Magus of Stonewylde Book One (18 page)

The final event of the morning was lunch, served out in the open on the Green at long trestle tables. The older women responsible for the food had prepared a feast. Everyone sat around on the grass eating and drinking, and afterwards many wandered off home for a rest as the next events weren’t to take place for a couple of hours or so. Yul knew it was times like these that were the danger spots of his day. He could see his father over by the food tables and bar, his plate laden, swilling down cider. At least he’d be incapacitated by so much food and drink. Magus was eating lunch with the May Queen and would be mixing with the Villagers until the games started. Yul located Buzz lying on the grass near the edge of the Green teasing Holly, who pushed him away irritably.

He decided to go up to the Stone Circle where it would be peaceful and quiet. The Bel Fire would be burning and one of the woodsmen would be there tending it. Without a word to anyone, for nobody would question his absence, Yul slipped away. A young blond boy who’d been playing near the edge of the Green raced across the grass to where Buzz was flicking and pinching Holly.

‘Buzz, Buzz, he’s gone!’

‘Okay, ssh now! Come over here.’

Buzz stood up and pulled the child away from the group of Hallfolk.

‘He went up towards the Long Walk! Just a couple of minutes ago.’

‘Alone?’

‘Yes.’

Buzz smiled at this and signalled to his gang. They heaved themselves off the grass and came over to join him.

‘But Buzz, you said there’d be a reward if anyone noticed him going off on his own.’

‘What? Oh yeah, remind me later on at the Hall and I’ll give you something.’

The little boy frowned as he watched Buzz lumbering off with four of his mates in tow. He wasn’t sure he’d done the right thing after all.

It was warm and drowsy at the Stone Circle. The sky was brilliant blue, the air hummed with bee-song and the sun beat down surprisingly hard for so early in the year. The Green Men painted on the stones looked down sleepily at the bonfire embers still smouldering at one end of the Circle. The Bel Fire in its brazier up on the stone burnt brightly. Yul saw that it had been recently built up again for the iron basket was full of unburnt logs. One of the older woodsmen was propped up against the stone, cider jug by his side, snoring loudly.

Yul smiled and walked around the great Circle touching each of the huge stones reverently. He thought of all the ceremonies he’d enjoyed in this place. The Stone Circle was a place where magic could be invoked and cast. He’d seen it done at many ceremonies. Yul tried to imagine what it must be like to be the magus and have such power at your disposal. Once he’d seen Magus shoot blue flames from his finger tips, and at sunrise one solstice had seen him levitate just off the Altar Stone as the first rays touched him. He shivered at the thought of it. The Stone Circle was a truly sacred place.

Yul felt sleepy, having been up since long before dawn, and
decided to have a nap. He spread himself on the Altar Stone like a sand-lizard. Heat emanated from the ancient rock and the sun was a bright yellow disc on his closed red eyelids as he stretched out, relaxed and at peace. He sighed with contentment and began to drift off to sleep. Suddenly it went dark. He opened his eyes just as a large hand covered his mouth. A pair of light blue eyes only centimetres away gazed into his startled grey ones.

‘Gotcha!’

Buzz clambered up on the stone and sat down hard astride Yul, pinning the boy’s arms onto the stone with his large knees. Yul grunted as the breath was forced from his lungs. The hand remained over his mouth and Buzz grinned gleefully. Yul felt a strange sense of detachment.

‘Beltane Blessings!’ crowed Buzz. ‘And what are we going to do with you, Village boy? Any ideas?’

Yul gazed at the blue sky, ignoring the dead weight on his stomach and chest and the pain in his arms. There was a feeling of inevitability about the situation. He’d spent his childhood at Buzz’s mercy, but today he sensed would be more serious than the usual bullying and tormenting. Buzz’s next words confirmed his fear.

‘We’ve decided, Yul, to make this a proper punishment. You said that you enjoyed the last one Magus gave you. Gardening, I believe. But there’s no danger you’ll enjoy this, is there, lads?’

They all chuckled.

‘Now, we’ve got to get you out of the Circle without any fuss. It’ll just make it worse if you struggle, so don’t bother.’

Buzz lugged himself off Yul, who took a gulp of air. A piece of material was quickly tied around his mouth in a rough gag. Hands dragged him off the stone and hoisted him upright. His arms were pinned behind his back and tied at the wrists. He gazed ahead unfocused, trying to disassociate himself from the situation.

‘Now we’re taking you off to the woods and out of earshot. But there’s something I’ve got to do first. It’s been so long since I gave you a good going over.’

Buzz pulled back his fist and punched Yul in the stomach as hard as he could. The pain was excruciating and Yul jack-knifed forward, only to be yanked upright from behind. He choked, nearly vomiting as the pain rolled around inside his stomach. The blow had winded him and he couldn’t catch his breath around the gag.

‘Just a little taste of things to come. Off we go then.’

The gang frog-marched him into the oak woods behind the Circle, well away from the snoring woodsman beneath the Bel Fire. They found a suitable tree and untied Yul’s arms. Then they pulled the green jerkin off over his head to reveal his back.

‘Shall we get his trousers and boots off too?’

‘No, we’ll do it just like the proper whippings in the Village Green. Tie him up against the tree. That’s right, stretch his arms around the trunk, so his back’s nice and open. Tie the wrists tight. I don’t want him falling down halfway through it.’

Yul’s cheek and bare chest and stomach were jammed against the rough bark of the oak tree. The rope bit into his wrists as they bound him with swift, vicious tugs. The gag was still in place and he couldn’t move at all; he was completely at their mercy. The gang stood back and surveyed him.

‘Look – someone’s had a go at him already,’ said Fennel, frowning at the criss-cross of old stripes on his back and arms, and the fresher weals and patchwork of ugly bruises from the beating after the Story Web.

‘That’ll be his father,’ said Buzz. ‘But Yul still hasn’t learnt his lesson, has he?’

‘So that’s where we come in,’ said Fennel. ‘This little shit is going to be sorted out once and for all.’

They laughed excitedly at this.

‘Okay, you’ve all got your knives?’ asked Buzz. ‘Let’s cut the switches now, and make sure they’re young shoots, nice and whippy.’

They wandered off amongst the trees, slicing off young branches whilst Yul remained silent and still, wrapped around
the oak tree. His heart thudded against the serrated bark and he imagined the tree’s heart reciprocating in sympathy.

‘Right, let’s get on with it. We don’t want to miss the games or the tug o’ war. Before we start, Yul, I should tell you something.’

Buzz walked around to the side of the tree so Yul could see him. Yul tried to look beyond him but Buzz jammed his face up close.

‘In case you get any ideas about running to Magus and telling tales, you need to understand that there’ll be consequences if you do. This morning during the Maypole Dance I noticed a little dark-haired Village girl who quite took my fancy. I’m lining ’em up, you see. One of the joys of being an adult at last. And then I realised that this pretty young girl is your little sister Rosie, all grown up.’

At this, Yul jerked against the tree and Buzz laughed.

‘Obviously she’s still too young, but it won’t be that long till her Rite of Adulthood, will it? She’s thirteen, I was told, nearly fourteen, so just a couple of years. By the look of her she’s going to be a real juicy little plum. So you see, Yul, if you go blabbing to anybody about today, I shall make absolutely sure that it’s me that Rosie gets for her Rite. I’d come back especially, even if I was away at university. I’d enjoy showing your little sister what it’s all about. Do you understand? Nod your head.’

Yul nodded violently.

‘And are you going to tell anyone about this beating? Shake your head.’

Yul shook as much as he was able against the tree. Buzz smiled.

‘Good. I’m pleased we’ve got that one cleared up. Now, I’m going to start, lads, and we’ll take it in turns.’

‘How many shall we give him?’

‘No idea! As much as he can take. I’ve never done this before so I don’t know how long you can keep going. But it’s got to be a bloody good thrashing, no half measures.’

‘So we don’t have to be careful about marking him after all?’

‘No. Looking at the state of him, this won’t be the first time, so nobody’s going to be too bothered if he gets another beating, are they? His father will probably thank us.’

‘How hard shall we slice him, Buzz?’

‘As hard as you can. Watch me, boys. Like this!’

S
ylvie sat bolt upright on the grass.

‘Mum, I want to go up to the Stone Circle!’

Miranda was almost asleep, dozing in the heat after lunch. She was feeling happy as Magus had chatted to them earlier and said how beautiful she looked in her white May dress with flowers in her hair. She smiled dreamily at the thought of him. Even with slightly green skin he was still divine.

‘Now, Mum! I’ve got to go right now!’

Sylvie jumped up.

‘What’s the rush, darling? We’re meant to be resting, ready for this afternoon.’

‘I’m going, Mum. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine on my own.’

‘No, I’ll come too. I could do with a walk after all that food. You go on ahead if you’re so desperate to see the stones and I’ll follow. See you up there.’

Buzz was panting slightly, perspiration beading his upper lip and brow even in the shade of the woods.

‘That’s no good, it’s completely split! Here, use mine instead for the next one. Birch is definitely the best.’

He felt exhilarated, pulsing with power. The woods were very quiet in the hot afternoon sun, silent but for the insistent clear call of a cuckoo. Yul was acutely aware of the roughness of the oak bark against his cheek and front, focusing on that small hurt rather than the searing pain that raged across his back.

Sylvie ran up the Long Walk under the shade of the overhanging beeches, the lime-green soft-haired leaves unnoticed in her haste. She reached the top and entered the Stone Circle. It was peaceful up here, the heat quite overpowering as it shimmered off the stones. But something wasn’t right. She noticed the old man sprawled against a stone and raced over to him; his deep snoring told her he was breathing and only asleep. She darted around the stones, listening and looking, all senses alert. She knew something was very wrong.

Then she heard it – faint laughter and an exultant shout. She ran into the wood towards the sound and saw movement. Green figures crowded around a tree, capering with glee. She saw the largest of them step back, take a run up, and slice viciously at the tree with a long stick. She heard a swishing crack and a howl of triumph from the group. Then she saw what was tied to the tree.

‘Stop! Stop, STOP!’

It came out as a scream as she crashed through the bluebells and hart’s tongues to reach the dreadful scene.

‘Sylvie! What are you doing here?’

‘What are
you
doing? How could you? Oh no!’

She gaped in horror at the exposed back and the dark weals slashed across it. She recognised the tousled mop of curls even though Yul’s face was hidden by hair and the gag.

‘Now, Sylvie, it’s not quite what it seems …’ began Buzz.

‘No,’ Fennel continued quickly, ‘you wouldn’t understand as an Outsider, but this is a Beltane custom. It’s part of the rituals for the festival.’

‘I don’t believe you!’ cried Sylvie. The five youths frowned down at her, all of them red in the face. She glared fiercely back at them. ‘I’m going to ask Magus if this is a Beltane custom. And you can all come with me.’

‘You’re joking! Look, little miss nosey, if you think …’

‘Untie him now!’ shouted Sylvie, anger overcoming her natural timidity. ‘Right now! And the gag! Yul, are you alright?’

‘Ah, she knows his name,’ mocked Buzz, recovering his composure quickly.

‘Of course I know his name. He’s been digging my garden all month as a punishment,’ Sylvie replied icily. ‘Come on, untie him and we’re going to see Magus. I can’t believe he’d allow this. You’re all sick!’

The gag had come off and Yul swallowed hard, trying to moisten his throat. The rope binding his wrists was eventually unknotted and he uncurled his stiff arms from around the trunk, trying to straighten up. He staggered, as much from shock as from the pain that lacerated his back, but managed to stand upright.

‘I’m fine,’ he said, shakily. ‘No problem.’

His legs were trembling so much that he sat down quickly and made a great show of rubbing his badly chafed wrists. His hands were white from lack of circulation and he tried to flex them, wincing as the blood started to flow again.

‘Sylvie, I think you’ll find that Yul won’t want you to tell Magus. Isn’t that right, Yul?’ said Buzz, prodding him hard in the ribs with his boot. Yul looked up at them all through his dark hair, his mouth bitter. He nodded silently.