because I understand what was said at Samhain about Stonewylde needing to sell things to make money. But it’s gone too far.’
Several of the Council Elders nodded at this and murmured agreement.
‘My goodwife said everyone’s grumbling like a bunged-up wasps’ nest,’ said old Greenbough. ‘Got to make this, got to make that … she said folk are fed up being told they got to make stuff they used to make for the love of it. ‘Tis no pleasure no more.’
‘Aye, however many bits o’ linen she embroiders, my goodwife says Harold’s list says she must do more and more!’ said Hart indignantly. ‘Every blooming night she’s at it, and my daughters and all, and they’re right fed up.’
‘Everyone’s happy to do what they can,’ said Maizie, ‘and everyone gives o’ their time willingly. But now ‘tis beyond that – the loving care’s gone out of it and ‘tis done grudgingly. Though I’ve tried to smooth things over many a time, when the folk complain about being told what to do by a jumped-up boy who—’
She stopped abruptly, seeing Harold’s ears burning scarlet.
“Tis true there’s grumbling and moaning in the Village,’ agreed Cherry, ‘but I’d rather see them lazy youngsters in the Hall having to work in the evenings making things for Harold than watching television every night and playing their horrible music so loud! And as for that there Internet … all that fiddling about and clicking ‘tis not right and I know I sound old-fashioned but I still don’t like it! The one good thing about Harold’s damn quotas is it keeps them work-shy lazy lot o’ youngsters busy and …’
Yul clapped his hands angrily to call the meeting to order, glaring around at everyone present. Clip was away with the fairies as usual but everyone else looked grim and discontented.
‘Come, where’s your loyalty to Stonewylde and the community?’ he said sharply. ‘You all know why we need these goods – that’s not up for discussion today. As the Council Elders it’s your responsibility to explain to the folk why we need everyone to work extra hard in the next few months, and to quell the complaining. Enough! Edward – what news on the agricultural front?’
‘Very poor,’ said Edward sadly. ‘I wish I had good news to cheer everyone’s hearts but I don’t. One o’ the big tractors broke its axle last week, as many of you’ve already heard, and that’s affected the work badly. We’re way behind and ‘twill be at least another fortnight afore it’s mended, ‘cos the new parts have to be shipped over and all. We had a fire in a hayrick up at Tall Trees Farm and now one o’ the grain silos over at Old Meadows Farm is riddled with rats. There’s a right plague o’ them and the all the grain there’s tainted now. We put in traps and cats and old Feverfew bought his terriers in too, but them rats are everywhere.’
‘Tell ’em about the cows too,’ said Robin sadly.
‘Aye, one o’ the best dairy herds broke through a fence – don’t ask me how ‘cos I don’t rightly know how the silly girls managed it. Several o’ them drowned in the slurry pit afore we could get ’em out.’
Everyone nodded – this was common knowledge and had been very upsetting.
‘Then there’s that horrible mite that’s got into our chickens – we never seen it afore and we called in a new vet now. We could do with our own vet, you know, Yul. We always had the knowledge how to deal with sicknesses – our cunning men could do most o’ the healing and remedies for the livestock – but lately there’s been some strange stuff going around. We found a whole batch o’ prime wheat ready for milling has got the mildew and rotted away. And of course this damn cough and cold has got to many o’ the workers too. I never seen so many grown men take to their beds afore, but ‘tis a genuine ailment and they’re as weak as kittens with it.’
Edward stopped, shaking his great head in dismay.
‘I’m sorry, Yul, that it’s all bad news. As Sylvie says, maybe after Imbolc things’ll pick up a bit. I hope so – couldn’t get much worse.’
The circle of people all sat quietly for a moment reflecting on Edward’s words. Yul scratched around for something positive to raise everyone’s spirits but couldn’t think of anything – he felt horribly gloomy himself.
‘Well, despite Martin’s doom-mongering, the Outsiders’ Dance