Solstice at Stonewylde

by Kit Berry

  ‘I know, I wanted to but I’m under orders today to sit with the Hallfolk girls. I’m sorry, Rosie – I’d much rather be with you.’

  ‘Oh well, can’t be helped. Not much longer, eh? I’ve a message from Yul. He’s been so worried about you and we’ve heard all sorts from the servants. ‘Tis said you sleep in Magus’ rooms every night and never come out o’ there.’

  ‘I sleep on his sofa.’

  ‘That’s what they said.’

  ‘How do they know?’

  ‘They go in every morning to clean and lay the fire and they find you fast asleep on the sofa. They’re calling you Sleeping Beauty.’

  Sylvie felt annoyed at this.

  ‘It’s not really any of their business, is it?’ she said stiffly.

  ‘Well, no. Anyway, Yul will be outside at the usual place, he said, just after sunset as he’ll come straight down from the Circle. Is that alright?’

  ‘Yes, but Rosie …’

  ‘What’s wrong?’

  Sylvie shook her head. How could she tell this sweet girl that she was going to finish with her brother? She remembered Rosie’s words, spoken in the summer in this very place, about not hurting Yul and she cringed with guilt at what she had to do. Her only comfort lay in knowing that this way she might avert the coming confrontation at the Solstice.

  ‘Nothing. It doesn’t matter.’

  Many Village women started to leave just before the sun set, wanting to get home before dark to start cooking, and the Hall servants had already gone. Sylvie had given up trying to sew and was curled miserably on a large floor cushion by one of the fires. She knew Hazel was watching her from across the Barn and had been all day, but hadn’t approached her. Sylvie’s stomach ached with cramps. The effects of the pill and mead had long worn off and she felt a little sick, having barely eaten anything. Her headache had returned too and the last thing she wanted was to meet Yul under the yew tree in the cold, dark evening.

  ‘Are you coming back to the Hall now, Sylvie?’ asked Dawn, packing up the sewing for tomorrow. Sylvie lifted her head and shook it wretchedly.

  ‘We’ll wait for you till you’re ready to go, like Magus wants.’

  ‘Well you’ll have to wait a while. I need to see Yul outside.’

  ‘That’s alright. We’ll tell the cart to come back and wait too.’

  Sylvie shrugged, not really caring if she inconvenienced them. Magus had said she must talk to Yul and she knew she had to get it over and done with. But how could she face him? What was she going to say? Shivering under her cloak, she left the Barn and crossed the Village Green to the yew tree. It was windy and very cold after the warmth of the Barn.

  Yul leant against the massive trunk, looking taller than ever. Sylvie couldn’t see his face clearly in the near-darkness, but as she approached he stood upright and wordlessly pulled her to him. Magus’ words about not letting him touch her were forgotten already as he held her in a tight embrace, cradling her as if she were the most precious thing in the world. She stood like a stone carving in his arms, her heart thudding with despair. She must tell him she no longer wanted him. She must deny everything she’d felt for him; the love between them that had been growing since the spring when she’d first watched him digging her back garden.

  Sylvie suddenly recalled the moment when she’d found him sitting on the bridge down by the river, wrapped in a cloak of loneliness and misery. She remembered how her heart had cried out to him then, wanting to light the darkness that filled his spirit. The bond between them – that flash of telepathic understanding that had connected her soul to his – suddenly snapped back into place. With his powerful arms around her and his heart drumming in her ear, Sylvie could feel his brightness and life-force, the essence of him that called to her and joined them as one. The trappings of Magus’ privileged lifestyle started to unravel under the blaze of love that raged inside Yul. Sylvie hugged him back fiercely – how could she have ever considered it could be over between them? He felt perfect in her arms.

  Yul kissed her gently, murmuring her name, covering her face with small urgent kisses. She melted into him, loving the smell of him, the feel of his skin and hair against hers. His kisses became hungrier and all the old emotions came flooding back as she kissed him deeply, losing herself in his darkness. How’d she forgotten this magic? How’d she doubted the strength of their attachment? She clung to him tightly, glorying in his leanness and energy, realising that Magus had been wrong. This feeling was nothing to do with the Earth Magic and its effect – this was the magic of Yul himself, the darkness to her brightness. Magus would never understand the strength of this instinctive, overruling attraction between them. Eventually they pulled apart and he took her face in his hands and peered at her. She was trembling violently.

  ‘I’ve missed you, Sylvie,’ he said softly. ‘I love you so much and I’ve missed you every single minute. You’ve been in my mind all the time, day and night.’

  He bent and started to kiss her again, saving her from having to lie to him. Sylvie hadn’t thought of him constantly, nor had she missed him. She’d denied him, betrayed him and agreed to give him up forever. Her mother had been right all along – she was shallow. Shallow and naive, easily swayed by Magus and his excessive generosity and persuasive flattery. She’d dropped Yul as if their love was nothing, in exchange for a few new outfits and compliments and a glass of mead. She hated herself. Remembering the girls waiting for her in the Barn, and Magus waiting at the Hall, she reluctantly pulled away. She had to say something now …

  ‘Yul, I don’t have long. He’s expecting me back.’

  ‘I bet he is,’ muttered Yul. ‘I heard he’s keeping you a prisoner in his rooms. He hasn’t hurt you, has he?’

  ‘No, no, not at all – he’s been very kind to me.’

  ‘Bastard! Remember what he’s done to us and don’t be taken in by him, Sylvie.’

  Too late for that, she thought. She took one of his hands in hers and held it to her cheek. She’d forgotten Yul’s raw energy; the feeling that together they could set the world alight. She’d forgotten the sheer excitement and magnetism of him.

  ‘Yul, I’m sorry but I’ve got to tell you something. I … you … things have changed and I … I realise now that you really can’t try to overthrow Magus at the Solstice or force a confrontation with him. You must forget Mother Heggy’s prophecy and all that horrible stuff about death and people falling one by one. Your mother was right – Mother Heggy has caused so much trouble and you must put all this aside. I know Magus has treated you badly but you—’

  ‘What?’ he said incredulously. ‘Treated me badly? Sylvie, he tried to kill me! If you could’ve seen him in that labyrinth at Samhain – he was going to burn me alive! And before that, up at Mooncliffe, he stuffed so many cakes down my throat I nearly died of poisoning. And that’s not to mention what he did to me in the byre back in the summer and what he hoped would happen at Quarrycleave. I hadn’t realised that I’ve been protected all this time by a binding spell, but that comes to an end on the eve of the Solstice and Magus knows it.’

  ‘Oh come on, it—’

  ‘Sylvie, you must understand – if I don’t deal with Magus this Solstice, he’ll kill me. It’s that simple. Is that what you want?’

  ‘No, of course not. But I don’t think he feels that way any more and I’m sure he just wants things to be peaceful and normal so he can get on with his plans for Stonewylde. As long as you don’t challenge him, he won’t do anything to you. I’ll speak to him and make him promise – I know he wants to please me.’

  He pulled away from her angrily, his eyes flashing in the gloom.

  ‘Are you completely mad? He doesn’t want to please anyone but himself and whatever he says to you will be a lie. You’re back under Clip’s spell, aren’t you?’

  ‘No! I haven’t even seen Clip.’

  ‘Then Magus has you under his own spell and he’s been working on you – and by the sound of it he’s done a good job. Has
he talked to you about the next Moon Fullness, by any chance?’

  ‘Well yes, but—’

  ‘There you are then! That’s all he’s interested in – stealing your moon magic. He knows he has to get it this month or he’s finished.’

  ‘Stop being silly, Yul. He does want me to go to Mooncliffe with him, but it’s not as dramatic as you make out. I thought perhaps if I went up with him this month to keep him happy, then maybe—’

  ‘Sacred Mother!’ he shouted, spinning around and stamping his boot into the ground. ‘What has he done to you? Have you forgotten already how it feels when you’re standing on that rock? Don’t you remember how much it hurts you? He’s tricked you, Sylvie, and you mustn’t go up there with him! If he gets your moon magic this month then I’m dead. He’ll be too powerful for me to fight and he’ll kill me. Please, Sylvie, stop being so stupid and listen to me!’

  He grabbed her shoulders and shook her but she shrugged him off angrily.

  ‘Don’t call me stupid and don’t you dare touch me like that! I’m still recovering from the last time you had a go at me!’

  He stepped back and stared at her, unable to read her expression in the darkness. All was silent save for his uneven breathing as he struggled to control himself.

  ‘I’m sorry I hurt you last month, Sylvie, but you know why it happened and you accepted the risk.’

  ‘I know you didn’t want Magus to take me to Mooncliffe but you didn’t have to be so brutal! You really hurt me and I was injured all over. I know what you’re like now, Yul – I’ve seen pictures of your attack on Buzz and they were absolutely horrific. You obviously have a violent streak and I think maybe you’re a greater danger to me than Magus is.’

  Yul hung his head.

  ‘I never meant to hurt you but I had to get you into the cage or you’d have run off into the woods. I feel really bad about it, Sylvie, believe me. And as for Buzz – yes, I know I gave him a bad beating, but he’d have done the same to me if he’d got in first. He was much heavier than me, remember, so I had to go in hard and bring him down before he got the upper hand. And he had it coming. If you’d seen the way he’d beaten me over the years, when we were younger … He’s always been so much bigger than me and he used to bring his gang along to hold me while he hit me, knowing I was always battered and bruised anyway and nobody would notice a few more bruises. Buzz deserved every punch I threw that day, believe me.’

  ‘Maybe he did. But there’s a vicious side to you I didn’t know about and I won’t go along with your violence. I won’t be a part of this rising up against Magus. It’s archaic, all Mother Heggy’s talk of death and spells and people getting hurt. Magus is a civilised, educated man who knows how to run Stonewylde properly, and you’re not. He’s shown me a different world and I’m just not sure of anything any longer.’

  Yul stood before her silently. He reached out to her but she brushed his hand away impatiently.

  ‘Don’t you love me any more, Sylvie?’ he asked, his voice strangled with pain. ‘What’s happened?’

  ‘I don’t know! I thought I did … I’m just not sure now. I’m sick of this conflict and being torn in half.’

  ‘But you said … I thought we loved each other? I thought we belonged together? Sylvie, please – without that there’s nothing. You’re the reason I must do this! You’re my reason to live, my reason to fight, and—’

  ‘No I’m not! I’m not a prize to be fought over! I’m not some silly, pathetic girl who has no say in anything. Don’t make me the excuse to justify your violence towards the man who’s your own father, your own flesh and blood! I won’t be dragged into it like this!’

  ‘But Sylvie, I never wanted to drag you into it! You’re the one who argued with me right here, under this very tree, about how it was your battle too! I—’

  ‘No! I don’t want to hear any more!’ she shouted. ‘I was going to finish with you tonight, Yul – I’m sorry but that’s the truth. Magus persuaded me that it was the right thing to do. Then when I saw you and we kissed … I realised I still love you. But that’s not a good enough reason for this stupid battle of yours with Magus. He’s not a bad man like we thought, not deep down inside. There’s another side to him I’ve got to know in the past week – he’s kind and he’s fun and I think he’s also rather lonely, despite being adored by everyone. You’re his son, Yul! Why can’t we sort this out? I’m sure we could …’

  But he’d turned away, choking on his tears. He’d never expected this betrayal, despite Heggy’s warnings. He stumbled a few steps away from her and sank to his knees on the earth, hunched over and crying into his hands. Sylvie looked at him helplessly, trying to ignore the merciless throbbing in her head. She still felt sick and hollow as if she weren’t really here at all.

  ‘I must get back, Yul – there’ll be trouble if I’m out any longer. I’m so sorry to upset you but maybe we can talk again tomorrow if I can slip away.’

  She went over to him and put her hand on his shoulder. He shook with huge, silent sobs as if his heart were breaking.

  ‘I never once doubted you!’ he choked. ‘I never thought you’d do this to me. You were the one person in my life I counted on—’

  ‘Please, Yul, stop! I love you. It’s just … I can’t agree with this awful conflict and the idea of getting rid of Magus. Get rid of him how? No thought’s gone into this other than Mother Heggy’s mad prophecy and I can’t bear the idea of people getting hurt. Magus has been good to me and he cares for me, and—’

  He cried out at this and leapt to his feet, angrily wiping his face with the heels of both hands.

  ‘You’ve been deceived, Sylvie! He’s evil and he’ll make you suffer for trusting him. How can you be so blind? If you—’

  ‘I’ve got to go. He’ll be cross if I don’t get back soon.’

  She started to walk away, her stomach aching and head pounding.

  ‘Sylvie! Come back tomorrow! We can’t leave it like this. Tomorrow at mid-day – I’ll be waiting. Promise me you’ll come.’

  ‘I’ll try,’ she said over her shoulder. ‘But I can’t promise.’

  ‘She’s turned against me!’ Yul cried, sinking onto the hard chair. ‘She doesn’t love me as she did. What can I do?’

  He felt a wrenching pain in his chest that stifled his breath. Mother Heggy nodded in sympathy as she rocked in her chair, a thick hairy shawl clutched around her and the familiar shapeless hat pulled low on her head. She wore ancient hobnailed boots on her feet and her dress was little more than a thick grey sack reaching her ankles. Somebody kind had recently knitted her some fingerless mittens which covered her gnarled hands, leaving only the filthy nails poking out like horny talons. The skin on her face was furrowed like a field and just as dirty, and her features had fallen in on themselves so her nose curved into her puckered mouth and her whiskery chin rose up to meet it. She was very old indeed. The crow perched precariously on the back of her chair, beady black eyes blinking rapidly and sharp beak nodding in time with her rocking.

  ‘She still loves you, my dark one,’ Mother Heggy wheezed. ‘She’s deceived, but not for ever. He cannot mask the evil for ever and she’ll shine clear in the end. Have faith in her, my boy.’

  ‘But she’s completely under his spell! I can’t stand it knowing she’s with him night and day. He’s so powerful and clever and she’s only a young girl. She’s too open and trusting and she really has no idea just how cruel he is. I can’t bear it!’

  ‘Two weeks, Yul, only two more weeks. She still has much to endure, the poor child, trapped in his golden cage, and ‘tis as well she’s strong and clever herself.’

  ‘But she brushed me off tonight, Mother Heggy. And she said she might go to Mooncliffe with Magus to keep him happy.’

  ‘NO!’ screeched Mother Heggy. ‘Oh no, she mustn’t do that! She’s in great danger! I see five, five – always five.’

  ‘Five what? What do you mean?’

  ‘In the leaves, in the bones, in the ashe
s and in the runes and cards. Everywhere I seek the truth, I see five. Five deaths at Stonewylde this Solstice – not one, but five!’

  Yul stared at her in horror. Her face was creased into a mask of fear and bewilderment as she rocked frantically in her chair.

  ‘Five deaths? Are you sure, Mother Heggy? Do you know who?’

  ‘No I don’t, and maybe ‘tis not even decided yet. But Sylvie must not go to Mooncliffe! ‘Twould give him the power and strength to fight and maybe defeat you, and ‘twill be the Moon Fullness in the Winter Solstice. The brightness in the darkness and the most dangerous time for him to drink her magic. The moon magic will be more powerful than ever and strange too, as ‘tis during an eclipse. You know what happened to my poor Raven at the eclipse and the same may happen to Sylvie, if he gets her on that rock at the Solstice. Remember my words, Yul. Five deaths, and I know not whose!’

  14

  Magus had everything ready when Sylvie returned to his chambers, weary and depressed. She was ushered straight into his black marble bathroom where the circular bath brimmed and bubbled with hot, fragrant foam. She slipped into the water with a groan of relief, and lay there sipping mead. All she wanted was to block the horrible events of the day from her mind and forget everything. She emerged much later, glowing and relaxed, wearing a pair of black silk pyjamas he’d laid out for her. They were newly arrived that day; a brief camisole top with shoe-string straps and wide, loose trouser bottoms. She wrapped her hair in a white towel and carried her comb and the empty glass back into the sitting room. Magus was on the sofa reading some papers but rose as she padded in on bare feet.

  ‘Sylvie, you are exquisitely beautiful,’ he murmured, pouring her another drink. He sat on the sofa and pulled her down onto a cushion at his feet. He unwrapped the turban, and taking the comb, started to detangle her hair as the warmth of the blazing log fire dried it to pure silver silk. Sylvie became drowsy from the heat, the hot bath and two glasses of mead on an empty stomach.