be one of the few Stonewylders so far to go on and study at university. Edward, his father, had very high hopes for him. Kestrel’s smile was ready and charming, his features perfect, and he treated the Stonewylde girls as a list to be worked through.
‘She’s had her implant then?’
‘Of course! I’m not going to risk anything, am I? How about you lot, then? Got any little honeypots lined up for the Moon Fullness?’
They all shook their heads.
‘Though that Becky at college – she’d be up for it if she was here,’ said Jay. ‘Pity we can’t bring Outside girls back here. She’s gagging for me.’
Kestrel laughed at this.
‘Yeah, gagging would be the best thing for her, mate, with the mouth on her. Or better still, a paper bag over her head.’ He ducked as Jay made a half-hearted swing at him. ‘Only joking! She’s alright. Maybe we could arrange for some girls to visit. Not that I’ve noticed a shortage of home-grown ones, mind you. That little Sorrel … phew! She’s so keen. And there’s Daisy too, all ready to be picked. I’ve got my work cut out for me. I can’t understand what’s wrong with the rest of you.’
Kestrel knew perfectly well that the others in his gang didn’t share his success with girls. Jay was too aggressive, too quick to fly off the handle. Gefrin was a fool, though Kestrel knew he was keen on some gormless girl at the farm where he now worked every day. Sweyn was probably terrified of girls and wouldn’t know where to begin, which he hid behind a great show of indifference. And Swift … Kestrel wasn’t sure about him. Swift was a bit of a dark horse and he was far too clever for his own good. The older boy decided he’d have to watch Swift in case he turned out to be a rival. He’d noticed girls giving the blond-haired boy the eye, despite his slight build. Kestrel, being tall and muscular, couldn’t understand what any girl would see in a slim, smaller lad. But Swift wasn’t quite an adult yet, in the Stonewylde sense, so Kestrel dismissed any threat from him. He took another gulp of mead and gazed up at the bright moon. Sorrel could wait another ten minutes or so – do her good.
‘Have you heard what happened with that sister of yours?’ Swift asked Gefrin and Sweyn.
‘Stupid bitch, what’s she done now? Apart from making an idiot of herself this morning in assembly,’ said Sweyn. ‘I was bloody embarrassed, I can tell you.’
‘Yeah, and that half-wit cousin of mine,’ agreed Jay, cracking his knuckles. ‘Thank goddess I wasn’t there to see it. Is he going to get it tonight when I drop by at the cottage later on for a smoke!’
Gefrin giggled at this.
‘So what happened with Leveret then?’ asked Kestrel. ‘I heard she was rude to Miranda, wasn’t she?’
‘That’s right – flicked her in front of everyone. So Miranda told her she was on work detail for two weeks,’ said Swift.
‘Hah! No less than the old cow deserves,’ said Jay. ‘I’d have liked to give her the flick myself many a time.’
‘Yeah, miserable old bitch,’ agreed Gefrin. ‘But two weeks’ work detail just for flicking?’
‘Seems a bit steep,’ said Kestrel.
‘Then Yul started having a go at Leveret as well,’ said Swift.
‘Good,’ grunted Sweyn. ‘About time he did something useful. He ought to bring back whipping like they used in the old days and start with her.’
‘No chance of that,’ said Swift. ‘But she did try to snitch on you two. Screamed at Yul about some of the things you’ve done to her.’
‘Little bitch!’ hissed Gefrin. ‘So now we’re in for it!’
‘No, not at all. Maizie stuck up for you both and then Yul joined in. He told Leveret he didn’t believe her.’
Both brothers burst out laughing at this.
‘Did you really stuff her into a tiny cupboard?’
‘Too right! Didn’t think we’d get the door shut, but we did. She weren’t very happy in there.’
‘Well, when Yul said he didn’t believe her she totally flipped and he had to get Hazel in to deal with her.’
‘Hazel? Was Lev ill then?’
‘She went crazy and passed out – all very dramatic.’
Jay whistled.
‘She really is mental, ain’t she? They should put her in a straitjacket and lock her in a padded cell. Just like they did to Sylvie.’
They all laughed at this.
‘So where is she now?’
‘In the hospital wing. She’ll go to Yul’s rooms when she’s better.’