Shaman of Stonewylde (50 page)

Hazel had noticed Buzz’s full mouthful of carefully maintained teeth, and guessed he’d had an implant to replace the tooth Yul had knocked out all those years ago. His nose was perfect and that too must have been surgically remodelled, for Yul had made a complete mess of it. But she guessed the real scars from Buzz’s humiliating defeat went a great deal deeper, and this attempt to return as the great benefactor was all tied up with that.

‘We already have a first class medical centre here.’

‘But why not accept my generosity?’

‘Precisely because it’s that –
your
generosity!’ said Miranda, and Hazel nodded.

‘Why so much hostility?’ he asked sadly, spreading his hands
in
bewildered supplication. ‘All I’m trying to do is help.’

‘The thing is, Buzz, we’re not daft and we’re all aware that you’re just playing games. We don’t want your help – we know it would come at too high a price,’ said Miranda firmly. ‘Why wait all these years to inform us that Leveret, Faun and Rufus are beneficiaries of Magus’ Will?’

‘There was no obligation to inform anyone,’ he replied, ‘and the original Trustee thought it better to wait.’

‘You were just holding on until you had enough money personally to come back here and dazzle everyone with your wealth,’ said Hazel. ‘We want none of your business tactics and power struggles. Nor do we want a return to the ‘us and them’ regime, Hallfolk and Villagers. We’re a simple but autonomous community and we intend to stay that way.’

Whilst the debate was going on in the Galleried Hall, Magpie had wandered into the kitchens for a drink before starting work in the Kitchen Garden. Leveret was visiting the elderly folk in their wing at the back of the Hall; she’d gleaned so much of the old knowledge and wisdom from them over the past months and enjoyed spending time there.

Marigold and Cherry had discussed cleaning the grand apartments where Buzz had slept, but decided to leave them be. Hopefully he wouldn’t be staying beyond today and neither was prepared to do anything to make him comfortable. But they’d agreed it might be useful for Marigold to pop in there whilst everyone was in the Council of Elders meeting, just for a little look around. So when Magpie had finished his drink, Marigold took his arm and asked him to come with her as she was a little nervous of snooping about up there alone.

She felt very strange tip-toeing into the sitting room like a thief, with Magpie close behind. He’d never been in these chambers before and stood there awkwardly in the middle of the great room staring around in wonder. Marigold was tutting at every sign of Buzz’s occupation, and then jumped out of her skin when the connecting door opened and Mallow crept through.

‘Oh!’ cried Mallow, dropping the tray she carried. It crashed to the ground and she immediately squatted down to pick up the crockery. Her hands shook and she raised a tearful face to Marigold, who bustled over to help collect up the mess of breakfast things.

‘No need to cry!’ clucked Marigold. ‘Look, nothing’s broke. ’Tis just a few crumbs and drops o’ coffee, and we can clear it up in no time.’

Few people had much contact with Mallow, for she kept to herself in the cottage and didn’t join the others for meals as Martin did. Cherry and Marigold’s cottage was in the same row and they’d heard muffled sounds in the past but didn’t like to pry. Now, looking closely at the small and terrified woman, Marigold felt a flood of sympathy.

‘Thank you,’ whispered Mallow, frantically picking up the remains of the breakfast. ‘I were so shocked to see someone in here . . .’

She tailed off, looking fearfully around her.

‘Aye well, I just popped up to see if all were in order,’ said Marigold. ‘I didn’t know you’d be seeing to Buzz.’

Mallow nodded, the heavy tray now re-laden, and stood up with it carefully.

‘Martin told me to look after the Hallfolk,’ she said. ‘I’m just going to put this tray in the lift and then I must make his bed.’

Marigold gave the carpet a final wipe with the soiled napkin and heaved herself to her feet.

‘Thank you, Marigold,’ said Mallow. ‘I were so spooked. I hate it in here, don’t you? ’Tis frightening in these old rooms.’

‘Frightening?’

Magpie had come over and nodded vigorously at this.

‘Are you frightened, lad?’

He nodded and looked about fearfully.

‘Get on with you!’ said Marigold, clapping him on the back. ‘There’s nothing bad here, so don’t be daft.’

She watched Mallow tread gingerly across the room under the weight of the tray and put it into the hatch.

‘So I hear you’re taking care of Old Violet, now Vetchling’s passed on and Starling’s taken off?’

Mallow nodded timidly, staring at the floor.

‘That can’t be easy – she’s a nasty old piece o’ work. Pardon my rudeness for I realise she’s your mother by Martin, but she’s not known for her soft tongue nor kind ways.’

‘No,’ said Mallow, glancing around furtively. ‘She’s . . . she’s wicked. Truly wicked, and I don’t like going there. But I best be getting on, for I need to finish here and get down there quick or she’ll be complaining and then Martin will get angry.’

‘Pah!’ said Marigold. ‘If Martin don’t—’

‘What on earth is all this noise in here?’ drawled a loud voice from behind the connecting door, and in walked Rainbow.

‘Oh sweet Mother!’ cried Marigold. ‘Not another of ’em!’

‘Watch your mouth, Marigold!’ said Rainbow sharply.

‘We didn’t know
you
were back and all! Any more o’ you nesting in here?’

‘No there aren’t! Magpie, it’s lovely to see you again. How’s the painting?’

‘And you can keep your paws off my boy too! Come on, Magpie. Let’s get back to the kitchens.’

‘What a splendid idea!’ said Rainbow, stretching languidly and shaking out her hair. ‘I’ll come down with you. Maybe you’d rustle me up something to eat? I’m starving. I seem to have over-slept and missed out on breakfast.’

Yul had been silent until now, knowing that if he spoke he would say too much. Sylvie sat next to him and he could feel her tension. The old Villagers amongst them bristled with dislike and indignation, whilst Harold twitched so much that Hazel grew quite concerned. Martin was silent too, clearly briefed to keep quiet today, and Rowan sat with her arms folded and a smug grin on her face, as if nothing that happened today was of any importance to her.

Only Clip seemed completely calm and unperturbed by Buzz’s invasion into their territory, and Yul watched him speculatively.
He
understood now that Clip’s dreaminess in the past had perhaps been a smoke-screen; his father-in-law and uncle was not as daft as he appeared. Whilst in London on the recent visit, Yul had developed a reluctant respect for the older man. Six months ago Yul could never have sat here and let these events unfold without trying to intervene, but today he was able to take a back seat and watch, knowing that he wasn’t the only one capable of controlling the situation.

‘Look, I’ve come here in good faith to help,’ said Buzz with only a hint of exasperation. ‘I’m offering to put everything right with Stonewylde. Clip, why you’ve brought this proposal to the Council is beyond me as the decision is yours to make. Please – for once in your life, be strong and decisive! Stonewylde is yours. You own the place so you decide.’

Clip’s pale grey eyes flicked round the circle and he noted Yul’s dark, silent demeanour, which surprised him. Sylvie was pale and strained, her eyes scared. His gaze then rested on Buzz, large and uncomfortable in his chair and fighting the urge to shout at them all. Doubtless he bullied everyone he worked with and his civility was now wearing thin. Clip decided this had gone on long enough.

‘Stonewylde is not mine, Buzz. Nobody owns Stonewylde – she owns us. We are merely her guardians, appointed to serve her. She takes from us what she needs to survive, and she gives back to us as she sees fit. She’s Nature at its most fundamental, and
you
certainly don’t have the means to put everything right with her. Stonewylde’s needs go far deeper than material wealth, and what you have to offer isn’t what she requires. Stonewylde is at present in shadow, in eclipse, but soon she’ll be in glorious sunshine again. And it definitely won’t be because you’ve splashed a bit of money about.’

‘Oh, for Christ’s sake!’ yelled Buzz, shockingly loud in the ancient hall. ‘Don’t start with your bloody mystical bullshit now! You always were an old fool and—’

He stopped abruptly as Clip fixed him with a wolf-grey stare and pointed straight at him.

‘
Be still!
You will never return to Stonewylde, Buzz, and nor will any of your kind. You are
never
to attempt a come-back again. The banishment that my brother Sol imposed still stands, and always will.’

Buzz sat looking as if he might explode, his pale blue eyes popping and bloodshot, but his mouth closed. Clip continued quietly.

‘I shall be leaving at Samhain as I promised, and I’ve taken steps to ensure that the material and practical aspects of Stonewylde’s needs are covered. I’m trusting in my shamanic insights that all will be well in the future with the other, spiritual aspects.’

There was a pause whilst everyone digested exactly what he’d said.

‘Thank you, Clip,’ said Yul. ‘You’ve made us all feel protected from invasion, safe from the likes of Buzz and the other Hallfolk.’

Their eyes met and Clip inclined his head, acknowledging this huge step forward. But Martin jumped up from his seat and waved his arms around furiously, his thin face scarlet with fury.

‘What have you done to Master Buzz, you evil, scheming sorcerer? Look at him! He can’t speak! And he were wrong – Stonewylde isn’t yours – Stonewylde is rightfully mine! I were born afore you and my mother said—’

‘Your mother’s the evil one!’ cried Cherry. ‘She’s a wicked old hag and—’

‘You, woman, will be one o’ the first to go when—’

‘Enough!’ barked Clip. ‘This is not the time for such talk. Buzz is silent, Martin, because he has nothing more to say that we wish to hear. And neither have you. Good folk, we have less than two weeks until Samhain, and I must tell you what will happen when I’ve left. I’m happy for Buzz to hear it so that he’ll understand once and for all that Stonewylde does not need his money nor his presence.’

Everyone shifted in their seats, anxious to hear his words. Martin’s mouth was clamped shut and Buzz remained red-faced but quiet, his furious gaze flashing around the circle of faces
until
it rested on Sylvie, who blanched even further. Clip wondered why she was quite so upset by him, especially now he’d been disarmed.

‘Clip – about this business of you leaving at Samhain,’ began Yul. ‘I’m not sure if—’

‘I have to go,’ said Clip. ‘My time here is done and I crave my freedom after so many years. I’ve set everything up to come into effect at my departure, and I’ll tell you all about this. But first I have a message from Leveret about her inheritance. She wants to donate her money towards the upkeep of Stonewylde. She’ll presumably be able to access her shares once she reaches eighteen, and in the meantime she’ll use every penny she’s accumulated to help Stonewylde with the repairs and things, and pay off some of the debts. She wants to give it for the common good of Stonewylders.’

There was a swell of approval at this news.

‘ ’Tis very good of the maid,’ said Old Greenbough. ‘So our troubles are over then?’

‘Probably not completely, but it’ll certainly help the current situation,’ said Clip.

‘Well, don’t think Faun’s giving her money to Stonewylde,’ said Rowan, ‘because she’s not! I got an announcement to make too – we’re going to stay with Buzz, and Faun will go to drama school in the Outside World and become a celebrity! Magus would’ve approved of that for his beautiful daughter.’

‘I’m sure he would,’ said Miranda drily. ‘As for Rufus – he told me last night it’s his ambition to be a doctor and he wants to go to medical school when he’s older. He says he decided this a while ago and now he can use his money to fund that. Of course he wants to return to Stonewylde when he’s qualified, to work with Hazel and Leveret. But he’s only thirteen so it’s all a long way off. And Clip has more to tell us, I believe, about the future plans for Stonewylde?’

‘I certainly do. As I said earlier, it’s too much for one person to own and run Stonewylde, and I wouldn’t want to pass that burden on to my beloved daughter when I leave. She and I have
discussed
this and everything’s now in place to turn Stonewylde into a charitable trust, run by a Board of Trustees. This’ll come into effect the day after Samhain. It means that we get beneficial tax status and no one person is then responsible for running the place.’

Yul nodded slowly, seeing the advantages.

‘Sylvie and I have talked it over,’ Clip continued, ‘and it’s her dearest wish that Stonewylde should become a healing centre. We both feel the Green Magic is a restorative energy and should be used to heal. We want to turn Stonewylde into a place where both traditional and alternative remedies can be offered, and the Green Magic can be tapped into.’

There was an explosion of excitement about this, and Sylvie’s eyes sought Clip’s. He smiled at her, his thin, lined face illuminated with love.

‘But there’s more,’ he continued. ‘Yesterday, before we left London, I heard something really marvellous. You may recall the purpose of our visit, which we shared with you all before we left. It was a sad but successful visit, wasn’t it, Miranda?’

Miranda nodded, still a little raw from the experience.

‘Miranda’s mother had made it very clear that Miranda wouldn’t be inheriting their huge fortune because the whole lot had been legally tied up to go to charity. This was in the hands of their lawyers, and Miranda’s been corresponding with Christopher, son of one of the original partners. We met him in London as it was his remit to look after us all. Yesterday, when we were packing up to leave, Christopher called me for a surprise meeting.’

Clip paused dramatically and smiled across at Miranda, who looked rather concerned.

‘Despite his meanness towards his daughter, Miranda’s father had been involved in fundraising all his life. Most of the money he left is at present invested, and he’d stipulated that the family’s wealth was to be entirely donated to charity, and ideally to a hospital. Miranda’s mother was to choose which one and write it into her Will, to come into effect on her death. Having met up with her daughter and other members of the family, she
was
very taken with all we told her of Stonewylde and Sylvie’s healing. Later, she asked to see me in private and questioned me about the healing centre we’re planning. I explained, and said it was all Sylvie’s idea. Then Miranda’s mother summoned Christopher and told him to arrange for the family’s entire fortune to go to the charity we’re setting up at Stonewylde, in Sylvie’s name.’