbons the other day on the Green. That was all
your
fault. And now
this
!’

He paused for breath, spitting with anger. His eyes sparked as he paced the room, his great body taut with controlled rage as he avoided looking at the pathetic wreck on the bed. Buzz moved a fraction, groaning, and tried to speak through bruised and puffed up lips.

‘I’m sorry.’

‘I should bloody well think you are sorry! Trying to force a girl – a child! – is one of the most serious offences there is. There
are only two punishments for it. Public whipping or banishment. I can’t make it anything less.’

‘No, no please, Magus,’ he whimpered. ‘Please don’t.’

‘You should’ve thought of that before you had a go at her. Why the hell did you do it? You can have any of the older Hallfolk girls you want. They seem keen enough on you. Goddess knows why, the way you behave.’

‘It was because of Yul, to get back at him. You shouldn’t have made me apologise to him. It’s your fault.’

‘MY FAULT?’

‘For humiliating me in front of all those stupid, ignorant Villagers.’

Magus growled in exasperation and strode to the window, looking out over the sunny lawns. He saw a group of Hallfolk children running around playing a game and two gardeners working, bent over in the flowerbeds. He turned back to the pulpy face before him.

‘
You
are the stupid, ignorant one, Buzzard. I’m ashamed to admit you’re my son. How can you be so bloody dense?’

He sat down on a chair next to the bed, visibly trying to calm himself down.

‘Look, you idiot boy, do you really not understand how Stonewylde works? The whole community here only functions because of the Villagers. They grow all the food, provide all the labour, keep everything running smoothly. They make our lives very comfortable indeed and we need their goodwill. There are more of them living here than there are of us. They may not realise it now, but it only takes a couple of bright ones and there could be a revolution just like in Russia, in France. You know your history.’

‘You’re not scared of the Villagers, are you?’

‘Goddess, you are
stupid
! No, I’m not scared of them, but I put a great deal of effort into ensuring they’re happy, that they respect me and actually
want
to serve me. They consider it an
honour
to bend their backs for me and they’d all willingly do anything I asked, just to please me. I’ve worked very hard, both here and Outside, to ensure that Stonewylde is a perfect society
and that everyone shows me the proper honour and obedience, not because they fear me but because they respect me. And I’m not going to let an arrogant young fool like you destroy everything I’ve achieved over the past years with your thoughtless, selfish actions.’

He shook his head, looking disdainfully at his son. Buzz struggled to sit up a bit.

‘But I didn’t actually do it. So you don’t need to punish me.’

‘You intended to! And with the beating Yul gave you, every person on the estate knows about it. It can’t be hushed up, and once again, he’s the bloody hero. Have you seen yourself in a mirror? How could you let him do this? He’s given you a professional work over and you didn’t even scratch him! There’s not a mark on him, other than his knuckles and wrist, and they’re only damaged because he hit you so hard.’