Martin Millar - Lonely Werewolf Girl (53 page)

Markus was still traumatised by Talixia's death, too shaken to
make sense of what had happened in the past few weeks. He sat all day
in a chair by the window, wrapped in a silver dressing gown, gazing out
into the gardens where those few small birds that remained in London in
winter fluttered around the trees. This apartment wasn't far from
Crystal Palace, rather a green part of the city. Grey squirrels would
sometimes make their way from the park to the garden. Markus watched
them as they scurried up trees, always busy with something. At night
foxes would emerge from their hiding places and Markus would hear them
in the garden below, listening to their shrill calls while he lay in
his bed, unable to sleep.

"How is he?" asked Verasa, on the phone to Gregor MacRinnalch,
who was charged with looking after him.

"A little better," said Gregor.

"Don't lie to me," said Verasa, brusquely.

Gregor frowned. The Mistress of the Werewolves was very hard
to fool, even when she was hundreds of miles away. He admitted that
Markus was no better. He was still in shock and not capable of much
apart from staring out into the garden.

Verasa was frustrated. She understood that Markus had suffered
a severe trauma but even so, this was not the behaviour required from a
claimant to the Thaneship. Were the werewolves around the castle to
learn that Markus MacRinnalch was at present hiding in a safe house,
watching squirrels, they would not be impressed. The Great Council
wouldn't elect a Thane whom the entire clan despised as weak.

Gregor was a loyal MacRinnalch, but his first loyalty was to
Markus rather than Verasa, so there were some things he hadn't told
her. He hadn't told her that Markus had instructed him to look for
Kalix. And he hadn't told the Mistress of the Werewolves that Markus
had recently slept with a human girl. This, he reasoned, was really
none of Verasa's business, though Verasa herself wouldn't have seen it
that way.

The day after Moonglow had been with Markus, he'd seemed
better. Livelier, at least for a while, before he sank again into the
blank numbness that enfolded him these days. Perhaps, thought Gregor,
sex was what Markus needed to bring him out of his gloom. Or maybe it
wasn't even sex. Markus was more sensitive than most MacRinnalchs.

Perhaps the human girl was good at listening, or talking, or
something like that.

"Did anyone call?" asked Markus, when Gregor went to tell him
there was food ready.

"Your mother."

Markus didn't respond. It wasn't the call he was waiting for.
Dusk was coming. Werewolves were creatures of the night but somehow
Markus no longer felt so comfortable when the darkness came. He wished
that the daylight hours were not so short in winter. He wished he could
see Moonglow again.

142

Young Baron MacAllister was camped on the eastern edge of
Colburn Wood with fifty of his followers. Eskandor MacRinnalch, captain
of the castle guard, advanced on the Wood with a force of eighty
werewolves to eject them. The Mistress of the Werewolves had instructed
Eskandor to advance cautiously but resolutely, and to enter into no
negotiations with the Baron. He was to be removed from the Wood. If the
Baron wanted to discuss the boundaries of his lands he could come in
peace to Castle MacRinnalch and confer with the Great Council. He would
not be permitted to force the issue by show of strength.

It was noteworthy that the new Baron had only fifty werewolves
with him, and that this force included MacAndrises as well as
MacAllisters. Baron MacAllister had many more werewolves under his
command but many of these could only assume their wolf shape on the
nights around the full moon. Presumably the Baron had brought with him
only those who could make the change on any night. In this, the
MacRinnalchs had an advantage. There were many more MacRinnalchs who
could transform every night. All of Eskandor's force could.

The MacRinnalchs left the castle in the early afternoon.
Buvalis MacGregor, head of Verasa's household, watched them go.

"A fine sight," she said to Verasa. Buvalis was too young to
have seen a battalion of werewolves march to war. Verasa nodded. She'd
seen far larger forces leave the castle on the way to battle. She had
also seen forces arrive back, badly depleted from the fighting. Not for
a long time though. These days the clans no longer went to war. It was
many years since a clan dispute had led to serious fighting. Verasa
never thought it would happen again. Yet here she was, sending out the
army. It was Sarapen's fault. He was dragging the clan back to the old
days of violence, as she knew he would.

Verasa trusted Buvalis MacGregor. She'd been head of Verasa's
household for seven years. Buvalis, however, was troubled. She had
recently formed an attachment with Kertal MacRinnalch, son of Kurian,
brother of the late Thane. With her intimate knowledge of Verasa's
movements, Buvalis had so far managed to keep this relationship secret.
Buvalis was loyal to the Mistress of the Werewolves, but Kertal opposed
her. Kertal supported Sarapen, not Markus. It was troubling for young
Buvalis, and she fretted as she watched Verasa's werewolves march off
to fight against the MacAllisters, whose cause her lover favoured.

Eskandor's force travelled through the MacRinnalch lands and
marched into Colburn Wood as night was falling. As one, they took on
their werewolf shapes. The woods were silent as they passed. All
wildlife had fled or taken sanctuary. Only a few birds and squirrels,
safe in the tree tops, watched their progress. The stream that flowed
through the wood, the burn itself, was no more than fifteen feet wide
but the banks were steep in places. The werewolves followed the main
path and reached the bridge that led to the eastern side of the wood.
Eskandor halted before crossing the bridge and waited for the return of
his scouts. They brought news that the MacAllisters had not withdrawn.
Eskandor spoke to his werewolves.

"We will now eject the MacAllisters. Prepare to advance."

143

Thrix stretched from her bed to pick up her mobile phone,
which was bleeping. Someone had sent her a message.

Dearest Thrix I have learned how to send a text
message is it not good??? Will be with you soon. Malveria.

Thrix hurried to send a reply, warning the Fire Queen that now
was not a good time to visit. She got no further than the second word
before Malveria appeared in her bedroom.

"Damn it Malveria, can't you warn me when you're coming?"

"I sent a message. Did you not admire the way I have
triumphantly mastered this complicated technology? I learned from
Agrivex, who, I believed, learned from Moonglow. It is very dark in
here."

Malveria waved her hand and the room lit up.

"Hello Gawain," said Malveria, smiling broadly. "How nice to
see you again."

Gawain, next to Thrix in bed, looked pained.

"Don't you believe in privacy?" demanded Thrix.

Malveria looked puzzled.

"This is not a word I am familiar with. Please explain?"

"I should be going," muttered Gawain.

"I urge you not to not leave on my account," said Malveria
graciously. "The Enchantress almost certainly has sufficient energy for
more lovemaking. She has had so little opportunity recently."

"Will you get out of my bedroom!" demanded Thrix, frustrated
at Malveria's appalling lack of tact, and embarrassed to be caught in
bed with Gawain.

"I really should go," said Gawain, pointedly, looking at
Malveria.

"And?" said Malveria.

"He wants you to leave the room while he dresses," said Thrix,
crossly.

"Ah… I forgot that werewolves these days have adopted the
nakedness taboos of humans. Very well, I shall retire to the kitchen
and make coffee on your machine, if it will co-operate. Since Agrivex
has been plaguing the human lands, I have learned more about the
machines of humans. I really feel I may be able to utilise the coffee
device."

Malveria strode out the bedroom.

"Does she always interrupt like this?" wondered Gawain.

"Probably," replied Thrix. "I haven't actually had a lover
since I've known her…"

She broke off. That hadn't been quite what she'd meant to say.
Thrix felt annoyed and embarrassed as Gawain rose and dressed swiftly.
He slipped out of the bedroom with only the briefest of goodbyes and
disappeared from Thrix's apartment without saying anything to Malveria.
When the Fire Queen arrived back in the bedroom, triumphantly carrying
a tray of coffee, she found the Enchantress, now wrapped in a white
silk robe, glaring at her furiously.

"Coffee?"

"Malveria!"

"Yes?"

"How dare you burst in here like that!"

Malveria looked hurt.

"But I sent you a message. Did you not receive it?"

"I got it about three seconds before you appeared."

Malveria waved this away.

"Well, time in this dimension does run rather differently, I
understand."

Thrix angrily took her coffee.

"How would you like it if I burst in on you when you were in
bed
with someone?"

Malveria shrugged.

"I would not mind at all. Is it very taboo among the
MacRinnalchs?"

"Yes. And worse, it's extremely rude. And even more worse,
what am I doing sleeping with Gawain again?"

"Ah," Malveria nodded. "This is still an embarrassing secret?"

"Yes. Don't mention it to anyone."

Malveria promised not to, though that didn't prevent her from
closely questioning Thrix on every aspect of the encounter.

"How did it come about? Did he call you?"

"No."

"Did you meet by accident in some romantic spot for instance
the Beautiful Frosted Fairy Glade or the jewellery counter at Tiffany?"

"No."

"Then how?"

"He rang the bell," said Thrix. "And I let him in, which was a
mistake."

Thrix shook her head and sat down heavily on the side of the
bed.

"I don't know what I'm doing. Why am I sleeping with him?"

"Does it matter why?" enquired Malveria. "He is rather
attractive. A little sallow perhaps, but it gives him a poetic look.
Does he write poetry?"

"No. Well, maybe a little. But I haven't read any of it."

"Probably that is just as well," said Malveria. "It may be all
about Kalix. Unless he has now transferred his affections entirely to
you."

"I doubt it. He's still mad about Kalix."

"Ah," The Fire Queen nodded sagely. "In that case I understand
your attraction. There is surely nothing more desirable than a man -or
werewolf- or elemental - who is more attracted to another than to you.
Why this is remains a mystery but I have experienced it, most
certainly. The Elvish bard Gwonthin had at one time an attachment to my
lady-in-waiting Rendolin. I tried everything in my power to seduce him
but he was only interested in Rendolin. It quite drove me into a frenzy
of desire, I assure you."

"And how did that romance end?"

"Badly," admitted the Fire Queen. "But if an Elvish bard
wishes to avoid being thrown into the volcano, he should not persist in
visiting my palace and refusing to respond to my advances. It was
simply asking for trouble."

Thrix sipped her coffee. She hadn't had much sleep and she was
tired.

"You still haven't told me what you're doing here."

"I am here by arrangement. Have you forgotten?"

Thrix looked blank.

"What arrangement?"

"We are to visit your office, pick up finished designs and
take them to Moonglow's house where they will be hidden by Kalix's
pendant."

The Fire Queen's voice took on a more serious tone.

"You did not remember this?"

Malveria wasn't pleased. It was good for the Enchantress to be
having a little romance, but not at the expense of Malveria's clothes.

"There is not much time till the Sorceress Livia's
celebration."

"I know. Sorry, I'm getting behind with things."

Malveria couldn't conceal her displeasure. She didn't want to
criticise her friend, but really, one had to have one's priorities.
While Thrix dressed, Malveria asked her more questions about Gawain,
which Thrix tried to deflect. Trying to change the subject she asked
the Fire Queen what had become of Vex after her recent misdemeanours.

"Did you punish her?"

"Alas no," replied Malveria. "She tricked me. Before I could
inflict the substantial chastisement she deserved for refusing to
attend her lessons, she approached me with a copy of Italian Vogue and
I became so interested in the magazine I forgot about her wide-ranging
crimes."

Malveria shook her head sadly.

"You simply would not believe the outfit she wore this morning. As well as the great black boots she had the gold corset I
wore last year to the Igan Frost Queen's Ball - as delicate and
expensive a garment as any in my last year's wardrobe - and a pair of -
a pair of- " the Fire Queen groped for the word. "I really do not know
what they were. Like some sort of undergarment, but to the ankles."

"Long Johns?" suggested Thrix.

Malveria shuddered at the very sound.

"That is right. And the hideous slime green nail varnish. I
was obliged to send her away before I became nauseous. I despair of
her."

The Enchantress laughed.

"She's young. Wait till she's stealing this year's outfits,
then you'll really regret it."

144

The atmosphere in the house was bad. Kalix didn't know why.
Daniel was angry at Moonglow for sleeping with Markus and Moonglow was
angry with Daniel for interfering in her business. Neither of them
explained to Kalix what their argument was about, and she remained
unaware of Moonglow's encounter with Markus. Moonglow found it
impossible to tell Kalix, and Daniel just couldn't bear to mention it.

Unfortunately, whenever there was tension in the air, Kalix
always assumed that she was the cause. She retreated to her room to
mope, and write in her journal how miserable everything was. She was
interrupted by a loud crashing noise in the back yard, and a yell of
pain. Thinking that Sarapen might be mounting an attack, she rushed to
the kitchen to peer out the window. Down below, Vex was tangled up in
the rubbish bins.