CHAPTER THREE

The morning after the Equinox, Miranda and Sylvie had just finished breakfast when Magus arrived on their doorstep. He smiled down at Sylvie as she opened the door. The sun gleamed on his ash blond hair and his powerful body filled the door frame.
“Bright blessings, Sylvie! Put your shoes on - I’m taking you out for a walk.”
“Okay. I’ll get Mum.”
“No, just you and me. That’s alright with you, isn’t it Miranda?”
She’d come out of the kitchen and looked a little surprised at this.
“Er, yes, of course it is. Get your coat, Sylvie, and make sure …”
“No fussing now. A pair of shoes and another layer will do fine. It’s a beautiful warm morning. Don’t worry, Miranda, we won’t go far and I won’t tire her out. This is the beginning of a new way of life, remember. Sylvie needs fresh air and exercise.”
They walked under the cherry blossom to the front gate and Magus led her in the opposite direction to the Hall, along the little path which wound into the woods. Early morning sunlight streamed in golden shafts through the branches, their buds tight with green promise. Birdsong filled the air, sweet and liquid. They walked in silence for some time and Sylvie became increasingly aware of the man by her side. He was subtly different today. He appeared to glow with a strange radiance that was sensed rather than seen. An aura of energy pulsed around him and she felt drawn to him, as a pin to a magnet. He pulled at her soul and seemed to call her close to him, so she too might bask in the power flowing from him. They came to a small clearing and stopped. The dappled sunlight played upon the ground, still littered with dark leaves from last year but bristling with spiky green shoots that would later flower into bluebells. Birds flitted around in the branches and the woodland was alive with light, movement and the music of nature.
“Breathe deeply, Sylvie,” said Magus softly. “Slow deep breaths. Can you feel how pure and fresh that is? Feel the air going down into your lungs then flowing into every part of your body.”
She stood motionless, the light filtering onto her upturned face. She closed her eyes and drank the air.
“What does it feel like?”
“It feels like I’m tasting heaven,” she whispered.
Opening her eyes, she found him watching her intently. He spoke gently.
“That’s just what it is. You must draw that heaven deep into your body; dissolve all the chemicals and toxins, the drugs and the poisons they’ve pumped into you. You need to get Stonewylde into your veins. I want you to go walking every day, whatever the weather. Drink in the fresh air and get your limbs moving. You’re very weak and your muscles have wasted away to nothing. You must build yourself up again and grow strong. Walk a bit further each day and work up a good appetite.”
She nodded.
“I will. I know it’s what I need. But what about school? Must I start soon?”
“We need to restore your health first. Nothing you could learn in school is more important than that, is it? We have different priorities here, remember. Plenty of time for school once you’re fit and well.”
She felt relieved at this, not ready yet to face a whole new regime of schoolwork, teachers and students. She smiled at Magus for he instinctively seemed to understand her fears and needs.
“Yes,” he murmured. “School can wait. I want you to be cured. I want to help you.”
He gazed down at her and she saw the dark fire burning in his eyes. She couldn’t look away but stared up almost mesmerised, drawn to the force within him. He reached out and took her hands. She flinched as their skin touched. A tingle began in her fingertips where his hands held hers, and spread throughout her body. She gasped and almost stopped breathing, for the sensation was so strange. She felt scared, her eyes round and startled. He smiled slightly and his face shimmered before her in the dancing sunlight.
“Don’t be frightened,” he said softly. “I can help you. Take what I’m giving you, Sylvie. Take the energy and use it to heal yourself. Let it flow into you and don’t fight it. Trust me, Sylvie. Trust me and open yourself up to me.”
She stood absolutely still and tried to be calm. Then suddenly she felt it; a flood of power that washed through her into every cell, every pore. Magus’ deep brown eyes gleamed, holding her in their thrall, piercing her soul. Her thin body vibrated with the rush of energy surging out of him and into her. He released her hands and brushed her face with his fingertips, tracing the ravages of eczema that crusted her skin. His fingers lingered gently on her eyelids as she closed them in shame at her ugliness, then outlined her cheekbones and jaw. Her skin prickled beneath his feathery touch.
“You will be beautiful again, Sylvie. The Earth Magic of Stonewylde is in your soul now and your body will be healed and whole.”
He stepped back and she opened her eyes. She gazed up at him in bewilderment. Then to her embarrassment, she burst into tears.
Further up the path Yul was tucked away behind a smooth beech trunk, sitting amongst the green dog’s mercury and white wood anemones. He was wolfing down a hunk of bread, grabbed as he left the cottage very early on his way to work. He’d wanted to leave before any questions were asked about the previous night. Birds darted around him gathering material for their nests, oblivious to his camouflaged presence. His clothes were rough-spun and brown, his hair and skin dark. He heard voices in the clearing below: a deep man’s and a young girl’s. He knew Magus’ voice of course, and guessed that the girl must be one of the Outsiders. The whole community knew that two people had come to Stonewylde and moved into Woodland Cottage near the Hall. Everyone was curious about them but only Cherry had seen them as yet.
Yul shrank against the beech trunk keeping very still, his hands clutching the remains of his bread. His legs were tucked up out of sight, knees under his chin. His dark curls rested against the lichen-covered bark and he closed his eyes, praying that Magus wouldn’t discover him. Greenbough had sent him over to this part of the woods to look at some of the hazel coppicing, and he’d taken the opportunity to eat his breakfast. Magus would be furious if he knew Yul was there. It went quiet and he risked a peep. He saw Magus, tall and motionless as a tree, emanating the strange power that always came to him during the festivals. His hands reached out and held those of the girl. She was like an elfchild, white skinned and almost white haired, thin and delicate. Maybe more of a fairy than an elf, he thought. In profile she was beautiful but so frail. Yul could see her glowing slightly too, and it had nothing to do with the sunlight falling on her. Yul knew of the magic that danced in the master but he’d never seen it shared before. Magus touched her face as she looked up at him. Yul felt a flicker of shock at the sight. The powerful man was so very gentle with her, touching her as if she might break under his fingers. Then Yul saw her crumple and Magus take her in his arms and hold her against his chest. He stroked her hair soothingly as she clung to him, her body shaking with sobs. They stood there for some time, she crying and he comforting her. Yul pulled back behind the tree; he felt he was intruding on something private.
After a while he heard them talking again and peered round. They were walking out of the clearing up the path towards him. He stared at the lovely girl and was struck by two things; the strangeness of her silver-grey eyes and the scaliness of her skin. Her face was rough and sore looking, and his sense of awe at such beauty was punctured with disappointment. He shrank further into his hiding place as their voices became clearer.
“You’re very special, Sylvie. I knew it when I first saw you in London. You will get better, I promise you. Earth energy is the strongest force there is and it’ll heal you. I’ll take you up to the Stone Circle soon and then maybe you’ll understand. Now remember, you’re to walk every day in these woods. Don’t worry about coming alone because you’re safe here – everywhere in Stonewylde is safe. It’s not like the Outside World. Nobody here would hurt you. Everyone you meet will be friendly and polite. Maybe curious too, but that’s to be expected. Just be friendly and you’ll soon get to know people. You’ll always be safe.”
Yul smiled at this. Of course she was safe. Who’d ever harm a little waif like her?
“I feel so peaceful in these woods. They’re beautiful. I’ll enjoy walking here,” she said softly, and her voice sounded strange to him.
“When you do, open yourself up to the vitality around you. Don’t think of the past or the future – just feel what your senses are telling you now, in the present. Let the trees feed your spirit.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“I’m sure it’s why you’ve been ill. Your spirit has been starved. You’re a magical girl, Sylvie. You need to be in touch with the magic of the earth and all living things. Stonewylde will nurture and nourish you and it won’t be long before you’re healed.”
Sylvie sighed, feeling secure in the cocoon of his warmth and care.
“You’re such a kind man.”
“I’m the magus. I’m the guardian,” he said simply. “I look after Stonewylde and everyone who lives here.”
As they disappeared out of sight Yul touched the cut on his cheek and smiled bitterly.
Back at the cottage Sylvie joined her mother and Magus for a cup of tea while they discussed her diet. Miranda was worried about introducing wheat and dairy foods so quickly but Magus dismissed her worries as unfounded. He told her to let Sylvie eat whatever she fancied, but in moderation at first.
“I believe, and so does Hazel, that Sylvie’s been dosed up to the eyeballs needlessly. All these food intolerances are only a symptom, not the cause of her illness. What she needs is fresh air, exercise and wholesome organic food with no chemical additives. The sooner she gets the poison out of her system the better. We’ve made a start today with the healing process, haven’t we Sylvie?”
They smiled at each other and she nodded happily.
“Is there actually a doctor here?” asked Miranda, a little concerned that they were going to get caught up in some alternative medicine that might do more harm than good.
“Oh yes. Tomorrow you can come and meet him and he’ll give Sylvie a thorough check over. He’ll be here until Hazel arrives in the summer. We always have at least one doctor at Stonewylde. Hallfolk come and go all the time.”
“I didn’t realise that. Why don’t they stay?”
“There are a great many Hallfolk, everyone loosely related, and not enough room for them all to live here at once. The Villagers work the land and sustain the whole community with their labour. The Hallfolk go into the Outside World to study and earn a living. They bring skills back into the community, sometimes just for a short time and sometimes by moving here permanently. Medically we’re self-sufficient in that sense – we deliver our own babies, treat our own sick, ease the suffering of our elderly. We even make much of our own medicine using old herbal remedies, but we also use modern commercial medicine if that’s the best option. So don’t worry about Sylvie not receiving proper medical care. She’ll get the best here, believe me. She’s already feeling a great deal better, aren’t you Sylvie?”
She nodded again, her eyes sparkling with a new light. Miranda was struck by the changes that seemed to have happened so quickly.
Magus stood up and stretched his long legs.
“I’ll give you a tour of the Hall when you come up later this afternoon. Oh, one more thing before I go. I’m sending a Village boy here daily to provide you with water and firewood, and also to dig over your back garden ready for planting. It’s been lying fallow for a while and it’s very overgrown. Everyone here grows fruit and vegetables which we share. The boy will do the heavy digging and other manual work, and then hopefully you can learn about growing food once the soil’s prepared. This is a punishment for the boy. He’s been a little wild lately and needs his wings clipped.”
“Should we be careful with him? Is he aggressive or anything?”
Magus smiled. “Don’t worry, he wouldn’t dare step out of line with you. But he’s been getting above himself and I need to knock him back down. Just keep your distance and don’t talk to him. You’ll learn the protocol about Hallfolk and Villagers. Don’t encourage him to be your friend and don’t bring him into the house except to carry firewood. His name’s Yul.”

Yul received his summons later that day, just when he was beginning to think the previous night’s fracas may have gone unreported. Greenbough had commented on his limp but Yul said he’d overdone the dancing in the Great Barn. He worked extra hard so as not to draw attention to it. But his heart sank when he saw Harold, a young servant from the Hall, making his way up the path towards the woodsmen’s hut. Harold talked to the head woodsman, who then beckoned Yul over.
“You been in trouble again, boy?” he growled.
“No, sir,” said Yul quickly.
“Well you’ve been called up to the Hall to see Magus. It better not be trouble. You’re letting us down, Yul, and I won’t have it. I know what you’re like for getting into scrapes and I ain’t having no trouble-makers amongst my men.”
“No really, sir,” protested Yul, very worried now. He was only an apprentice woodsman. Greenbough could recommend to Magus at any time that he was unsuitable to continue his training. He loved working in the woods and to lose his position would be devastating.
“Well, be off with you then. And keep your nose out of mischief.”
As they walked down to the Hall, Yul plied Harold with questions. They were of a similar age and had always got on quite well. Harold was bright and hard-working like Yul, although he too had never made it to the Hall School. But he knew nothing of why Yul had now been summoned.
“Am I in trouble? Did he seem angry?”
“I told you, Yul, I don’t know.”
“Has that bastard Buzz been in with Magus today telling tales?”
“How should I know? You don’t realise what it’s like up there. There’s loads of extra Hallfolk staying at the moment because of the Equinox. I don’t know who’s been talking to who, do I? I been busy cleaning out bloody fireplaces all morning, not listening to Hallfolk talk.”
By the time they reached the Hall, Yul was quaking inside. He’d done nothing wrong last night yet he knew that he’d get the blame for what had happened with Buzz. He was scared that Magus would punish him, scared his father would find out and half kill him, and scared that Greenbough would cancel his apprenticeship. Magus was the only higher authority at Stonewylde and renowned for being just, but Yul had no faith in him. He knew that for some reason Magus disliked him. He recalled Magus’ flicker of pleasure up in the Stone Circle. As they walked round to the back of the vast building he felt like a mouse at the mercy of a large cat.
The Hall looked beautiful today; thousands of tiny diamond Tudor window panes twinkled in the afternoon sun. The mellow grey building with its many wings and forest of chimneys seemed to breathe and bask like a living entity in its green setting. Villagers visited here regularly for a variety of reasons, but Yul couldn’t recall a time when he’d felt so nervous. Harold led him through the back corridors down endless passages until they arrived in the Galleried Hall. It was very large; double height with a panelled gallery running along two sides. Tapestries and banners hung from the walls, and the floor of ancient flagstones predated even the mediaeval building. Light flooded in through many stained glass windows set up high by the roof. The ceiling was a great arched curve of age-blackened rafters, and countless carved bosses studded the panelling and beams. A huge fireplace took up most of one wall and antique oak settles lined the others. There were many pointed stone archways leading in from different corridors. It was the centre of the great web of the Hall and the place where Magus meted out justice. Anyone with a grievance or problem could bring it here to the master. Justice was swift and relevant. It could be whipping for serious misdemeanours, but was more often forced labour and atonement to injured parties. The system was feudal but it worked, for Magus was fair and the punishments not excessive. There was little crime at Stonewylde because of it.
“Magus said you’re to wait here,” said Harold, eyeing the dark haired boy with sympathy. He knew Yul of old – always getting into trouble of one sort or another – and didn’t envy him now.
“And good luck to you, mate,” he muttered under his breath, disappearing through an arched side door. Yul stood alone in the centre of the Galleried Hall, not sure whether to sit on one of the settles or stay where he was. He looked up at the ceiling and saw many carved Green Men staring down at him. Their gaping mouths sprouted foliage as if in horror at his predicament. Magus kept him waiting nearly an hour, during which time Yul became more and more distressed. His hands and face were dirty and his scruffy work clothes caked with mud. He was thirsty from his labour and fear now parched his throat.
Finally he heard firm footsteps clipping along a stone corridor. He stood awkwardly, trying to stop his hands from trembling. Scared as he was, he was damned if he’d let Magus see it. He turned towards the approaching sound and raised his chin, shaking the curls from his eyes. Magus wore riding clothes; the high, polished boots and well-cut jodhpurs accentuating his height and almost regal bearing. He appeared under an archway and strode across the flagstones, flinging himself into a throne-like chair set on a dais against a wall. The chair arms were carved in the shape of wild boar, the wood dark with a patina of age. He sat back, crossed his long legs, and surveyed the tousled lad who came to stand before him, head slightly bowed.
“Right then, boy. You know why you’re here.”
Yul looked up and met his eye squarely.
“I don’t, sir.”
“I’m not in the mood for any nonsense from you, Yul. I’m referring to the incident last night at the celebrations.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I wasn’t happy when Buzzard told me what happened.”
“I’m sorry, sir.”
“Good. You’re not denying any of it, then?”
“No, sir. But I’m not sure what I’m meant to have done wrong.”
They looked at each other. Magus wondered if the boy was being deliberately insolent. Yul tried to match this hard-faced frightening man who exuded such authority and power with the one he’d watched in the woods that morning. Magus had shown such tender gentleness towards the young girl.
“I’m referring to your behaviour with Holly, the disrespectful remarks you made to her about Buzzard and the way you swore at a group of adults and disobeyed their orders. You also acted irresponsibly by running off into the woods in the dark and attempting to start a fight. Do you deny any of this?”
Yul tried to swallow but his mouth was too dry. His heart had started its angry pounding.
“Well? I don’t have all day!”
“No, not exactly, but …”
“No buts. If those things are true then you’re guilty and will be punished.”
“I did run into the woods, and …”
“So you directly disobeyed Buzz and ran away when he told you to stop?”
“Yes, but only because he was going to beat me.”
Magus frowned down at the boy, irritated by the blaze of boldness in his grey eyes.
“Hallfolk are not in the habit of brawling with Villagers,” he said curtly. “I think you misunderstood.”
“But …”
“Did Buzzard actually strike you?”
“No, but he knocked me down and sat on me. I couldn’t breathe.”
“He told me he tackled you to stop you from running further into the woods. And as for sitting on you – that’s hardly violent behaviour, is it?”
Yul remembered the dead weight deliberately crushing his ribcage and the vicious thrust of a knee hard into his back.
“It did hurt.”
“Oh come on, boy. Nobody ever got hurt by being sat on.”
“And he forced me to eat dirt. I thought I was going to choke.”
Magus surveyed him coldly.
“Hallfolk don’t make people eat dirt, Yul, as you well know. I think you’re twisting the facts to make yourself sound like the victim. You’ve broken several rules for which you’ll be punished.”
“Yes, sir.”
Yul knew then that there’d be no justice. Magus had judged him guilty before even summoning him to the Hall. He should take Rosie’s advice of the night before and accept whatever Magus meted out. But he wanted to scream at the injustice and felt humiliatingly close to crying. Magus watched the boy struggle with his emotions, trying to stifle his anger and tears. He felt a surge of power deep in his abdomen. It was similar to the primeval pleasure of reining in and subduing a spirited horse.
“So, my boy, do you admit that you’re in the wrong and deserve to be punished accordingly?”
“Yes, sir,” whispered Yul, his tongue cleaving to the roof of his mouth.
“Very wise. In that case, your punishment will be as follows.”
He paused, noting how the boy was trying to mask his fear. He smiled slightly, prolonging the moment until Yul’s eyes locked into his in supplication.
“In addition to your normal duties in the woods, you’ll report to Woodland Cottage every evening straight after work and all day Saturday and Sunday until further notice. You’ll work until sunset, when you may go home. You must ensure that the new occupants are adequately supplied with firewood, and with fresh water from the pump in the kitchen gardens. You’re also to thoroughly dig over their back garden, which has lain fallow for some time and is completely overgrown. You must prepare the soil ready for planting up with fruit and vegetables. Do you understand?”
Yul nodded, unable even to croak an answer. As punishments went it wasn’t too bad. He wasn’t to lose his job. He wasn’t to be whipped. Unless Magus made a point of telling him, his father needn’t know that he was helping the newcomers as a punishment. It would be heavy work and gruelling after a full day’s labour, but it wasn’t unpleasant. The real sting came from the fact that he’d be working from dawn until dusk for the foreseeable future and would have no free time during daylight. Yul was a loner and a dreamer and loved to roam the hills and woods or go down to the beach and swim in the sea. He’d lose that freedom just when spring was coaxing the beauty from the land. Magus dark eyes examined the dirty boy before him. He knew just how hard Yul was struggling to keep his emotions under control.
“I’ve chosen this particular punishment as a reminder to you of your station at Stonewylde. You’ll be serving the two new Hallfolk and that is the role of the Villager, a fact you seem to have forgotten. Never insult a member of the Hallfolk again. And never disobey an adult. Those are two of our most fundamental laws and you’ve broken them both. You will of course also apologise to Buzzard and his friends for your rudeness and disobedience. I’ll call them in now. You’re very lucky I’m not having you whipped as well – just bear that in mind in the future. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, sir.”
Magus smiled.
“Good. So now before I send you back to work, you can show me just how well you’ve learnt your lesson. I’ll be watching you closely, Yul. It had better be a very contrite and heart-felt apology or I may change my mind about the whipping.”