Magus of Stonewylde Book One

by Kit Berry

  ‘I’m so pleased you’ve come – I’ve been so worried! There’s something wrong with Sylvie – she’s really ill.’

  ‘What? What’s the matter with her?’

  ‘She’s delirious, shouting in her sleep, burning up and having the most awful nightmares all night. She’s been screaming that her back’s on fire, and—’

  ‘Let me see her,’ he said curtly, following her up to Sylvie’s room.

  She lay with the covers pushed back, asleep but very flushed and with her hair in a wild tangle all over the pillow. Magus looked down at her for a moment, then felt her forehead and the glands in her neck.

  ‘I’ve given her paracetamol and—’

  ‘And what did you say she was shouting?’

  ‘Well, last night it was that her back was being clawed to shreds and there was something biting into it. This morning she said she couldn’t see anything in the dark, even though the daylight was streaming in her window. Oh yes, and that something was rustling in the straw.’

  ‘Really? That is absolutely amazing,’ he murmured.

  ‘She’s delirious with a very high temperature, isn’t she?’

  ‘Yes, she certainly is. May I see her back? I’m assuming she hasn’t been bitten or clawed?’

  ‘Not that I can see,’ said Miranda, rolling her daughter over.

  Magus looked carefully at Sylvie’s slim, smooth back and brushed his fingertips over the satin skin. Miranda felt a twinge of desire at the sight of those long, square-tipped fingers that had touched her so expertly only a few hours earlier.

  ‘There’re no marks at all, nor any swelling. Not that there could be of course.’

  Miranda turned Sylvie over again, smoothing the hair from her hot face.

  ‘So what should I do? I’ve been sponging her down with tepid water.’

  ‘I’m not sure there is much you can do other than keeping her fever down. She’s obviously caught a chill or something. We’ll get the doctor to take a look if she gets any worse of course.’

  ‘Yes, I’m sure it is a chill. She got drenched in the rain last night coming back from the Hall. She’s been so healthy lately I’d forgotten how delicate she can be. Poor Sylvie.’

  When they’d made her comfortable they went downstairs for a cup of coffee. Miranda tried hard to recapture their intimacy but Magus remained aloof, acting as if their picnic on the stone at Mooncliffe had never happened.

  ‘I’m sorry, Miranda,’ he said. ‘Since last night a great deal’s happened and I’m afraid our love-making will have to go on the back burner for a while. I returned home to find all sorts of problems that must be dealt with. After I’d dropped you off here last night I bumped into Clip and he filled me in on what’s been going on in my absence. I’ve been up half the night and I’m very tired.’

  ‘Oh dear, anything I can do to help?’

  Miranda was relieved that there was a good reason for his coolness this morning.

  ‘Well yes, it does concern you, or at least, Sylvie, and it’s why I came here this morning. Apparently over the last couple of weeks she’s been seeing Yul, the Village boy whom I sent here to dig the garden.’

  ‘Yul? But … he’s the one who brought her back here last night!’

  ‘What? They were together last night as well? I didn’t know that!’

  ‘He arrived on the doorstep in the pouring rain carrying her in his arms. But what do you mean, “seeing”? Do you mean they’re going out together, or what?’

  ‘At the moment I’m not sure. It could be innocent, but knowing Yul it’s probably not.’

  She gasped, hand covering her mouth.

  ‘But Sylvie’s only fourteen! Surely you don’t mean …?’

  Magus shrugged. ‘I warned you about him, didn’t I? He’s a nasty piece of work. I had him whipped by his father last night and—’

  ‘Whipped? Magus, that’s terrible!’

  ‘No it’s not! It’s a punishment we use at Stonewylde in extreme cases. I thought a threat to your daughter’s virginity to be an extreme case,’ he said angrily.

  ‘Well, yes, if you put it like that.’

  ‘So I need to speak to her and find out what’s been going on, and then I’ll hear his version. Hopefully we’ll arrive at the truth somewhere along the line.’

  ‘And it was Clip who told you they’d been together?’

  ‘That’s right. Last night he told me that he’s seen them together all over the place during the last couple of weeks. I’d heard about the young man coming off my horse as soon as I came home, but later I heard it was Sylvie and Yul who’d actually caused the accident. They were up on the ridgeway and startled Nightwing. And there’s more. Clip told me they’ve been to visit an old woman who isn’t suitable company at all. She’s an evil, twisted old crone and she’s been involved in some serious business over the years. She dabbles in witchcraft, and I mean the dark arts, not just a few herbal remedies.’

  ‘And Sylvie’s been to her house?’

  ‘Yes. Clip saw her and Yul go into her cottage and spend some time in there.’

  ‘Why on earth didn’t he stop them if she’s so dangerous?’

  Magus sighed and rubbed his forehead. Miranda could see dark circles under his eyes and felt so sorry for him, kept up half the night with problems.

  ‘Clip’s a strange man. He lives on the periphery of life. He doesn’t like to get involved or take responsibility in any shape or form. If he saw something going on, such as Yul leading Sylvie astray, he’d never intervene. It’s just not his way. He’d observe and then maybe tell me, but maybe not. He might just forget about it altogether. He’s a shaman. He lives in a different reality to the rest of us.’

  ‘Are you sure he’s not just imagining this about Yul and Sylvie?’

  ‘Oh no, it’s all true. The rider knew it was them, although he didn’t tell me that initially. Tom, my head ostler, knew it was Sylvie and Yul too. He was the one who told me about that little bastard riding my horse home from the Dragon’s Back.’

  His eyes darkened and his lips tightened. Miranda watched in fascination. She wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of his anger, although this dark, rather cruel side made him all the more exciting. She shivered.

  ‘Yul rode that enormous horse?’

  ‘Yes, though Goddess knows how he managed it. Nightwing is a very expensive thoroughbred. Nobody rides him except me and a hand-picked chosen few; people who I know have a great deal of experience with such horses. He’s a very intelligent and powerful stallion and he has a vicious streak, which is what makes him such a beautiful ride. It’s a real challenge trying to control him. So how that Village lout rode him back to the Hall is a mystery. But he’s been punished for it, believe me.’

  Miranda shivered again at the expression on his face and felt a fleeting moment of pity for the dark-haired boy. She remembered how carefully he’d carried Sylvie in last night and laid her in the armchair.

  ‘So what about last night?’ asked Miranda. ‘What do you think happened?’

  He shrugged, his face tight with displeasure.

  ‘I hadn’t realised they’d been together last night as well. This makes it even more serious. I’ll get his side of the story as soon as I’ve heard Sylvie’s account. I have him up at the Hall under lock and key and he’s staying there until I’ve found out the truth. There’s more to this than meets the eye. There was something said once, long ago, about Yul. A prophecy of sorts, and I’m worried that … well, never mind. It sounds ridiculous now.’

  ‘Tell me! I’m sure it isn’t ridiculous.’

  He shook his head firmly.

  ‘No, it’s a load of nonsense. It’s that mad old crone, Heggy, planting her evil seeds and trying to get revenge for something that happened before I was even born. But I’ve always had my doubts about Yul. I’ve always felt that there was something potentially dangerous there.’

  ‘Really? I must say I thought he seemed very … dark, secretive even, when he was digging
our garden. And obviously full of pent-up aggression.’

  ‘It wasn’t a major issue before, but now he’s become involved with Sylvie I’m really concerned. Apart from the fact that it’s an abuse of newcomers who’ve been invited into our community, it’s also against our laws if there’s been any sexual activity between them. We’re very strict about underage children controlling their emergent sexuality. Yul knows this even if Sylvie doesn’t.’

  ‘Oh no, Sylvie wouldn’t willingly do anything like that. She’s actually quite prudish. She doesn’t approve of our … trysts up at Mooncliffe.’

  ‘You told her about that?’

  He looked surprised.

  ‘Well … yes, I did. We’re very close. We talk about everything.’

  ‘Not everything. She didn’t tell you about Yul, did she?’

  ‘No, and that’s what makes me think maybe there is something to hide.’

  ‘I promise you, Miranda, if we find that anything has been going on, he’ll pay for it. Really pay for it.’

  They went back upstairs to where Sylvie was tossing and turning. Magus sat on the side of the bed and sponged her forehead gently. Eventually he managed to rouse her and she stared up at him glassy-eyed, her cheeks flushed.

  ‘It’s the magus,’ she whispered, her voice unnaturally high. ‘Solstice by name. And my birthday soon on the solstice. I’ll be fifteen.’

  He smiled at her, continuing to stroke the hair away from her face with the sponge.

  ‘And my birthday too, Sylvie. We’ll have a joint celebration, won’t we?’

  ‘A joint celebration. Up at the stones. I know what happens up there. I know what you do.’

  ‘Ssh, ssh, that’s enough. Listen, Sylvie, I want you to tell us what happened last night. We know you were with Yul. Nobody’s cross with you but we need to know exactly what happened.’

  Miranda stepped forward. ‘Darling, did he hurt you? Did he—’

  ‘Quiet, Miranda! Let me ask the questions,’ he hissed.

  ‘Yul would never hurt me. Yul doesn’t hurt anyone. But you do. You scarred his cheek.’

  Magus frowned but ignored the remark. Her eyes were all wrong.

  ‘Sylvie, did Yul take you to the woodsmen’s hut last night?’

  ‘The hut. It was warm in there. Warm by the fire with the blanket.’

  ‘Yes! He brought her back wrapped in a blanket!’

  ‘Alright. So what happened in the hut, Sylvie? What happened by the fire with the blanket?’

  ‘He looked after me. Before and after, he made me warm and he made me drink something hot.’

  Magus turned to Miranda and whispered.

  ‘Could have been something Heggy gave him. She’s an expert on potions.’ He turned back to Sylvie, taking her hand. ‘Before and after what? Do you remember what happened in the hut? What did you do? What did Yul do? Before and after what, Sylvie?’

  But she was away now, her eyes even glassier, and she started to sing. Magus shook his head and stood up.

  ‘I’ll go and question the boy now.’

  ‘But do you really think they’ve been up to something they shouldn’t? What if she’s pregnant? Oh my God, it—’

  ‘I don’t think so. I don’t know … For all his wild ways, I don’t think Yul would be that stupid. Sylvie’s far too young and anyway, as you say, she isn’t that sort of girl. I think it’s more likely to be some kind of mischief that old Heggy’s put him up to.’

  ‘Really?

  ‘Don’t worry, Miranda, I’ll get the facts out of him one way or another. And you must listen carefully if she says anything more, but don’t put ideas into her head either. I need to know the truth about what’s been going on over the past couple of weeks, and most importantly, what they were doing in the woodsmen’s hut last night.’

  He left with barely a backward glance and Miranda wanted to cry. How could someone be so caring and passionate one minute, and so cold and distant the next? Once again she felt a flicker of resentment towards her daughter for spoiling things.

  When Magus returned to the stone byre, Yul was sitting on the hard floor in near darkness. Only a little light came in through the gaps around the wooden shutters and under the door. He didn’t dare sit on the expensive chair. He was hungry, thirsty and cold. His ripped shirt was still damp but he’d put it on in the hope that his body heat would dry it. The mesh of slashes on his back was pure, raw agony. It was the most brutal whipping he’d ever had, but Yul was proud that he’d taken it well. He hadn’t humiliated himself by begging for mercy or crying at the agony of it. He hadn’t given Alwyn that satisfaction. He’d kept his self-respect intact and this now strengthened his purpose.

  As he heard the bolt scraping on the door he vowed that he’d never betray Sylvie, whatever they might do to him. He wouldn’t tell of her magical moongaziness, nor the strange things Mother Heggy had said. Magus would never know of those secrets. But despite his brave resolutions, Yul trembled at the sound of the key in the lock. Bright daylight blasted him, then died as the door closed again. Magus turned on the harsh light and sat on the chair, with Yul standing before him.

  ‘You are now going to tell me everything that’s gone on between you and Sylvie. I want every detail. I know about the walk on the ridgeway that led to my cousin’s fall from the horse. I know about the visit to Mooncliffe and then to Mother Heggy. And I know that last night you took Sylvie to the woodsmen’s hut and spent several hours with her before taking her home.’

  Yul stiffened at this but kept his eyes to the floor. He must not betray Sylvie’s secret. But what could he say to explain those hours away? How much did Magus already know?

  ‘You will talk, Yul. Your father is sitting in the Hall kitchens right now, eating an amazingly hearty second breakfast. He’s hoping very much that I’ll call him in here to help elicit the truth from you. He asked me specially if he could whip you again. He’d love nothing better than to carry on where he left off last night and he doesn’t think you’ve taken anywhere near enough punishment yet. But … that’s up to you, Yul.’

  Magus looked closely at the boy before him; he shook but was trying to hide it. He seemed smaller this morning, shrunk in on himself. He looked cold, hungry and frightened. His shirt was torn and bloody, his eye and cheekbone badly swollen and bruised. Magus smiled grimly. He was utterly determined to break this defiant boy.

  ‘Well?’

  ‘You know all there is to know, sir. There’s no more.’

  ‘I want to hear the details. When did you and Sylvie start to become friendly?’

  Yul thought quickly.

  ‘When I was digging their back garden, sir.’

  ‘How did you move from that to going for walks together?’

  ‘One day I found her wandering around in the woods. She was lost. It was my day off, so I offered to show her some of Stonewylde.’

  ‘Mmn. She had plenty of others to show her around, others far more suitable than you.’

  Yul shrugged, and in that shrug, conveyed his absolute disdain for those others who could’ve shown her around. Magus rose swiftly and delivered a heavy backhander to the un-bruised side of the boy’s face. Yul staggered from the brutal blow but managed to remain standing.

  ‘And Mother Heggy? What’s the story there?’

  Yul found it harder to speak now and certainly harder to think.

  ‘I … we were … we were just walking past,’ he gasped. ‘The old woman came out.’

  ‘Did you go into the cottage?’

  ‘N – no, sir.’

  Another blow across the face, one which sent him crashing into the wall.

  ‘Liar! You spent some time in the cottage. Sylvie told me everything this morning. She told me about the crow and the potions and all the things in the cottage. I know everything because Sylvie’s blurted it all out to me already. And now I want you to tell me what the crone said to you. Exactly what she said.’

  The boy raised his head slowly. He could barely speak.
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  ‘“Those who stand against you will fall, one by one”,’ he mumbled. Then he sank to his knees, groaning horribly as his head exploded with the pain of the two blows.

  ‘Did she now?’ mused Magus, smiling. He clearly thought Mother Heggy had been referring to those who stood against him. But the smile faded as he gazed at the boy huddled before him.

  ‘Which brings me on to last night. What the hell were you doing out alone at night-time with Sylvie? At the Moon Fullness! I want the whole story, boy.’

  Yul couldn’t think. His head was teeming with violent colours. He couldn’t work out what he must say in order to protect Sylvie. How much had she told Magus?

  ‘I found her in the woods, lost in the darkness,’ he mumbled again, his speech slurred. ‘She was wet and cold so I took her to the hut.’

  ‘Why didn’t you just take her home?’

  ‘She needed looking after and she said her mother was out. With you, sir.’

  Magus frowned at him.

  ‘What exactly happened in the hut?’

  ‘I built up the fire and made her a cup of tea. I wrapped her in a blanket. Then I took her home.’

  ‘You were with her for three hours or so. I know that for sure, because she didn’t come to the Hall at all last night. Nobody saw her here. She was out from when she left Woodland Cottage an hour before moonrise to when she returned. So what else happened in all that time?’

  ‘Nothing, sir. We were just talking.’

  ‘What, for three hours? What were you talking about?’

  ‘I don’t know … Stonewylde, my work in the woods, the Outside World, things like that …’

  ‘Did you touch her?’

  ‘No!’

  ‘Did you do anything to her? Kiss her, anything else?’

  ‘No, sir, I’d never do anything like that!’

  ‘Oh come, come, Yul. Don’t play the innocent with me. I remember the incident with Holly. Don’t pretend you’re not interested in girls.’

  ‘I wouldn’t touch Sylvie.’

  ‘I don’t believe you. Nobody sits in a hut with a pretty girl in the pouring rain for three hours just talking. And I can’t imagine your conversational skills are sufficiently developed to entertain someone intelligent like Sylvie for more than three minutes, let alone three hours. What else did you do in there? What else is there for you to do?’