by Kit Berry
‘There’s a lot to be said for the old-fashioned ways,’ he said, thinking of the rude behaviour of the young Hallfolk recently. ‘Anyway, it was a big party, you say?’
‘Oh yes, there were lots of businessmen there, colleagues of my father’s I suppose, and their wives of course, but no children. It wasn’t that sort of a party, more of a formal thing. My parents always dragged me around with them like a little mascot – I was never trusted to be left on my own. Anyway, everyone at the party was in fancy dress or at least masked. The man who … the one who took me into the woods wore a sort of bird mask, like an eagle or a hawk.’
‘And he definitely had blond hair?’
‘Yes, a silvery blond like yours. Like a lot of the Hallfolk.’
‘And he didn’t say anything to you at all? Not even afterwards?’
‘No, not really. He just told me to lie down on the leaves … murmured, rather than told me. That’s why I didn’t resist him. He was kind, so gentle and his voice was soft and deep. I didn’t realise what … And afterwards, when it was over, he said nothing, only smiled and stroked my hair. I started crying, I remember, and my mask was wet with tears. I couldn’t quite believe what he’d done. He helped me up, brushed the leaves off me and put my clothes straight again. I just stood there in my fairy costume sobbing, trying to hide my face. I felt so ashamed. He was still so very gentle then, I remember, and he said something … I don’t recall exactly. Something about me being beautiful and fulfilling his dream at last … I’m not sure. Then he took my hand and led me back to the party. He left me by the open French windows and disappeared into the night. My mother assumed I’d been to the ladies’ room and told me off for disappearing without telling her, and then soon afterwards we went home. It was as if nothing had happened. In fact I even wondered, until I knew I was pregnant, if it had all just been a dream.’
She fell silent, her head bowed. Magus glanced at her and frowned, shaking his head.
‘I don’t understand why you’re still so upset about it,’ he said. ‘It was such a long time ago, and you weren’t hurt or brutalised at all.’
‘I know. But my parents … they were religious, real pillars of the community and very moral and judgemental of others. This was the worst thing that could’ve happened to them, an absolute disgrace and a scandal. When they discovered I was pregnant and made me tell them what’d happened, they said it was all my fault. That I must’ve encouraged the stranger. But I didn’t! I’d been so innocent – I had no idea what he intended to do, and once he’d started I had no chance to try and stop him. It happened so fast and he was gentle, almost reverent, the way he laid me down and touched me; the way he took my virginity. It really didn’t seem like rape until afterwards, when I was bleeding and alone. Of course it wasn’t consensual and if he’d asked me, I’d have said no, but I didn’t feel as if I’d been violated because he hadn’t actually used any force, hadn’t hurt me.’
‘Exactly! That’s what I meant.’
‘But my parents never let me forget how wicked I’d been, how dirty and disgusting and sinful. The way they treated me all through the pregnancy, practically locking me away so nobody would see me and guess, and then washing their hands of me after the birth when I wouldn’t give Sylvie up for adoption …’
She began to cry quietly and Magus stroked her hair, gazing absently through the French windows.
‘It had to be one of the Hallfolk,’ he mused. ‘Too much of a coincidence that it was a full moon and he had our blond hair. There’re so many of us out there in the Outside World. After I took over here I sent a great horde of Hallfolk away, told them to make their own living in the world instead of leeching off Stonewylde. Something like a business charity function is just the sort of thing they’d go to – a networking occasion. And one of them obviously couldn’t resist the chance to do what comes so naturally to us at the Moon Fullness. Sylvie does seem to be one of us, don’t you think?’
‘Yes, Magus.’
‘I know it was difficult for you at the time, Miranda, and your parents were wrong to make you feel so ashamed. But I’m sure that you appreciate what a gift Sylvie is and you wouldn’t want to be without her. So you could forgive the father now, couldn’t you? Lay it all to rest?’
‘I suppose so. If you think I should.’
‘I do – no more guilt. Sylvie is a true blessing and who can blame a man for wanting you under the Harvest Moon? At Stonewylde we know how the full moon can affect ones normal judgement. The Villagers call it moonlust, and it makes you throw caution to the wind. I’ve felt the effects of moonlust myself, in fact, and I’ve behaved very irresponsibly on more than one occasion.’ He chuckled and squeezed her in a comforting hug. ‘I’m sure you were as lovely as a young girl as you are now as a woman, a temptation impossible to resist. It’s not as if he hurt you or used brute force. It was wrong of course – there’s no excuse for taking any girl like that – but he was clearly carried away by the whole enchanted dream of it. A beautiful young woman dressed like a faerie queen in the woods under the red harvest moon, a girl who perhaps seemed willing … at first anyway. It’s understandable how these things happen. Could you to see it more in that light, and less as rape? You need to forgive and accept.’
Turning on the sofa towards her, he brushed away her tears with his thumbs, then bent his head and started to kiss her full on the mouth. He kissed her deeply, running his hand through her long red hair and caressing her rounded curves.
‘Mmm, you’re delicious,’ he muttered, his chest rising and falling. ‘There’s a lot to be said for a woman in full bloom.’
She responded readily, drawing him closer and kissing him passionately. He chuckled at her enthusiasm, resisting her mouth and eagerness.
‘Enough of this! No, stop tempting me, Miranda. I can’t – I don’t have enough time to enjoy you properly. You know how I hate to rush these things and unfortunately I have to be off within the next hour or so.’
He pulled away from her and leaned back into the soft leather of the sofa, his eyes dark and heavy, the lines around his sensuous mouth etched sharply. Miranda gazed up at him dreamily, her breathing deep.
‘Off? You’re not going away again?’
‘Yes, I have to go to London on business for a couple of days. It can’t be helped, but I’ll be back for the Moon Fullness. That’s what I really wanted to say to you. Make sure Sylvie’s ready, won’t you? I’ve an important appointment in the morning and then a lunch engagement, so I can’t leave London until early afternoon, but that’s still more than enough time to be back here before sunset. Just make sure she rests from now until then. I want her kept in bed and given plenty to eat so she’s strong enough for her moon dancing. Do you understand me?’
‘Yes, Magus.’
‘She’s not to go out during the next couple of days or do anything at all other than rest, sleep, and eat. Make sure she’s bathed and ready before sunset. Is that clear?’
‘Yes, Magus. I’ll make sure.’
‘Good.’
He kissed her briefly and stood up from the sofa, stretching contentedly like a great cat.
‘I’m not promising, but I might come and visit you afterwards when I’ve finished with Sylvie. It’s the Harvest Moon and maybe I can help finally lay those ghosts to rest for you. That’s all, Miranda – you may go now.’
Magus searched for Clip before he left for London, anxious to make things right between them. They’d had an argument a few days earlier about the coming Moon Fullness, when Clip had baulked at reinforcing the hypnosis and coming up to Mooncliffe again to help with the eggs. Clip had been avoiding his half-brother ever since the argument, but Magus hunted him down in his circular tower playing his gongs. The incredibly complex waves of successive sound travelled down the spiral stairs to greet Magus as he entered the ancient tower. He climbed until he reached the room at the top where Clip spent much of his time, surrounded by his books and precious objects.
Clip, dressed in a g
olden silk robe, stood with his back to the staircase. In his hands he held a pair of huge, soft-headed beaters, and before him, hanging from upright stands, were the gongs. Clip’s arms moved in gentle and fluid motion, coaxing and burnishing the great gongs into mystical vibration. The beautiful, shimmering sound resonated around the cornerless stone room, filling it with layer upon layer of reverberation. The music was invasive, not an exterior noise that was heard through the ears, but something more corporeal that burst in waves into the whole body and settled there, flooding every cavity and cell with its energy. The sound from Clip’s gongs was immense and impossible to resist. Despite his need to leave for London, Magus found himself calming and centring as the magical sounds entered his body and drove all thoughts from his head.
Magus stood transfixed by the gongs’ power, until eventually Clip became aware of another person in the tower standing behind him. He eyed Magus warily but his grey gaze softened as he recognised Magus’ altered state. His arms slowed and gradually the massive, encompassing dome of sound diminished, until the circular room was almost silent save for a whisper of vibration that hung in the air. Clip laid down the beaters and turned to face his half-brother, dressed in city suit and gleaming shoes.
‘I’d forgotten how powerful that is,’ said Magus softly, his body still reverberating slightly. ‘We should use gongs at the ceremonies to welcome the sun.’
‘Yes, I’d love to hear the sound in the Stone Circle,’ agreed Clip. ‘I’ve never taken the gongs there but I think it’d be absolutely magical.’
‘Shame they’re not indigenous though,’ said Magus. ‘Sun gongs from China – not really quite the thing for Stonewylde perhaps.’
‘Oh I don’t know,’ said Clip thoughtfully. ‘They’re made of bronze, finely beaten and hammered – I like to think that perhaps our ancestors, when making their circular shields, also discovered the joy of creating music with them. Sound is universal, and people the world over honour the rising of the sun. I don’t think it matters where the instrument originates, if the intent is global.’
‘Maybe you could play them at the Winter Solstice then,’ said Magus. ‘An appropriate festival perhaps for sun gongs, and they’d certainly create a stir.’ He nodded at Clip’s battered old sofa. ‘May I?’
Magus sat down, and Clip watched him guardedly, knowing the euphoric effects of his gong playing wouldn’t last long on this impatient, purposeful man. Magus carried a biscuit tin which he placed on the old chest that stood between them, doubling as an occasional table.
‘Are you planning on spending the Moon Fullness in your dolmen?’ he asked quite gently, remembering his mission but feeling far less aggressive than when he’d entered the tower.
‘Yes I am. Don’t try having another go at me, Sol, because I won’t change my mind. I need some time alone. I’m out of touch with everything that matters to me, thanks to you.’
‘I’m sorry, Clip. I appreciate all you’ve done to help me and I know it’s not your style. I wish I had your natural abilities but I don’t, and that’s why I need your help sometimes. You were lucky to be born with such powers – I just wish I’d been. Anyway, no hard feelings, I hope. I’ve had these made especially for you as a peace offering – your favourite ceremony cakes, and we’ve added a new ingredient. I think you’ll find these really special.’
Clip’s eyes lit up; he adored the cakes. Only Magus and Violet, Martin’s mother, knew the recipe, which was a closely guarded secret. They’d certainly help with his shamanic journey during the full moon.
‘Thanks, Sol,’ he said delightedly, his thin, rather tired face relaxing into a smile at the sight of the little golden cakes nestling in the tin. ‘Ooh, and so many – I’ll be well away on these. No, no hard feelings I suppose. Have a good trip to London. You’ll be back for the Harvest Moon?’
Magus chuckled.
‘Yes, of course! You were right though; I can manage Sylvie on my own. She’s easy enough to handle and she told me only last night how she wanted to give me her moon magic. She’s still compliant, so I’ll be fine up there alone with her. I’ve told Miranda to keep her in bed from now until the evening itself and to feed her up, which will hopefully strengthen her. I’ll get her to do all the eggs this time because she seemed absolutely fine last month – up and about again in no time. I expect it’ll get easier for her, as I said before, with some training and practice. It’s probably fairer to make sure she does all the eggs every month so it’s not such a shock to her system. She’ll get used to it and I may even be able to gradually increase the amount she can take. Don’t you agree?’
‘Yes, I suppose so,’ said Clip distractedly, nibbling at one of the cakes. ‘Just don’t overdo it, will you? Take care of Sylvie and don’t exhaust her.’
‘Of course, Clip. Actually, while I’m in London I’m seeing a couple of people about the eggs. I’m sure there’d be a huge market for them and it’s an exciting prospect.’
‘Mmn, very exciting,’ mumbled Clip through a mouthful of cake. ‘These are superb, Sol! I’ve never tasted anything like them – they’re so powerful! You should be selling these too.’
Magus laughed and stood up, a stark contrast to his gold, silk-robed brother in the dark business suit.
‘Somehow I don’t think they’d be legal in the Outside World.’
Yul worried all day. He nearly chopped off his fingers with an axe, and later let a whole load of logs roll from a cart, which he then had to reload. He swore fluently and started again, tossing them onto the cart at top speed, anxious to finish and get away. How on earth could he stop Magus forcing Sylvie up to Mooncliffe that evening? He knew Mother Heggy had said she’d stop him, but what was the plan? Did he need to help?
‘Sir, could I finish after this, please? Mother Heggy said she wanted me to drop by with some provisions today.’
Old Greenbough looked surprised, but nodded.
‘Course you can, lad. I didn’t know you still called on her – ‘tis good of you. I feel sorry for the old thing; used to be so respected, she was. Delivered all the babies, brewed all the remedies and everyone looked up to her. But then Magus brought doctors to live in the Hall and opened that hospital wing and nobody needed old Mother Heggy anymore.’
‘It must’ve been difficult for her.’
‘Aye, I reckon so. There was trouble, years and years back, and since then she hated Magus, and she never hid it like some do. ‘Twere all on account of a girl who lived with Mother Heggy, a strange, wild maiden. She were the mother o’ Magus, and o’ Master Clip too, and she died up at Mooncliffe one Moon Fullness. Mother Heggy reckoned it were the old magus’ fault. She never forgave him and she blamed our Magus too though, to be fair, I don’t see how it could’ve been his fault as well. He were only a scrap of a boy when she passed on.’
Yul listened intently, shocked at this revelation. So Raven had actually died at Mooncliffe? His heart clenched at the thought of what Sylvie had to go through up there. Had the same thing happened to Raven? Did Elm, Magus’ father, feed on her moon magic too? Why had she died? He needed to know, but Old Greenbough had little more information than that.
‘All I know is when our Magus brought in the doctors, he told us we weren’t to go to Mother Heggy no more. Made out she were a useless old biddy and may even harm us with her remedies seeing as she’d gone soft in the head. Can’t blame him really for she were very rude about him, and openly, and he can’t have that. She was a powerful woman with a great deal o’ the old knowledge and I suppose he couldn’t abide someone else having such power. I wouldn’t dare cross her myself, though. You’ve finished, lad, so you go on now and give her my respects.’
Yul found Mother Heggy hunched in her rocking chair with the crow in her lap and an ancient book open on a stool beside her. She looked up crossly when he arrived at her door.
‘I’m busy!’ she snapped. ‘I don’t need disturbances. Go away.’
‘But Mother Heggy, how am I going to stop Magus taking Sylvie up
to Mooncliffe tonight?’
‘Stupid boy! Didn’t I say I’d stop him! Leave me in peace or ‘twill be too late. He’s already well on the road.’
‘But …’
‘All you need to do is take the girl up to Hare Stone tonight and let her drink her fill o’ the red Harvest Moon. That evil one won’t be back in time for the moon rising. You must be ready to take her at sunset and that’s all. Now go!’
Yul turned away reluctantly, unable to trust the old woman could do it.
But it seemed Yul had been wrong to worry. He slipped in through the outside door and climbed the stairs to Sylvie’s bedroom before sunset, having spotted Miranda in the sitting room from the garden below. He fully expected to find that Magus had already taken her, but Sylvie was pacing the room, alive with jitteriness and jumpiness.
‘Yul!’ she whispered frantically, springing on him as he crept through the arched door. ‘Where’ve you been? I’m going mad.’
‘Good – it shows the spell’s well and truly broken. This is normal, isn’t it?’
‘I suppose so, but please let’s go now! I’ve got to get out!’
She flung her arms round him, her body rigid with tension, and kissed him hard on the mouth.
‘It’s so good to see you, Yul.’
He grinned at her.
‘And you, Sylvie – I’ve missed you at Moon Fullness. And tonight it’s the Harvest Moon which is really special. We need to get going, the sun’s low already. Where’s Magus?’
‘I don’t know! Not back from London yet I suppose. I’ve been stuck in this room for three days and I’ve no idea what’s going on. What about Mum?’
‘I think she’s sitting in the other room – I could see her through the window. Let’s just go, Sylvie, and by the time she realises you’re missing, hopefully it’ll be too late. She won’t come chasing after you, will she?’
‘No, but what about Magus? Won’t he come and find us at Hare Stone?’
