I’m not leaving at all. Not ever. I’ll do my exams here because you said I had to, though I’d rather have done the practical course like my brothers and Rosie. I only agreed to the exams because you said it’d make you proud, but I’m not doing any more after my last year at school here. I know exactly what I want to do and it’s not studying in the Outside World.’
Maizie stared at her youngest child in dismay, two bright spots of anger burning on her plump cheeks.
‘Oh, so you do know what you want to be, then? And what is that, Leveret? A farm labourer like Gefrin? Or a tanner like Sweyn? Or in the orchards with Geoffrey? Maybe thatching like Gregory? Or in the dairy with your sister?’
‘No, I—’
‘You’re the only one with a bright star inside you, Leveret! The only one who could go on to university and study and—’
‘Except for Yul.’
‘Well yes. Yul did it and you could be like him too! You’re a very clever girl – don’t throw it all away.’
‘I won’t throw it all away. I want to be a healer, a herbalist, and—’
‘Then be a proper doctor!’
‘NO!! I won’t go away and study to be a doctor! I want to be a Wise Woman, Mother, like there used to be at Stonewylde.’
‘A Wise Woman?’ Maizie’s voice cracked in disbelief. ‘You mean like that nasty old biddy Violet? And her crazed sister Vetchling? Is that what you mean?’
‘No! I mean like old Mother Heggy.’
There was a silence, then Maizie let out a harsh laugh and banged the iron skillet she was drying onto the table. She shook her head, the spots on her cheeks grown now to large flushes.
‘What would you know about that old crone? ‘Twas because of her and her mad prophecies that your poor brother suffered all those years. ‘Twas because of her that Magus turned against me and became such a wicked man. If she’d only kept her wild rantings to herself! She were raving mad and she’s a lot to answer for!’
‘But I thought you all honoured her? Yul and Sylvie honoured her and I heard she was gifted and magical.’
‘Oh yes she was, and Yul and Sylvie did honour her right enough because ‘twas she as brought ’em together. But Old Heggy caused so much misery too, with her crazy caperings up at the Stone Circle when your brother were born, summoning the Dark Angel, blighting the boy’s childhood. And you want to be like her? Hah! If you want to end up a filthy old hag on a hill with no friends nor family, my girl, then good luck to you!’
Leveret looked sadly at her mother, who’d worked herself up into a spitting rage. She knew just how upset Maizie was but there was nothing she could do.
‘I’m really sorry, Mother. I don’t want to disappoint you, but it’s better you know now, isn’t it?’
‘Oh don’t you worry about how I feel!’ snapped Maizie, snatching her cloak from the peg. ‘Next year you’ll be living up at the Hall along with all the other fifteen-year-olds. Then I can wash my hands o’ the lot of you. Nearly twenty-nine years I’ve spent raising children and I’ll be glad to be done with it. ‘Tis a thankless task, I can tell you. You go ahead, Leveret, and become a “Wise Woman”. But don’t expect any customers. Folk at Stonewylde want a proper doctor nowadays, not some old biddy with dandelion tea and love potions, and Yul won’t let you do it for long. Everyone here has to earn their living and he’ll find you something fitting, I’m sure. Maybe he’ll let you grow vegetables up at the Hall. And in the meantime, my girl, I want this cloth woven tonight. Do you understand?’
‘Yes, Mother.’
‘Sweyn should be here any minute and—’
‘No! Oh Mother, please don’t get him round! You know I’m behaving myself and I promise I’ll stay in and do the weaving. Please!’
But Maizie smiled tightly.
‘You let me down once too often and now I don’t trust you, Leveret. Sweyn’s coming to keep an eye on you and from now on him or Gefrin’ll make sure you behave yourself. I’m very glad Sylvie thought of it.’
‘Please, Mother, I beg you! You don’t know what he’s like when he gets me alone.’
‘You’re wasting your breath, Leveret, and talking rubbish too. I told you all this before, many a time – I won’t listen to your lies about