of time. That had been the problem all along. Since that fated Winter Solstice when the community had risen up to overthrow their magus, Maizie had played a leading role. She and Miranda had been the ones who guided their pair of star-blessed children through those difficult years, helping to run Stonewylde. Together with Clip, the two women had set up the Council of Elders; Maizie had worked incredibly hard ever since and her children had been forced to fend for themselves.
There’d been so much to do in the early days. The loss of Magus had been deeply felt by everyone and the future of Stonewylde had seemed very shaky. Sheer determination on the part of Clip, Maizie and Miranda, along with others appointed to the Council, had eventually averted the crisis. Together they’d reorganised the great estate in a way that Magus would’ve hated. The longer she did the job, the more grudging respect Maizie felt for him; Magus had single-handedly done what it now took a whole group of people to do. And in her heart she sometimes wondered if the people of Stonewylde were any happier today, with their education and freedom, than they’d been under his rule. Not that she’d ever voice such thoughts, and especially not to her son, who was in his own way as hard and single-minded as his father had been. Such treachery from his own mother would infuriate him.
‘Sit down, Leveret,’ said Maizie tersely, struggling to remain calm and in control. The girl groaned loudly and flung herself down onto one of the wooden chairs. She slumped across the table and gazed moodily at her mother. She knew exactly what was coming now: the lecture about her place in the society of Stonewylde, how as the magus’ sister she must set a good example to other young people, how she let Maizie down with her behaviour, how different she was from her perfect sister Rosie, and finally how, if she didn’t change her ways, Yul would be informed and there’d be a severe punishment.
She rolled her green eyes in boredom as the familiar tirade began, and started to make a mental list of the fungi still to be harvested before the Dark Moon at the end of the month. The fact that the Dark Moon fell on the night of Samhain itself was very exciting indeed. She was planning to try a spell that night, for if ever a spell were to work it’d be at the moment when the Dark Moon coincided with Samhain. She shivered with anticipation and a small smile spread across her mouth.
‘… and Rosie would never have— Leveret, you’re not even listening!’
To their mutual astonishment her mother jerked forward and slapped her sharply round the face. Leveret gasped and stared at her in shock, placing a hand on the stinging imprint on her cheek. Maizie gaped in horror too and sank back into her seat, covering her mouth with her hand. She’d broken one of the most fundamental laws of Stonewylde; the first one passed by Yul and the one he cared most passionately about.
Nobody shall ever strike a child.
‘That was your fault!’ whispered Maizie shakily. ‘I’m sorry I did it, but you are the rudest child I’ve ever met and I’ve had enough of it.’
‘You hit me!’ squeaked Leveret in disbelief, tears springing to her eyes. ‘I can’t believe you hit me.’
‘Oh for goddess’ sake, girl, I hardly touched you. ‘Twas just a little slap.’
‘No it wasn’t – it hurt and I bet there’s a mark on my face.’
‘Not really. And besides, that just shows how you’ve pushed me to the end o’ my rope! Six children I’ve raised before you, five of ’em unruly lads, and I’ve never lifted a hand to any of them. But you …’
‘You hit me, Mother.’
Maizie tried to laugh.
‘Rubbish! You’ve no idea what being hit means. Believe me, Leveret, that were nothing. If you could’ve seen what went on in this very cottage in the old days to your poor brother … the beatings that boy took right here in this room. Don’t make a fuss about a silly little thing like that. You know I didn’t mean it.’
Leveret stood up angrily, the tears forgotten and her nostrils flaring as she blazed her fury at her mother.
‘Nothing I say or do or feel ever matters one bit, does it, Mother? Because it’s nothing compared to what happened to Yul or Rosie or any of the boys. Whatever it is,