Martin Millar - Lonely Werewolf Girl (15 page)

"It would hurt me," she said, simply. "And weaken me."

"But you'd get better?" said Moonglow, eagerly, seeing some
hope.

"I would get better. But I would not forget the pain. Pain
which I would suffer for a werewolf, who is not my friend or ally."

"Please help," said Moonglow.

"And what would you pay for my help, young girl who spoke
angrily to me?" said Malveria. "For an action which costs me so much,
you cannot expect to receive it for nothing."

For a moment Moonglow had the unpleasant thought that Malveria
was going to ask for her soul. This was not what Malveria meant.

"But you will have to pay a price."

The Fire Queen did not intend to weaken herself, even
temporarily, without receiving something in return. That was not the
way of her dimension. What would her peers say if they learned she had
been giving out favours for no reward? On behalf of a werewolf, of all
things? They would ridicule her. Empress Asaratanti in the neighbouring
realm would never let her hear the end of it. There had to be payment.
Malveria knew that Moonglow could not provide her with anything of real
value, but she might provide her with some amusement in the future.

"The young boy Daniel. He loves you."

Moonglow found herself nodding, though this seemed to be of no
relevance as Kalix's life slipped quickly away.

"But you do not love him?"

"No. Of course not."

"And you never will?"

"No. We're just friends."

Malveria paused.

"I think you might, one day."

"I won't," insisted Moonglow.

"Very well. My price for saving Kalix is your love for Daniel.
Which means that if one day you do find yourself in love with him you
will not be able to have him for your own."

Moonglow was confused.

"But I'll never want him. I'm not going to fall in love with
Daniel."

"Then you will have no price to pay," said the Fire Queen. "Do
you agree to my terms?"

Moonglow didn't even have to think. She had to save Kalix's
life, and she never wanted to be Daniel's lover. It was hardly a price
at all. Perhaps the Fire Queen was not great at making bargains.

"I agree."

"Very well," said the Queen. "I will attempt to save Kalix's
life. But remember, no matter what you feel, you can never have Daniel
for your own."

Daniel now returned with a cloth and warm water. Malveria
instructed him to wash Kalix's mouth, which he did, as carefully as he
could. Chunks of hardened blood broke off in a sickening manner.
Beneath the blood the skin was blue. The Fire Queen leant over the body
and put her lips to Kalix's for a few seconds. She raised her head an
inch, spoke some words, then placed her lips back on the werewolf's
mouth, this time for longer. The air in the room seemed to grow quickly
colder. Malveria stayed in contact with Kalix for a long time. There
was silence in the room and the temperature continued to drop. Malveria
withdrew her head, spoke another sentence, then placed her hands on
Kalix's heart. Moonglow looked on anxiously, and shivered. Finally
Malveria withdrew, and shuddered. She controlled herself with an effort
and moved away from Kalix's body. The pupils of Malveria's eyes had
shrunk to tiny dots and the colour had drained from her face. She rose
to her feet, very unsteadily. She looked as if she had used up all her
energy and could barely stay upright.

"She will live. I must go now."

The Fire Queen flickered out of the living room, fading
slowly, as if too tired to even teleport at her normal speed. Daniel
and Moon-glow gazed down at Kalix. Daniel put his hand on Kalix's wrist.

"She's warming up," he said.

Kalix had not quite made it to the forests of the werewolf
dead. Colour was returning to her face. Though the werewolf did not
open her eyes, she no longer seemed to be slipping away. Moonglow
carefully hung the new pendant Malveria had given them around Kalix's
neck. Now she was safe. Later Moonglow melted a little sugar in some
warm water and dripped some of the solution into Kalix's mouth to give
her strength. She wrapped Kalix in the quilt and stayed beside her for
the rest of the day and all of the night.

43

Castle MacRinnalch simmered with fury. As the werewolves came
to terms with the inconclusive vote, there was dissatisfaction on all
sides, and, in some places, utter rage.

"How dare my mother vote against me!" roared Sarapen. Still in
his werewolf form, he paced the great stone chambers of the north
tower. His advisor Mirasen stood silently by the window, listening to
the tirade, with Decembrius beside him.

"She planned this," continued Sarapen. "She put that bitch
Dominil up to it. Damn her! And damn that brother of mine. I ought to
go down there and rip his heart out!"

Mirasen was a prudent werewolf. Ever since the meeting he'd
been trying to calm Sarapen. It would be far better for the clan if the
matter could be decided peaceably.

"The meeting will resume tomorrow," Mirasen pointed out.
"We'll muster sufficient votes."

Sarapen was not placated. The Thaneship was his by right and
he hated having to scrabble around for votes like a politician.

"You get me the votes then, Mirasen. But afterwards I will
have my revenge."

Mirasen studied his list of all the votes cast. There were no
surprises in those who had voted for Sarapen. Kurian, youngest brother
of the Thane, had never been a strong werewolf but he had always been a
traditionalist so would naturally support the Thane's eldest son. As
would his offspring, Kertal and Marwanis. The Barons' support was also
to be expected. They were more traditional than anyone.

Though Sarapen professed to be horrified by his mother's
support for Markus, Mirasen was not really surprised. It was plain the
Mistress of the Werewolves had long preferred her younger son. As for
the other three who had voted for Markus - Tupan, Dominil, and Lucia -
well, none of them were so strange, when you looked at it. Tupan had
pretensions to the Thaneship himself. Better for Tupan's own ambitions
to have a weaker Thane. Dominil might be expected to go along with her
father, and anyway, her dislike of Sarapen was well known. As for
Lucia, she was Verasa's younger sister, and Verasa would undoubtedly
have offered her a substantial bribe.

That left the two abstentions, Thrix and Dulupina. Mirasen had
no idea why the venerable Dulupina had abstained but he'd learn the
reason soon enough. Thrix had been absent from the castle for a long
time and it was possible she had no strong preference for either
brother. Mirasen would make enquiries, and learn if her vote could be
secured.

"How are matters between you and Thrix?"

"Not good," admitted Sarapen, and related the tale of his last
encounter with her.

Mirasen considered this.

"A regrettable argument, but surely not irreparable. I'll talk
to her."

The full moon was tomorrow. Tonight was the first of the wolf
nights. Everyone in the castle would change into their werewolf form.
The MacRinnalch werewolf during the three wolf nights was not quite the
same as the MacRinnalch werewolf on other nights. More passionate, and
less rational. Sarapen almost felt that he didn't care about another
vote. Killing his opponents would suit him nearly as well.

44

Sitting in the lecture theatre, Daniel wasn't convinced he'd
got the best of the deal. Moonglow was at home taking care of Kalix
while he was at university taking notes on
Timon of Athens
.
And not just the few scrawled lines that usually passed for Daniel's
notes. Extensive notes. Moonglow had insisted.

"Don't come back without a complete record of the lecture,"
she'd instructed him. "And see if you can have a few insights of your
own." This last part may have been a joke by Moonglow.

Daniel was finding it tough. His hand hurt from writing and it
was difficult to concentrate. Given the events of the past few days
this was understandable. Werewolves, elementals, teleportation and a
really expensive parking ticket, the result of leaving the car in a no
parking zone while rescuing Kalix. Moonglow shared the cost of the
ticket but she had more money than Daniel. He could ill afford the
expense.

He'd suggested to Moonglow that maybe he should stay home with
her to watch over Kalix but Moonglow wouldn't hear of it. One of them
had to go in and take notes and as Moonglow wasn't about to leave Kalix
that meant him. Daniel, of course, could not be the one to stay home
looking after a sick werewolf. As Moonglow pointed out, he wasn't
responsible enough. There was no denying it, he wasn't. Daniel shook
his head and tried to concentrate. He wondered if Jay would visit
today. Moonglow's boyfriend was back from Stonehenge.

'Probably he'll have to call round and spend some time being
handsome and interesting,' thought Daniel, with some bitterness. 'And
tell Moonglow some stupid dull story about how his father was British
ambassador to Brazil and he spent his early years growing up right next
to the rain forest. The guy is such a phoney.'

Moonglow's friend Alicia was sitting only a few seats away.
She was an attractive girl. Not as attractive to Daniel as Moonglow,
but if he had to accept a substitute, she'd be his first choice. Daniel
wondered about making a brave bid to talk to her when the lecture
ended, but dismissed the idea. It wouldn't go well. He'd end either
boring her or saying something stupid. Probably both.

Moonglow was currently trying to feed soup to Kalix. Kalix was
resisting. She'd woken up, declared herself unhappy to be alive, and
lain back down in front of the fire in a hopeless, bleak depression.
She refused everything except water, and sipped some laudanum when
Moonglow was out of the room.

"You should have some soup," said Moonglow, encouragingly. It
was no use. Kalix did not want soup, or anything. She just lay
miserably in front of the fire, curled up in her quilt. Moonglow was
distressed.

"You're safe," Moonglow told her. "The Fire Queen brought you
a new pendant."

Kalix showed no signs of pleasure or gratitude that she had a
new pendant. Whatever she was thinking she kept to herself.

Moonglow had checked her astrological chart. The full moon was
due soon. What would happen when Kalix turned into a werewolf? Would
she want to eat? To hunt perhaps? Moonglow wondered if she should buy
some steaks. Did werewolves eat steaks? Maybe they needed their meat
raw and fresh. She shuddered at the thought. But Kalix might not want
to stay at all. As soon as the young werewolf regained her strength she
might just leave again and then surely she would die. Moonglow couldn't
bear the thought. She was determined that Kalix would live.

45

Verasa and Markus had withdrawn to the west wing of the vast
castle, which was Verasa's domain, staffed with her servants and
advisors.

"Well?" she said.

"I'm satisfied," replied Markus.

The Mistress of the Werewolves was pleased. She had secretly
feared that her younger son might have been intimidated. But Markus had
stood up to Sarapen. His mother had always admired him for that.

Since the meeting ended Verasa had been busy. She knew that
she had been fortunate in the voting. She'd expected Great Mother
Dulupina to vote for Sarapen. As she had abstained, there was obviously
room for negotiation. Verasa scanned her list. Nine votes were required
and she only had five. How to find four more votes, that was the
question. Quite a challenge, with the whole MacRinnalch Clan assembling
on the estates for the funeral of the old Thane, and Verasa having all
the duties of her position to perform.

Verasa felt that the five votes for Markus were all secure.
Tupan and Dominil would not support Sarapen. As for Lucia, Verasa had
promised her sister that if she voted for Markus then Lucia's son,
Decembrius, could have the next vacant place on the Great Council. This
place was Verasa's to give by right. It was a powerful bribe, and Lucia
was well pleased at the prospect.

Another great fire burned in Verasa's room. She had reverted
to her human shape though Markus remained as a werewolf. He sat on one
of the old oak chairs that were a feature of the castle's decor.

"We need four more votes," declared Verasa. "I have some hopes
of the Barons."

Markus was doubtful. "They'll always support the eldest son."

"I haven't been idle you know. I've been working on them. Had
your father's death not come so inconveniently quickly, I may even have
won them over before the vote. Two of them anyway. Baron MacPhee was
such a friend of your father he'll probably support Sara-pen in any
circumstances. No doubt he thinks of Sarapen as very like the old
Thane. But MacAllister is a modern sort of werewolf. Besides, he's
sorely in debt and I've been dangling a very favourable loan in front
of his eyes. I may well have his vote by tomorrow. Which would make six
for us and six for Sarapen."

Verasa pursed her lips.

"It is rather a shame that you're not on better terms with
your sister Thrix." The Mistress of the Werewolves eyed Markus. "What
did happen between you and her?"

Markus would not say. It was one of the very few things
concerning the family that Verasa didn't know. It irked her.

"Is it so terrible that you cannot tell your mother?"

Markus remained silent.

"Whatever it was, you must try to make things up with her. We
need her vote."

Verasa moved away from the heat of the fire. She had a glass
of wine in one hand and her list in the other. She put down her wine to
light a cigarette. She smoked occasionally, at times of stress.

"What will happen if neither of us get nine votes?" asked
Markus.

"I'll officiate at the funeral and carry on as acting head of
the clan. The Council will reassemble in a month's time. Much may be
accomplished in a month. Remember, not all the council members were in
attendance. Butix, Delix and Kalix are all entitled to vote."