Moondance of Stonewylde (27 page)

‘He’s a madman! You should banish him, not me. He’s vicious and violent and a danger to the community. He’s inhuman.’

‘Oh come off it! He’s only fifteen and he’s nowhere near your weight. You should’ve at least put up a fight. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a pathetic display of cowardice before.’

‘He didn’t give me a chance to fight back. And he knew what he was doing, exactly where to hit me.’

‘Yul learnt the hard way from his father. I’ve had several run-ins with that boy over the past few months and I thought I’d broken him, but clearly not. He’s even tougher than I imagined and I’ll have to deal with him again, once and for all. But even so, to be honest I can’t blame him for beating you. He was only defending his sister’s honour and he had every right to. More importantly, that’s what the Villagers will think and they’ll be after your blood.’

‘I still don’t see what all the fuss is about. She’s just a stupid Village girl and I didn’t do anything to her!’

‘But you meant to. You deliberately assaulted a child! You know how important it is to wait until a girl is sixteen. Nobody at Stonewylde
ever
breaks that rule.’

‘But what’s the big deal? She may be fourteen but she’s
not
a
child. I’ve seen her at the festivals chatting with the boys. In the Outside World lots of people do it before they’re sixteen and I should know – I spend time out there every year. Why have you got such an obsession about sixteen?’

Magus sighed and stood up, moving to the window again. He’d calmed down, his anger turned to exasperation and disdain. It was baking hot outside and the brilliant light fell on his face, etching the lines around his mouth, the hollows under his cheekbones. His deep brown eyes gazed at the rolling parkland that surrounded the Hall from this view. The raucous rooks caught his eye, circling above their old nests in the trees, gossiping like a queue of noisy women. He recalled Sylvie once laughing at the way they stole each other’s twigs.

‘Girls do grow up quickly and look older than they are. But there has to be a cut-off point, a time up until which they’re treated as children and are off limits. Otherwise mistakes can happen and a young girl could end up being coerced before she’s ready. That’s one reason, and it’s as valid in the Outside World as at Stonewylde.’

He came over to the bed again and stared down at the disfigured young man. Buzz obviously believed that Magus would smooth it all over for him. He wasn’t in the least contrite.

‘There’s another reason I’m adamant about observing the Rite of Adulthood and making everyone wait until they’re sixteen. If there were ever even the
slightest
whiff of underage sexual activity here, however common it might be in the Outside World, we’d see the end of Stonewylde. Can you imagine what the gutter press would make of a sex scandal here with underage girls? The police involved, questions asked … we’d all be arrested, every child here taken into care and there’d be a complete witch-hunt. That’s why I’m so unwavering in upholding that law and why I can’t forgive what you’ve tried to do.’

‘But I didn’t—’

‘Don’t take me for a fool, Buzz. We both know that if Yul hadn’t intervened you’d have raped that girl, knowing full well that she was only fourteen. You’d have jeopardised our entire
way of life and you deserve everything that’s coming to you.’

His stare was unrelenting and cold, showing no sympathy whatsoever for his badly injured son. Buzz’s voice cracked with self-pity and fear and his swollen eyes oozed tears.

‘Please, Dad,
please
don’t have me publicly whipped. Don’t banish me. You always said that one day I’d be magus after you. Don’t let that little bastard Yul spoil everything. It’s all
his
fault anyway. Please!’

Magus looked at him with cold distaste, his lip curling.

‘For Goddess’ sake, stop your snivelling – you have no backbone whatsoever! And I’ve never once said that you’d be magus after me. You may have wished it or assumed it, but I’ve never said it. As for this being Yul’s fault – you need to take responsibility for your actions. Like he does.’

‘But—’

‘I’ll be dealing with Yul once and for all before the next solstice, but that’s in connection with other matters and nothing to do with you. This is entirely
your
fault, not Yul’s. You need to face that fact and deal with it. You may’ve reached adulthood, Buzzard, but you’re certainly not yet a man.’

With a final look of contempt, Magus turned and left the room. Buzz simply didn’t get the point, but he had a while to decide on a course of action as Buzz was in no fit state to be up and about. He’d see how opinion stood in the Village, and maybe it would all blow over. He’d have to lay off Yul for a while too. The boy was something of a hero at the moment and that’s what really made him angry. Yul was once again getting ideas far above his station and needed to be brought to heel. The way he’d proprietarily handled Nightwing during Buzz’s apology still rankled. Magus had warned him before about the consequences of touching the stallion, but in his arrogance Yul had ignored it. Magus smiled grimly as he strode down the long corridor towards the stairs. He’d have to bide his time, but Yul’s insolence on the Green in front of all those Villagers would not go unpunished.

T
he talk amongst the Villagers was all of Buzz and his expected punishment. There was much speculation about which Magus would favour; whipping or banishment. Most agreed that whipping was more likely, for Buzz hadn’t actually forced Rosie and he was after all Magus’ eldest son. Yul had his doubts and wasn’t convinced that Magus would do anything at all, despite his reputation for justice. In which case, Yul decided, he’d have to take matters into his own hands. Amongst the young Hallfolk the sympathy naturally lay with Buzz, particularly after the beating he’d received at the hands of a Villager. Buzz had locked himself in his room, taking his meals in there and seeing only Fennel.

‘I think it should be both,’ said Marigold firmly as she dished up the servants’ lunch early one afternoon. ‘A good whipping and then banish him. What that young man done was terrible.’

‘You’re right, my dear,’ said Cherry, sitting at the head of the table. ‘Why should he get off lightly?’

The sun streamed into the cavernous kitchen, gilding the heads of the troupe of servants as they ate. The enormous scrubbed table was packed as everyone enjoyed a hearty shepherd’s pie, their morning’s work done. With Lammas over the atmosphere was more relaxed; nobody had time to chat during the festival periods when the Hall was crowded with visitors. Copper pots and pans gleamed on the walls above the enormous cast-iron
range. Pots of lavender lined the windowsills to keep the flies at bay during the hot weather, and the huge door was open onto the sunny courtyard outside, where some servants had taken their lunch. Most however preferred to squeeze in at the table and join in the gossip.

‘They say ‘tis not the first time Buzz has had a go at a Village girl,’ said Meg, one of the chamber-maids.

‘Wouldn’t surprise me,’ said Cherry. ‘He’s got no manners at all, that one. Reminds me of his grandfather.’

‘Aye, Magus’ father was the same. Any girl that took his fancy.’

‘We’re lucky that Magus isn’t like that,’ said Rowan warmly. ‘He’d never force anyone.’

‘Wouldn’t have to, would he, Rowan?’ said another laundry maid with a sly grin. ‘Not with girls falling over themselves to bed him. Girls just happen to bump into him every time he turns around.’

‘Now, now!’ said Marigold. ‘None o’ that sort of talk at my table, thank you.’

‘And what about the beating Yul gave him!’ said Harold, his eyes shining with admiration. ‘Have you seen the state of Buzz? Yul did him over good and proper!’

‘Aye, Yul put him in his place, right enough,’ agreed Cherry.

‘They say if Magus hadn’t turned up when he did, Yul would’ve killed him,’ said Harold. ‘They say our Yul were like a mad bull and he’d lost his reason altogether.’

‘Well, ‘twas about time our Yul got his own back on them that’ve bullied him all his life. When they were younger, that Buzz used to …’

‘That’s enough of your idle gossip!’

All eyes turned to the door where Martin stood glaring at the sea of faces around the table. He walked into the great kitchen and stood with his arms folded, a grim look on his dour face.

‘We was just saying about Buzz and—’

‘I heard what you were saying, Marigold. ‘Tis not our place to question the business of Hallfolk. Magus is the judge and we can be sure that he’ll be just.’

‘Well of course!’ said Cherry, a little pink. ‘We know that. We was only saying—’

‘I think you’ve said far too much! I’d like a word with you two women after lunch, in my office.’

‘Silly old fart!’ muttered Marigold as she and her sister made their way to the cubby-hole by the pantry that Martin liked to call his office. ‘Who does he think he is?’

‘Always been like this, though,’ said Cherry. ‘Never hear a word against any Hallfolk. Goddess knows why. He’s more cause than most. ‘Tis plain as your face he’s a Hallchild – everyone knows ‘twere Master Clip’s father, Basil – but look at him! Never given any Hallfolk treatment – just a servant like you and me, sister.’

When they entered the tiny room, Martin stared sternly at them and indicated for them to sit down. They squeezed their ample bulk onto two chairs squashed into the corner and crossed their arms over their bosoms in unison, their mouths obdurate.

‘I was very unhappy to hear the way you were both talking today. You have positions of authority here, as the cook and the housekeeper. ‘Tis our duty as the senior servants to set a good example,’ he began.

‘As we do!’ said Marigold indignantly. ‘There’s no need for you to get so pompous, Martin.’

‘Aye, Martin. You’d do well to recall we two’ve been serving here at the Hall even longer than you,’ said Cherry. ‘A good many years longer. We know our duty well enough.’

‘Your tone was disloyal,’ said Martin.

‘We said nothing against Magus!’

‘But you spoke badly of Master Buzz. It’s the same thing.’

‘’Tisn’t the same thing at all! What Buzz did was wrong and we can say so if we want.’

Martin tapped his pen on the desk.

“Tis not our place to sit in judgement. We know nothing of what led up to his … involvement with the girl.’

‘Rubbish!’ cried Cherry. ‘What he did was wrong whatever
way you look at it. ‘Tis against the laws to force a girl, and against the laws to go with a girl under the age of sixteen.’

‘We don’t know he forced her,’ said Martin. ‘And besides, everyone knows what that family’s like.’

‘What do you mean by that?’ demanded Marigold, her jowls quivering in fury.

‘Oh come on – we all remember Maizie as a girl. I expect her daughter’s the same.’

‘Ooh, sour apples!’ mocked Cherry.

‘Aye, I remember you had your eye on Maizie yourself!’ said Marigold. ‘And she weren’t interested in you. Or maybe you’ve forgotten that, Martin?’

He ignored this, although his ears burned red.

‘All I’m saying is, Master Buzz is Hallfolk, Magus’ son no less. Whereas she’s just a Village girl, a dairy-maid with her face in a cow’s flank all day. It weren’t so long ago that we wouldn’t even be discussing this. I really don’t know why there’s all this fuss – the girl should feel honoured.’

‘That’s the biggest load of pig-swill I’ve heard in a long time!’ said Cherry.

‘Aye! Just because your mother was tumbled by Hallfolk when she were a maid don’t make it right now.’

Martin stood up and turned on them both, his narrow face furious.

‘My mother was honoured to be chosen. How dare you speak of it in that way!’

‘Your mother Violet was hoping to be the Wise Woman back then, all those years ago,’ said Marigold. ‘I was a young maid and I remember it well. Mother Heggy was teaching the craft to Raven, but Violet always wanted to learn too. Once Raven was taken by the magus, Basil, and expecting the first baby, Violet were over the moon thinking she’d be trained instead.’

‘Aye,’ said Cherry. ‘I remember it clear as spring-water. Violet vowed to anyone as would listen that she’d never be handfasted, would never lie with a man, just as it must be for the Wise Woman. And next thing we know – she’s expecting too! There
went her chances of ever taking over from Mother Heggy.’

‘That’s all in the past,’ said Martin quickly. ‘My mother was proud to find she was carrying me. And her skills have been put to good use for the community, especially since Old Heggy went so mad after that Winter Solstice. My mother bakes all the ceremony cakes and she makes remedies for us all. It never made any difference that I was born.’

‘Pah! Old Violet’s never had any real powers. And anyone could bake those ceremony cakes,’ said Marigold. ‘If Magus gave me the special ingredients I’d do a better job of it than she does. Mine would melt in the mouth, not stick in the throat.’

‘Anyway,’ said Cherry firmly, ‘I have work to do, Martin. You keep your nasty old-fashioned ideas to yourself. I don’t want any of my maids hearing such rubbish and thinking they should put up with any nonsense from Hallfolk men. Magus’ll punish that boy of his, you’ll see. And I hope it’s banishment, because that Buzz isn’t worthy of being magus one day. And I don’t care if you don’t like me saying so.’