into the kitchen to check on her fruit pies baking in the oven and Leveret sat down at the table and started teasing out a pile of wool for felt-making. She’d taken Yul’s words to heart and was trying very hard to help her mother more. Yul had been right – Maizie did look tired nowadays.
Just then the door crashed open and in walked Sweyn and Gefrin. Maizie called out to them from the kitchen to sit down and she’d bring them in some mulled wine in a minute. They both stared at Leveret.
‘We just heard you’re going to the Outsiders’ Dance tonight, Lev!’
‘That’s right.’
‘Why?’
‘Why not?’
They both laughed.
‘I can think of lots of reasons why not,’ said Sweyn, his voice low so Maizie, clattering in the kitchen, couldn’t hear. ‘You’ll stand out amongst all those lovely Outside girls and we’ll be so embarrassed if anyone realises you’re our sister. You’re an ugly little bitch and—’
‘Wine’s warming up!’ called Maizie. ‘Won’t be long.’
‘And we don’t want you there cramping our style,’ added Gefrin. ‘Showing us up.’
He sat down opposite her and kicked her hard under the table. She flinched from the pain but carried on pulling at the clumps of raw wool, teasing it to fluffiness, keeping her head down. Sweyn came and stood behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders. His thick fingers dug cruelly into her collar bones making her gasp.
‘And Jay’s really got it in for you,’ he warned. ‘I mean really. He said you insulted him at the Moon Fullness. He don’t take that from no one but especially not you. Jay can be … well, put it this way, he’s a vicious bugger when he gets going. Don’t expect us to stick up for you – we’ll just walk away and leave him to it.’
Gefrin giggled.
‘We’ve seen Jay in action and it’s not pretty. I’ve heard people say his father Jackdaw was the same and he killed his wife, didn’t he? Like father like son. So watch out, Hare-brain, ‘cos he’s out to get you. He’ll be specially looking for you tonight.’
Maizie came in triumphantly, rosy-cheeked from the oven heat, bearing a tray of cups and a jug of steaming wine that smelt of blackberries, cloves and nutmeg.
‘Have you heard that Leveret’s coming to the party tonight?’ she said brightly, pouring the mulled wine and handing it round. ‘She’s got a lovely new dress and she’ll look so pretty.’
Sweyn choked into his wine and grinned at his brother.
‘We was just saying we’ll look out for her tonight, make sure she’s alright.’
‘Ah, that’s really nice of you boys – thank you. She’s very nervous, you see, and though I’ll be there at the beginning to help serve the food, I can’t stay all night. ‘Tis for the young people and Yul says we must leave you all to it once the party’s found its feet. If you’ll be looking after her I won’t need to worry.’
‘No problem, Mother,’ said Gefrin. ‘’Tis our pleasure.’
‘See, Leveret?’ said Maizie cheerfully. ‘Your brothers’ll make sure you have a special evening.’
‘We certainly will, Mother!’ said Sweyn, putting his arm round Leveret’s shoulders and squeezing her hard. She cringed at his touch. ‘We’ll make sure it’s a very special evening for her.’
Leveret stood outside the entrance to the Great Barn trembling like a kitten.
‘I can’t go in there, Mother!’
‘Don’t be silly – o’ course you can!’
‘Everyone’ll stare and laugh at me.’
‘No they won’t. If they stare at you ‘tis only because you look so lovely.’
It was true. Maizie was amazed at just how lovely Leveret looked. She’d always been such a tom-boy but tonight she’d blossomed into a beautiful young girl on the cusp of womanhood. The dress fitted like a dream, the tight bodice emphasising her surprisingly rounded breasts and tiny waist whilst the longer skirt gave her a bit of extra height, perfect as she was so small. They’d tied a scarlet ribbon round her neck with her silver charm – the crescent moon or bow of the Huntress – hanging from it. Most young people wore their Naming Ceremony charm until their Rite of Adulthood when it was replaced by the pewter pendant; it was a way of showing whether or not they were adults.
Maizie had insisted on sweeping up her long glossy curls and pinning them in a knot. With her wild hair swept back, Leveret was transformed. The sharp, pointy face with slanted green cat’s eyes became elegant, even delicate, and her eyes were stunning without dark