that hung from its massive rafters. They liked the old-fashioned Christmas decorations, which had been left up in the end, and were amazed at the size of the barn. They noticed the tables of food that lined one wall and the bar with its wooden barrels, rows of bottles and jugs of juice and water. After the wild speculation that had been rife during the coach ride, everything seemed quite civilised after all.
Coats were taken and put into a side room for later. People hung around in small groups eyeing the central stone-flagged area that was clearly a dance floor, and the bales of straw, upturned logs and wooden benches dotted around for seating. Those Stonewylders who attended college began to mingle, shouting welcomes over the music, taking their friends to get drinks from the bar. And so the first ever Outsiders’ Dance began.
Leveret hid behind the food tables in terror. She was one of the youngest there; no one from her year-group had yet visited the Outside World and wouldn’t until February. She was aghast at the sight of so many unfamiliar faces. Growing up in a closed community meant that every single person she ever saw was known and recognised. Their clothes were so strange, so completely different. Even though the Stonewylders who went to college wore Outside clothes sometimes, theirs were fairly ordinary, everyday outfits. But most of these visitors wore incredible, bizarre party things. Leveret couldn’t understand why some of the girls’ shoes were so contorted. How could they possibly walk when their feet were tilted and crushed like that? And the makeup – it was as if they’d painted themselves to act in a drama. She stood and gawped in pure disbelief.
Kestrel was acting as the host, feeling responsible for the evening. It had been his idea in the first place and Yul had warned him that should anything go wrong, he’d be held responsible and the event would never be repeated. But rather than worrying about it Kestrel was revelling in his role, loving being at the centre of attention and the leader of the event. He’d rejected Outside clothes and decided to make a feature of his difference, being smart enough to realise that to Outsiders he must seem rather exotic. He wore the traditional festival clothes: narrow black linen trousers, black leather Stonewylde boots with their unique shape, and a flowing white shirt of the finest material.
Kestrel looked devastatingly handsome with his hazelnut-brown hair and laughing blue eyes and every girl in the place was aware of him. Leveret was no exception. She’d located him and now watched him carefully; he was the sort of person impossible to ignore and was doing the rounds, ensuring all the visitors had drinks and food. Leveret shrunk into the shadows as a group approached the food table she hid behind. She slipped off to one side in case she’d have to serve anyone, not wanting any contact with the strangers.
As she stood huddled by the wall, her eyes wide with curiosity and shyness, Swift spotted her and came over. Although she still was unsure about him she was relieved to talk to someone familiar
‘I didn’t recognise you, Leveret,’ he said, standing close enough that he didn’t have to shout. ‘What a transformation!’
She gave him a sideways look and smiled slightly.
‘You’ll turn a few heads tonight, I expect,’ he continued.
‘Hardly, with all these amazing Outsiders – they’re the head-turners.’
‘Only to those who haven’t seen them before. They’re quite familiar to the Stonewylde college people and even I recognise a lot of them from my visits.’
‘Will you be going on to college next autumn?’ she asked.
‘Without a doubt, and probably to university too like Kestrel.’
‘He’s leaving then next year?’ Her heart sank although she’d always known it was likely; he was one of the highest fliers of his year group.
‘Yes – Kes is very clever. And what about you, Leveret – what are your plans? I know you’re a high achiever too.’
She grimaced and shook her head, and Swift was quite fascinated by the delicacy of her jaw and neck, the plane of her cheekbones. Leveret had spent her entire life hiding behind the mass of dark curls. Whoever would’ve thought there was a real beauty, invisible up until now, dwelling in their midst.
‘I don’t ever want to leave Stonewylde,’ she replied and he laughed.
‘You’ll change your mind once you’ve visited the Outside World – we all do.’
They stood quietly for a while watching the groups of