the coffee pot, Magus told Clip about his experience at Mooncliffe the night before and Sylvie’s incredible ability to channel the full moon energy.
‘It sounds as if the stone’s acting like a kind of battery, storing the power,’ said Clip thoughtfully.
‘That’s right! I went up there early this morning and the rock’s still full of it. Not as strong as last night, of course, but still powerful. You must come up yourself and feel it.’
‘And you say that once she was standing there she couldn’t get down again?’
‘No, it was strange. At first she danced around on the grass like some sort of bizarre bird, but once she’d jumped up on the stone she froze, almost as if she’d petrified. I could see that she wanted to get off, that it was … uncomfortable, but she was completely unable to move.’
‘And you left her up there? You’re a sadistic bastard, Sol. Always have been, ever since you were a boy.’
Magus smiled sardonically and raised his eyebrows.
‘But I get results, don’t I? I tell you, once you’ve experienced that moon magic you’ll want more. I’ve never felt like this before, not even after the Solstice energy. I’ve been making plans this morning and I’ve got some great ideas.’
‘Just so long as I don’t have to do anything,’ yawned Clip.
‘I may be a sadistic bastard, but you’re a lazy one,’ said Magus,an edge to his voice. ‘Yes you do have to do something. Because you’ll benefit from this too.’
‘How? I’m not interested in your empire building. I don’t want to be any part of your schemes and dreams, you know that. I’ve always made it clear that you must leave me out of your grand plans.’
‘You’re the owner of Stonewylde, Clip. You’re a part of it whether you like it or not.’
‘It’s nothing to do with me, Sol, all this expansion. I didn’t want to open up the quarry and bring in van loads of illegal immigrants to risk their lives quarrying the stone. I don’t want to build a new school to cope with this population explosion you’ve encouraged, or holiday homes for Hallfolk so they’ll pay through the nose for the privilege of staying here. I don’t want any part of the investments or the stock market scams or the offshore trusts, or this fortune you’re earning from your company’s wheeling and dealing.’
‘Oh for Goddess’ sake, Clip, I—’
‘No! This is your lifestyle, not mine! I don’t want to be adored by every woman and treated like some sort of god. I don’t want any part of the whole empire thing, which is why I let you be magus instead of me. So don’t try and rope me into any of it, Sol. All I ask is to live at Stonewylde when I want to, and to travel when I need to. And to feel the Earth Magic, honour the Goddess, and take part in the rituals and ceremonies.’
‘You’re a fool, Clip. This moon magic is part of Stonewylde too, as much a part as the Earth Magic. Look at you this morning – worn out, old and tired. And look at me! Come up to the rock now and you’ll see just how good it makes you feel.’
Miranda held a glass of water to Sylvie’s lips, her other arm supporting the girl as she lay propped up in bed. She took a few sips, then her head fell back weakly against the headboard.
‘Try to drink a bit more, Sylvie. It’s nearly lunch time and you’ve had nothing today. You didn’t eat last night either, didyou? You know you must look after your health or you’ll end up as ill as you were in London. Please, darling.’
‘I’m sorry, Mum,’ whispered Sylvie through pale lips. ‘I just want to sleep.’
Sighing, Miranda gently laid her down, making sure she was warm enough. Where was Magus? She couldn’t leave Sylvie to go and find him. She wished now she’d asked Yul to take a message to the Hall when he’d called earlier. Why was there no phone in this place? She thought of her old mobile phone lying useless at the bottom of a cupboard; there was no signal at Stonewylde. Why
‘It sounds as if the stone’s acting like a kind of battery, storing the power,’ said Clip thoughtfully.
‘That’s right! I went up there early this morning and the rock’s still full of it. Not as strong as last night, of course, but still powerful. You must come up yourself and feel it.’
‘And you say that once she was standing there she couldn’t get down again?’
‘No, it was strange. At first she danced around on the grass like some sort of bizarre bird, but once she’d jumped up on the stone she froze, almost as if she’d petrified. I could see that she wanted to get off, that it was … uncomfortable, but she was completely unable to move.’
‘And you left her up there? You’re a sadistic bastard, Sol. Always have been, ever since you were a boy.’
Magus smiled sardonically and raised his eyebrows.
‘But I get results, don’t I? I tell you, once you’ve experienced that moon magic you’ll want more. I’ve never felt like this before, not even after the Solstice energy. I’ve been making plans this morning and I’ve got some great ideas.’
‘Just so long as I don’t have to do anything,’ yawned Clip.
‘I may be a sadistic bastard, but you’re a lazy one,’ said Magus,an edge to his voice. ‘Yes you do have to do something. Because you’ll benefit from this too.’
‘How? I’m not interested in your empire building. I don’t want to be any part of your schemes and dreams, you know that. I’ve always made it clear that you must leave me out of your grand plans.’
‘You’re the owner of Stonewylde, Clip. You’re a part of it whether you like it or not.’
‘It’s nothing to do with me, Sol, all this expansion. I didn’t want to open up the quarry and bring in van loads of illegal immigrants to risk their lives quarrying the stone. I don’t want to build a new school to cope with this population explosion you’ve encouraged, or holiday homes for Hallfolk so they’ll pay through the nose for the privilege of staying here. I don’t want any part of the investments or the stock market scams or the offshore trusts, or this fortune you’re earning from your company’s wheeling and dealing.’
‘Oh for Goddess’ sake, Clip, I—’
‘No! This is your lifestyle, not mine! I don’t want to be adored by every woman and treated like some sort of god. I don’t want any part of the whole empire thing, which is why I let you be magus instead of me. So don’t try and rope me into any of it, Sol. All I ask is to live at Stonewylde when I want to, and to travel when I need to. And to feel the Earth Magic, honour the Goddess, and take part in the rituals and ceremonies.’
‘You’re a fool, Clip. This moon magic is part of Stonewylde too, as much a part as the Earth Magic. Look at you this morning – worn out, old and tired. And look at me! Come up to the rock now and you’ll see just how good it makes you feel.’
Miranda held a glass of water to Sylvie’s lips, her other arm supporting the girl as she lay propped up in bed. She took a few sips, then her head fell back weakly against the headboard.
‘Try to drink a bit more, Sylvie. It’s nearly lunch time and you’ve had nothing today. You didn’t eat last night either, didyou? You know you must look after your health or you’ll end up as ill as you were in London. Please, darling.’
‘I’m sorry, Mum,’ whispered Sylvie through pale lips. ‘I just want to sleep.’
Sighing, Miranda gently laid her down, making sure she was warm enough. Where was Magus? She couldn’t leave Sylvie to go and find him. She wished now she’d asked Yul to take a message to the Hall when he’d called earlier. Why was there no phone in this place? She thought of her old mobile phone lying useless at the bottom of a cupboard; there was no signal at Stonewylde. Why
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