Moondance of Stonewylde Page 5

  Magus laughed with delight, ignoring Sylvie’s beseeching eyes. In some ways this was even better than the energy he received on the Altar Stone during the festivals. That was a brief, albeit powerful, flash of irradiation. But this moon magic went on and on, pouring down through her body and streaming up into him from the white stone. He stretched out flat on the rock as close as he could get to the force field around Sylvie, feeling the energy flow into every part of him. He heard a small sound. Her lips were moving.

  ‘Please! Help me down …’

  ‘Oh no, Sylvie! I don’t know what’s going on here but we’re staying put. You wanted to moondance. You keep at it, my moongazy girl.’

  He closed his eyes and concentrated on the powerful sensations flooding through him.

  It occurred to Yul that Magus might have followed Sylvie up to the Hare Stone. He couldn’t understand how, for he’d been in the woods waiting and would’ve seen them. But he had to check. If she was up there with Magus, who knew what might happen. He hated the thought of Magus seeing her moongazy and defenceless. He ran at full speed from the Hall, into the woods and up the hill through the boulders to Hare Stone. It was immediately clear that they weren’t there. The hares raced around the stone and the barn owl sat on top of it. But there was no girl with silver hair dancing like a bright fairy, and no dark-eyed man either.

  He flung himself down on the grass in disappointment, chest heaving and lungs burning. He’d run a couple of miles, mostly uphill, and to no avail. Where on earth were they? And then the dreadful thought struck him like a thunderbolt. He cursed himself for not thinking of it earlier. Mooncliffe! That was where Magus always went for the Moon Fullness. He’d imagined Sylvie leading him, but it would of course have been the other way round. Yul didn’t think Magus would harm her. She was still a child and he’d always treated her so gently. But nevertheless he started to panic, knowing well the significance of that round disc of stone. It was common knowledge how Magus usually chose to honour the moon rising.

  Leaping to his feet, Yul raced back down the hill again, through the dark woods, past the cottage, and onto the long path that led eventually up to Mooncliffe. The moon was now higher and brighter in the sky, a golden coin flecked with tiny grey clouds. If anything bad was going to happen at Mooncliffe, it would’ve happened by now. But that didn’t stop him running as fast as he could to find her.

  It was late and Miranda had been waiting at the cottage for some time. She was worried about Sylvie, and also about Magus. She didn’t like the thought of them alone together in the moonlit night. She knew it was stupid to be jealous of her own daughter, and she trusted Magus of course, but she had no control over her feelings of resentment. She paced up and down the small cottage in a fret of impatience and growing anxiety. She should’ve asked to join Magus in keeping an eye on her daughter, not left them alone together like this. Sylvie was her responsibility after all. What on earth could they be doing all this time?

  Sylvie stood in exactly the same position on the great stone as if rooted there. The glowing area of rock had spread. Her eyes were now shut, her face still agonised. Her outspread fingers had drooped and her arms hung by her sides. She stood like a closed-eyed carving in the moonlight, a strange statue with silver threads travelling down her body and into the rock at her feet. Magus still lay spread-eagled as close as he could bear. His eyes were shut too, but the expression on his face was one of bliss.

  ‘Please, Magus, please let me go,’ Sylvie whispered. She was aware of what was happening but she couldn’t move at all. She felt exhausted, drained of everything. Her legs trembled and were barely able to support her. Magus ignored her pleas. He’d realised that somehow her body was channelling energy from the full moon into the stone. Just like at the Altar Stone in the Stone Circle, he was able to soak the power up from the rock itself. He wasn’t sure if the energy would remain in the stone once she’d got down and was loath to let her go quite yet. Another few minutes should do it.

  She crumpled almost in slow motion onto the pale rock, her legs finally giving way. Reluctantly Magus sat up and stretched, glancing at the girl lying next to him. He felt as if he could perform any feat in the world. He jumped to the ground and, leaning over, scooped Sylvie up in his arms, feeling an almost superhuman strength. She was as light as rose petals. Her hair hung over his arm in a long silver swathe, the static now gone, and she felt cool to the touch. Her arms and legs gleamed in the milky moonlight and her beautiful dress shimmered as the embroidered moons and stars reflected real moonbeams. He stood on the cliff top, a tall figure gazing at her silvered face as she lay motionless in his arms, eyes closed and seemingly asleep. A moongazy girl indeed, he thought tenderly.

  Yul, his heart pounding with exertion, had arrived just in time to see Sylvie fall. He’d thought at first that she was alone on the great stone, and was surprised to notice the dark figure of Magus lying there too. Was the man unconscious? But he moved and effortlessly lifted Sylvie in his arms, then stood staring at her. Yul’s instincts screamed to run over and make sure she was alright. Instead he crouched down in the tall bracken, his legs shaking from the punishing run.

  He ducked just in time as Magus turned towards him and the path leading down the cliff. It was a striking sight – the tall, powerful man, blond hair gleaming in the bright moonlight, carrying Sylvie’s limp body. She lay like a wounded bird in his arms. They brushed past Yul’s hiding place and he steeled himself not to leap up and challenge Magus. He waited until they were well down the path before moving. Magus was obviously taking her home, whatever had happened up here now finished.

  When he was sure it was safe Yul went over to the great stone and was shocked to see it glowing a ghostly blue-silver, luminous in the moonlight. He reached over to touch it and received the same jolt that Magus had experienced. Yul’s eyes widened in surprise, and then realisation. He climbed onto the great Mooncliffe disc and lay down on the spot where Sylvie had fallen. He too felt the energy soaking into him and closed his eyes. All around him the stars twinkled like bright diamonds in the warm June night, the only sounds the distant hooting of owls and barking of foxes.

  Magus tapped the front door of the cottage with his boot. It was opened immediately by Miranda, her face twisted with concern.

  ‘Thank goodness! I’ve been so worried! Magus, what’s happened? Is she alright?’

  ‘She’s fine, just a little tired. I’ll take her straight up to her bed.’

  He climbed the narrow stairs and laid Sylvie down. She opened her eyes drowsily as her head hit the pillow, but was asleep again almost instantly.

  ‘You must get her out of that dress,’ Magus said to Miranda, who’d followed him up. ‘She’ll spoil it if she sleeps in it, and it cost a fortune.’

  ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t know she intended to wear it tonight.’

  ‘No matter. She’ll probably be very tired tomorrow so let her miss school. Take the day off yourself so you can look after her. She’ll need to sleep.’

  ‘But what happened? Did she meet that boy? Why’s she so exhausted?’

  ‘She’s been cavorting about in the moonlight and no, she didn’t meet him but only because I stopped her. She was on her way into the woods to find him, despite all my instructions to the contrary.’

  They went downstairs and Magus headed straight for the door. It was the Moon Fullness and he had other things to do before he could eventually get to his bed. At the door he stopped to kiss Miranda and she melted into his arms, desperately hoping to keep him there. Sylvie’s words earlier in the day played through her head – maybe he didn’t want her any more. She fawned all over him but after a minute he extricated himself from her embrace.

  ‘Listen, Miranda. I think Sylvie has some special sort of … illness, sensitivity, call it what you will,’ he said. ‘It’s linked to the full moon, that’s for sure.’

  ‘But I thought she was getting over her illnesses. I thought she’d been healed at Stonewylde.’

 
‘Yes she has, but this is something different – a lunacy in the true sense of the word. I believe I can help her, but it may take some time to cure and I’ll need to keep watch over her. And of course I want to have you close too. So when I come back from my business trip, I suggest you both move up to the Hall.’

  Miranda was delighted and kissed him again, hugging him tightly. He was shimmering with energy, almost glowing with it, and she felt such an attraction to him. Magus smiled at her enthusiasm and once more disentangled himself from her arms.

  ‘So we’ll be moving in with you?’ she said excitedly, still trying to cling to him. ‘Oh, that’ll be wonderful! Especially with the baby coming.’

  He frowned at her.

  ‘No, I didn’t mean move in with me – not into my rooms. I’ll have a suite made available for you and Sylvie, and the baby when it arrives. I’ve already told you how our relationship has to be and it doesn’t entail us living together in that way. I’m sorry, Miranda, but I thought you understood that.’

  She stared down at the floor, her excitement crushed.

  ‘Of course, Magus. I just thought … I thought maybe you’d changed your mind. When you said you wanted me close.’

  ‘Close, but not that close. I need to keep an eye on Sylvie and this moongaziness. She’s not well and she’s a danger to herself.’

  ‘Oh, I see. So it’s not me you want close, it’s Sylvie.’

  ‘Don’t be silly – it’s both of you I’m thinking of. She needs protection and you can’t possibly manage her on your own. I want to help, and as the magus it’s my responsibility to take care of her. Now I’m sorry, but I really must go. I have things to do. I’ll be back tomorrow to check she’s alright. Goodnight, Miranda.’

  As he walked back to the Hall, Magus smiled to himself. He now had the key to the future of Stonewylde, all thanks to Sylvie and her moongaziness. She was the channel for the moon magic and he could receive it every month through her, fill himself to the brim with her gift. The lack of Earth Magic at the Summer Solstice no longer mattered – he now had an additional power source.

  He strode down the corridor and tapped on a door, entering at once.

  ‘Are you ready?’ he asked, his voice deep and inviting. ‘I’m all yours now. Sorry it’s so much later than I said. There were a few unexpected developments with my earlier engagement but I’m sure you’ll feel it was worth waiting for. It’s a beautiful night out there …’

  The young doctor smiled and left the room with him, shaking with excitement as they went down the wide stairs to the entrance hall. Magus’ eyes gleamed as he led her out through the great front door and into the moonlight. It was indeed a beautiful night.

  ‘What on earth are you doing here?’ asked Miranda sharply, glaring at the dark-haired boy standing on her door step in the bright morning sun. He wore the rough spun clothes and heavy leather boots of the Villagers. He looked down guiltily, long curls falling over his face.

  ‘I’m sorry to trouble you, ma’am,’ he mumbled. Then he looked up and she was struck by the beauty of his eyes; a deep, clear grey, long lashed and slightly slanted. He was a very good-looking lad and she could quite understand why Sylvie found him attractive.

  ‘If Magus knows you’ve been here …’ she said, shaking her head.

  ‘I know – please don’t be angry. I was worried about Sylvie and I just wanted to know if she’s alright.’

  His eyes were beseeching and she steeled herself, remembering Magus had said he was manipulative and cunning.

  ‘I don’t see that Sylvie’s welfare is any concern of yours,’ she snapped. ‘In fact, it was thanks to you that she was so ill last month. So if you don’t mind …’

  She started to shut the door but he took a step forward to stop her. She frowned at his hand holding her front door. It reminded her of Magus’ hands; long fingered and square nailed.

  ‘Let go! I’m warning you, Magus will hear about this.’

  ‘Please, ma’am, just tell me if she’s alright. That’s all I want to know and then I’ll go.’

  ‘Sylvie’s fine. She’s very tired and still asleep, but she’s absolutely fine – not that it’s any concern of yours.’

  His relief was almost comical. He smiled and his whole face lit up.

  ‘Oh thank you, ma’am! When she wakes up please tell her I asked after her. I won’t bother you again and I’m sorry I did, but I had to know. Thank you! Blessings on you.’

  He smiled at her again and, despite herself, she warmed to him slightly – he did seem a sweet boy.

  ‘Just don’t come here again or I’ll have to tell Magus.’

  Miranda shut the door firmly and sighed. She hadn’t strictly told the truth – Sylvie was totally exhausted, drained of every drop of energy. She was deathly pale with great dark rings under her eyes and had been whimpering in her sleep. Miranda had tried to wake her but she was limp and unresponsive. It wasn’t anything like the previous month when she’d had a fever after being out in the rain; this was almost more worrying as there seemed to be no reason for her awful lethargy. She wished that Magus would hurry up and call soon.

  Magus had every intention of checking on Sylvie but at that moment was in his office. Situated in a wing at the rear of the Hall, it overlooked a beautiful sunken stone garden full of white flowers, whose scent wafted in through the open windows. The large room was lined with many books and several paintings, and one side was devoted to a humming network of computers. Magus looked out through the French windows, not noticing the bright butterflies dancing in the white garden below. His fingers drummed edgily on the woodwork; he was full of restless energy.

  A servant brought in a tray of coffee and pastries and Magus looked impatiently at his watch, which was now functional again. When the heavy oak door finally swung open he spun round and exclaimed loudly at the sight of his brother.

  ‘About time too, Clip! I thought we’d agreed to meet first thing this morning.’

  The thinner, wispy-haired brother ambled over to the old leather sofas and sank down in one, stretching out his long legs and laying his head wearily against the backrest.

  ‘You sent me a message to come, Sol. I don’t think I actually agreed to be here first thing. You know how I am the day after the Moon Fullness.’

  Magus sat down on the other sofa and poured coffee, watching as his older brother gulped it down. Clip had clearly been out all night and still wore his summer cloak, full of burrs and twigs. His blond hair was wild and his grey eyes faraway.

  ‘Good journey? I assume that’s what you’ve been doing all night.’

  ‘Extraordinary. I was at the dolmen up past the heath. Remember it?’

  ‘Oh yes, I remember it,’ smiled Magus, recalling boyhood adventures at the strange place. The massive stones made a small chamber, with a roof formed by a huge flat stone. It was in this Neolithic place that Clip often spent the nights of the Moon Fullness and festivals, travelling on shamanic journeys with the help of an aromatic fire and various herbs and spices.

  ‘You’re looking full of yourself today, Sol. In fact, you’re quite radiant – what’s happened? I take it all went well last night with our little moongazy newcomer? You stopped her meeting up with the Village boy?’

  Clip helped himself to a pastry and Magus joined him.

  ‘I’m so damn hungry this morning,’ he said. ‘Yes, it was amazing – you won’t believe what happened! You may have to help me, Clip, as I’m off to London soon and we need to get a few things in place before the next Moon Fullness.’

  As the two men wolfed down the plate of pastries and drained the coffee pot, Magus told Clip about his experience at Mooncliffe the night before and Sylvie’s incredible ability to channel the full moon energy.

  ‘It sounds as if the stone’s acting like a kind of battery, storing the power,’ said Clip thoughtfully.

  ‘That’s right! I went up there early this morning and the rock’s still full of it. Not as strong as last night, of course, bu
t still powerful. You must come up yourself and feel it.’

  ‘And you say that once she was standing there she couldn’t get down again?’

  ‘No, it was strange. At first she danced around on the grass like some sort of bizarre bird, but once she’d jumped up on the stone she froze, almost as if she’d petrified. I could see that she wanted to get off, that it was … uncomfortable, but she was completely unable to move.’

  ‘And you left her up there? You’re a sadistic bastard, Sol. Always have been, ever since you were a boy.’

  Magus smiled sardonically and raised his eyebrows.

  ‘But I get results, don’t I? I tell you, once you’ve experienced that moon magic you’ll want more. I’ve never felt like this before, not even after the Solstice energy. I’ve been making plans this morning and I’ve got some great ideas.’

  ‘Just so long as I don’t have to do anything,’ yawned Clip.

  ‘I may be a sadistic bastard, but you’re a lazy one,’ said Magus, an edge to his voice. ‘Yes you do have to do something. Because you’ll benefit from this too.’

  ‘How? I’m not interested in your empire building. I don’t want to be any part of your schemes and dreams, you know that. I’ve always made it clear that you must leave me out of your grand plans.’

  ‘You’re the owner of Stonewylde, Clip. You’re a part of it whether you like it or not.’

  ‘It’s nothing to do with me, Sol, all this expansion. I didn’t want to open up the quarry and bring in van loads of illegal immigrants to risk their lives quarrying the stone. I don’t want to build a new school to cope with this population explosion you’ve encouraged, or holiday homes for Hallfolk so they’ll pay through the nose for the privilege of staying here. I don’t want any part of the investments or the stock market scams or the offshore trusts, or this fortune you’re earning from your company’s wheeling and dealing.’

  ‘Oh for Goddess’ sake, Clip, I—’

  ‘No! This is your lifestyle, not mine! I don’t want to be adored by every woman and treated like some sort of god. I don’t want any part of the whole empire thing, which is why I let you be magus instead of me. So don’t try and rope me into any of it, Sol. All I ask is to live at Stonewylde when I want to, and to travel when I need to. And to feel the Earth Magic, honour the Goddess, and take part in the rituals and ceremonies.’