Shadows at Stonewylde (55 page)

They went quite deep into the wood where they wouldn’t be seen by anyone on the Green.

‘What do we do now?’ asked Gefrin.

‘Not much we can do except give her the potion. Those cakes worked a treat, didn’t they?’ said Jay gleefully. ‘She is so out of it. Leveret! Can you hear me, Leveret?’

He passed a hand close to her eyes but she didn’t blink. Slowly she turned her face towards him and stared intently into his eyes.

‘This will come to an end,’ she said tonelessly. ‘You’ll suffer. I know – I’ve been told.’

‘Bloody crazy bitch!’ he hissed, hating the way she looked right through him with her wild, glassy eyes. ‘You’re the one who’s going to suffer, believe me. STOP STARING AT ME!’

‘Let’s sit her down and get that stuff inside her,’ suggested Sweyn.

They pulled her onto the ground, thick with leaf-mould, and propped her up against the trunk of an elm tree. She sat impassively, her legs straight out in front of her, gazing up at the rooks flapping about in the bare branches overhead.

‘’Tis a pity we can’t do anything else to her today,’ said Gefrin.

‘Where’s the potion then?’ asked Sweyn looking at Jay, who produced a small bottle from his pocket. He pulled out the cork stopper and sniffed the murky liquid, grimacing with disgust.

‘Right, you dozy cow – time for a little top-up. Just what the doctor ordered – or do I mean Old Violet? Open wide!’

He cradled her head roughly and tried to push the mouth of the bottle between her lips. He tipped her head back and pulled her chin down, pouring the contents into her mouth. She swallowed a little but began to choke, the liquid running down her chin.

‘Watch out! You’ll mess up the dress and somebody’ll notice,’ said Sweyn.

But Jay was determined to make her drink it all and kept going until the little bottle was empty.

‘There, taken your medicine like a good girl,’ he laughed, wiping her mouth with his sleeve. ‘Now all we have to do is sit back and watch – should be fun!’

Gefrin giggled wildly.

‘Is it the same stuff that were in the cakes?’

‘No, completely different. Violet said it’d mix well with some great effects. It’ll wear off some time tonight, but that’s okay – the festival will be over by then and she’ll be in such trouble. Did you put the mushrooms by her bed?’

The brothers nodded, grinning slyly.

‘I suppose we better get her back then,’ said Sweyn.

They stood up and Jay yanked Leveret roughly to her feet. She fell into him like a rag doll and he caught her under her arms, making her sway around. There was no resistance at all.

‘You’re right, Gef,’ he murmured. ‘Pity we can’t have more fun with her while she’s like this. Maybe another time.’

Yul was waiting for them outside the Barn, glowering across the Green. He watched them approaching slowly with Leveret supported between them. Jay had already slipped off to the side of the Barn not wanting any connection made to his family.

‘Any luck?’ Yul barked. ‘Is she back with us now or still orbiting the moon?’

‘I’m not sure,’ said Sweyn. ‘She’s still very floppy but she’s starting to speak more.’

‘Well done and thanks for trying. We’ve made a contingency plan in case the dance goes wrong. And all her chants – Harold’s just brought photocopies down. The other girls will have to read it all out instead of her. I can’t believe she’s done this – just wait till I get my hands on her tomorrow!’

‘Did you say you thought she’d been at the mushrooms?’ asked Sweyn nonchalantly.

‘Yes I did. It’s possible, isn’t it? We’ll find out tomorrow. Come on, let’s get her inside now and put the headdress back on her.’

Leveret stood passively while her three brothers whipped the cloak off and tried to reposition the head-dress. Sylvie came into the side-room, quickly shutting the door behind her.

‘Thank goddess she’s alright and hasn’t fainted. You shouldn’t have taken her outside in the cold – why didn’t you come and find me? Leveret, what’s wrong?’

She looked anxiously at the pale girl.

‘You won’t get any sense out of her!’ snapped Yul. ‘Give us a hand with this thing, would you?’

‘We’ve got to be quick,’ said Sylvie, hurriedly arranging the head-dress onto Leveret’s mass of curls. The top-knot had fallen down when Jay shook her and there was no time to re-pin it. ‘Everyone’s waiting out there. She’s in no fit state to dance, is she? Let’s leave the green boots on and forget about the silver shoes. We’ll just sit her on the Maiden’s chair in the middle, as we agreed, and Celandine will do Leveret’s dance with Kestrel. The others have got the lines and we’ve had a very quick practice. It’ll be alright.’

‘It’s a bloody disaster!’ growled Yul, pulling Leveret roughly towards the door. ‘Look at the state of her! Poor Mother – she’s going to be devastated.’

Sylvie peered into Leveret’s glassy eyes – her green irises were almost swallowed up by her dilated pupils. Then Yul opened the door and led her out to the waiting crowd who all turned, eager to see the arrival of the Bright Maiden. As Sylvie followed Leveret into the huge room a distant memory stirred in her mind. She remembered a Dark Moon thirteen years ago, when she’d entered this very Barn wearing a scarlet cloak, floating in to a sea of faces on a cloud of hallucinogen.

A
s Yul had predicted, it was a disaster. When the Dance of the Maidens began and the girls started to move in a white cloud around her, Leveret gripped her chair and shut her eyes. Somehow the performance went ahead, mostly thanks to Celandine dancing like a dream in her new white satin ballet shoes. The little girl managed to give the impression that Leveret was part of the ceremony, constantly dancing up to her and acting as if she were merely doing the Bright Maiden’s bidding. She wove Leveret’s dance moves with the Green Archer together with the special solo that she’d worked on so hard, whilst Leveret sat like a carved figure gazing out at the crowd, her dilated eyes eerily vacant.

The chants and songs, poetry and drama took place without her and everyone coped using the photocopied sheets and stumbling through Leveret’s major part. It was obvious to all that something was terribly wrong; these rituals were very old and everyone knew how they were supposed to be performed. The Bright Maiden should’ve been the central figure leading the whole performance, and instead she sat there like a statue, silent and unmoving. Kestrel was furious; rather than having a manful role as the Green Archer to a beautiful and nubile Maiden, he had to dance with a six year-old. She may’ve been lovely in the white dress with her white-blond curls cascading from beneath her snowdrop head-dress, but he felt a complete fool. Several times he caught Faun’s eye and she smiled in sympathy.

All the other girls of Leveret’s age who could’ve been chosen as the Maiden were up in arms, angry that not only had Leveret messed it up but also that Celandine had been chosen to step in. They didn’t realise she was the only one capable of improvising a complicated dance at short notice with no practice. They only saw the apparent unfairness of the situation – Yul’s family being favoured yet again.

Sweyn and Gefrin stood near the back and smirked throughout. Leveret was like an automaton and Yul’s dark face was a picture. Jay stood with the three women who muttered and cackled amongst themselves the whole way through. At one point, much to everyone’s bemusement, Violet and Vetchling lit their pipes and glared and cursed at anyone who dared to comment. Starling managed to find a great dish of sausages which she enthusiastically worked her way through with belches of satisfaction. Jay watched the whole scene with a twisted smile on his face, enjoying every moment of Leveret’s disgrace. He didn’t know why he hated her so much – it wasn’t a logical thing and he wasn’t one for self-analysis. But he knew that there was something about the girl that he wanted to crush; a magical spark he longed to douse. Poor Maizie had taken refuge in the kitchen with Rosie and was crying her eyes out. She’d never felt so humiliated or furious in her life.

Finally the dancing and chants came to an end. Sylvie stood to close the ceremonies and send everyone home for a few hours so the Barn could be cleared for the food and dancing tonight. She was relieved the whole terrible day was over but still dreaded having to deal with Yul. He was enraged, his face like thunder, and she knew he’d blame her. Leveret should’ve been such a lovely Maiden and it was such a shame; instead of boosting the girl’s self-esteem as she’d hoped, there’d now be even more censure and punishment. She could see how angry he was and he’d make very sure that Leveret suffered the consequences.

Just as Sylvie rose and raised her hands for quiet, Leveret stood up. Unsure what she intended Sylvie sat down again, thinking that maybe the poor girl felt a little better now and wanted to say a few words of apology. Leveret stood on the small stage in the centre of the Barn straight-backed, her clinging white dress beautiful and her dark curls wild and free beneath the silver headdress. There was absolute silence and stillness, everyone eager to hear what she was going to say.

Leveret slowly surveyed the vast area, scanning the faces with wide-open eyes, turning to make a complete sweep of everyone present. Then she raised her arms almost in a gesture of supplication, her palms spread to the people, and started to speak in a strange and slow voice.

‘Folk of Stonewylde, there is darkness ahead! There are shadows at Stonewylde, shadows that will engulf us all. We must be strong. We must fight the darkness and evil that is coming. The birds are gathering, the dark birds who smother the brightness. The viper is among us! The raven has spoken—’

In one fluid motion, Yul strode across the empty space to her side.

‘That’s enough, Leveret!’ he said clearly. ‘Stonewylders, please forgive my sister. She isn’t well. I want—’

‘You will be overshadowed!’ she cried. ‘The darkness is already blackening your soul. The shadows are—’

‘
Enough!
’

He picked Leveret up bodily and flung her over his shoulder. Her head-dress fell to the stage and bounced off, rolling right across the floor in the shocked silence. She struggled and kicked but Yul held her tightly and moved towards the great doors, desperate to get her out of the building before she humiliated him any further. The Stonewylders stared in absolute astonishment at the spectacle of their magus carrying their Bright Maiden out in disgrace. Then the voice of Old Violet rang out, audible to all.

‘Eh, sister, that were the worst Imbolc I ever seen! ‘Tweren’t like that in our Magus’ day –
he
always ran things properly!’

‘Come on, lad – have your wash and get up to bed,’ said Marigold, busy laying the breakfast table for the morning. Magpie hovered near the door staring at her pleadingly.

‘No, Magpie. ‘Tis past your bedtime and it’s been a long day, a terrible day. That poor little maid.’

Still he hovered, his hand now on the latch.

‘No, I said bedtime. You must be tired and you can’t go dancing in the Barn. ‘Tis not for you this year, Magpie. Jay’s down there and we don’t want him doing nothing nasty, do we? You’re safe here with me, safe and warm. Be a good boy now and get washed.’

He loped over and took her hand in his, staring into her eyes desperately.

‘That don’t work with me, boy, you know that. ‘Tis only Leveret as can understand you like that.’

She saw the light appear in his eyes and he nodded eagerly.

‘Leveret? Oh I see – you want to find Leveret?’

He was almost comical in his affirmation, running back to the door again. Marigold sighed and came over, taking his arm and leading him gently back into the sitting room.

‘No, Magpie, you can’t go to Leveret. I know you love her, but now ‘tis not the right time. There was something badly wrong today and she’s not well. You remember Yul telling us he took her back to her cottage, don’t you? She’s been put to bed and she’ll be sleeping now. We can’t go and disturb her.’

Magpie held her hand against his cheek and pleaded with his eyes.

‘No, Magpie! You be a good boy and in the morning when I done the breakfasts at the Hall we’ll go down to the Village, you and me, and call on Leveret. How’s that? ‘Tis my final word, Magpie – you’re not going there tonight.’

He stared sadly into the fire, his shoulders drooping. Then he stroked Marigold’s plump arm briefly, his way of showing affection, and slowly climbed the wooden stairs to his bedroom.

The gang of boys stood in corner of the Great Barn steadily drinking cider. For Sweyn, Gefrin and Jay it had been a very good day indeed and they toasted each other and grinned with delight. Everything had gone perfectly, even better than they’d planned, culminating in their wonderful triumph when Leveret had stood up and spouted all that rubbish before being carried out in disgrace by Yul. The only blight on the day, for the brothers at least, was that their mother was so very upset.

Maizie was sitting at a small table with Rosie and Robin. She’d been persuaded to stay and have a few drinks as there was no point in her going home feeling lonely and unhappy, with Leveret asleep upstairs. As Rosie had wisely pointed out, it was better not to hide away tonight but to brave it out now and show the world she could cope. Maizie had reluctantly agreed and was beginning to care less about it as the rhubarb wine kicked in. Sweyn looked across at his mother, her cheeks flushed and eyes a little too bright. With a complete lack of guilt for the part he’d played in today’s fiasco, he vowed to get Leveret back for what she’d done today.