apart. Deep inside, a little piece of her started to melt. Maybe she could tell him everything: her dream of being Stonewylde’s Wise Woman, her need to be free to roam, her fear of Sweyn and Gefrin and their cruel treatment. Maybe he’d understand and be on her side. They’d been really close once – maybe it could be like that again. She sat back a little on the sofa and turned to face him. His eyes were closed and his mouth soft, and she longed to hug him tight like she used to.
‘Yul, I—’
The intercom phone buzzed and he wearily opened his eyes and rose to answer it. Leveret sat there thinking of how to begin. She felt as if a great weight had been lifted. She should’ve come to Yul before – they’d always loved each other and maybe he’d only shut her out because he was so busy and preoccupied, not realising how much it hurt her. He slammed the phone down hard and strode back to stand before her. The sadness had vanished and his face was now taut and angry.
‘Right, Leveret. I’ve tried but have clearly not got through to you. So—’
‘Yul, I want to talk! I think—’
‘No! I’ve wasted enough time. You’ve had your chance to talk but we’ve been going round in circles here and now I’ve missed an important call, and you’ve managed to miss the rest of your lesson, which is probably what you wanted. I hear that you’re not working hard any more. Mother told me you don’t want to continue your studies after your exams, but be assured that you will. You’re blessed with intelligence and by goddess you’ll use it. I’ll be checking up on you at school regularly from now on, Leveret, and if I see you’re not working hard I’ll start breathing down your neck. You’ll start co-operating with Mother and do all the work you have to do at home just like every other person at Stonewylde. We grow our food and we make our clothes – it’s part of our lives here and you’re no exception.’
‘No, but you are,’ she muttered, her throat constricted with unshed tears at his sudden volte-face from the kind brother to magus.
‘WHAT?’
‘You don’t grow your food or make your clothes. Neither does your wife.’
‘Don’t you dare answer me back like that!’
She shrugged and stared ahead, her body once more stiff and defiant.
‘You will toe the line, Leveret, or suffer the consequences.’
‘Which are?’
Yul could bear her insolence no longer. He yanked her up from the sofa and gripped her by the shoulders, his fingers digging into the delicate bones, stooping so his face was level with hers. Flashing grey eyes locked onto rebellious green ones. She wouldn’t drop her gaze but sent out pulses of anger at him. His face darkened dangerously and she felt him tremble, struggling to control his rage. She almost wanted to laugh out loud at the power she had over him – she’d never seen him this angry before. He saw the exultation in her eyes and for a second she thought she’d gone too far, pushed him beyond control. She almost had. But Yul’s past was the most powerful factor in all that he did. Slowly and carefully he let go of her shoulders, straightened up and took a step back. He breathed deeply, consciously unclenching his jaw.
‘We’ll discuss the consequences at the end of school today – come back here then. Return to your lessons now and apologise for your absence. That’s all.’
Dismissed, she walked stiff-legged from the room and spent the rest of the morning worrying herself silly about what he was going to do. It made her angry that this was exactly what he’d intended.
At lunch time, she trooped into the Dining Hall and queued with everyone at the big serving tables for her food. She really didn’t want lunch but knew she needed to eat; she’d felt dizzy and weak all morning. The noise was terrible in here and she contemplated just walking out and skipping school completely for the afternoon. She could go home, get some bread and cheese and spend the afternoon out in the open. But Leveret knew that would only bring down more trouble on her head, especially if Yul wanted to see her later after lessons.
Feeling utterly despondent, she shuffled along in the queue with all the other students, slowly reaching the serving tables. Marigold stood here, sporting a large colourful apron and flushed cheeks.