Martin Millar - Lonely Werewolf Girl (60 page)

"Thrix Fashions can manage very well without your money,
Malveria."

A flicker of flame now played around the Fire Queen's eyes.

"Really? Perhaps we should see if that is true, wretched
werewolf. London is full of designers who would kill to have Malveria
as their client."

"Then I suggest you find one," stormed Thrix. "And while
you're at it, stay out of Colburn Wood."

Malveria, taken by surprise, descended a few inches.

"What?"

"You heard me. Mother told me Hiyastas have been there."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Please, Malveria, if Hiyastas have been visiting Colburn Wood
I'm quite sure you know the reason why. You've been stealing water from
Colburn Spring and using it for rejuvenation."

Malveria was outraged, and rose higher from the floor. She
completely denied the allegation, raging against the Enchantress for
daring to suggest such a thing.

"Malveria requires no rejuvenation! You may count yourself
fortunate that I do not blast you from this earth!"

The Enchantress levitated further, bringing herself level with
Malveria.

"And you can count yourself lucky I don't sling you out my
office! Have you any idea the trouble it will cause for me if you're
found stealing from Colburn Wood? Do you know how important it is to
the MacRinnalchs?"

"Pah!" spat Malveria. "What may be important to the barbaric
Scottish werewolves is of no importance to the Queen of the Hiyasta.
Good Day, Enchantress, and may you never cross my path again!"

"That's fine with me," yelled Thrix. "I should have known
better than to try making elegant clothes for an elemental who's only
happy when she looks like an extra from an old disco movie!"

"And I should have known better than to trust a nefarious
werewolf who is no doubt treacherously in league with the repulsive
Kaba-chetka!"

Malveria vanished, her dematerialising being so violent that
she left behind a circle of fire on the carpet. Thrix snapped her
fingers, putting out the flames, and floated back to ground level.

"That's the way to treat your most important client," she
sighed.

The Enchantress released her spell, sinking with relief into
her werewolf shape, gaining strength from the moon. Then she sat on the
couch and read Vogue, in a very bad mood.

164

On the night of the full moon Sarapen called a meeting of
potential supporters. Representatives from each of the three Barons
flew to London, and there were delegates from the MacAndrises and other
smaller clans with whom Sarapen had influence. Twenty grim-faced
werewolves now sat in the largest room in his mansion. Sarapen had
greeted each arrival with due courtesy. They had been provided with
food and drink as hospitality required. This done, Sarapen began the
meeting without further formality.

"The Mistress of the Werewolves has expelled me from the clan.
I don't accept this. She does not have the authority."

No one contradicted Sarapen, though the point was far from
clear. In an emergency, the Thane did have the power to expel a
werewolf. Whether this power also extended to someone who was in
temporary charge of the clan, as Verasa was, had never been tested.

"The Mistress of the Werewolves intends to force through the
election of Markus. I say she's unfit to lead the clan, and should be
removed before she foists Markus on us."

Around the table there were some expressions of concern, but
many were in full agreement with Sarapen.

"We should end this farce immediately," declared Morag
MacAllister, who'd seen two Baron MacAllisters die in quick
succession. The new Baron Douglas, young and hot-tempered, had sent his
equally fiery sister Morag to the meeting with instructions to urge
Sarapen to march on the castle and take the Thaneship by force. "Expel
the Mistress of the Werewolves and declare yourself Thane!"

Lachlan MacGregor, emissary from Baron MacGregor, was not keen
on Morag MacAllister's suggestion.

"Baron MacGregor also inclines towards Sarapen MacRinnalch as
Thane but the removal of the Mistress of the Werewolves would be
illegal."

Lachlan found little support. The Mistress of the Werewolves'
behaviour had caused resentment among the clans. Support for Markus had
never been strong and it was fading quickly. Murdo MacPhee made it
quite clear that the MacPhees preferred Sarapen over Markus.

"Baron MacPhee will back Sarapen on one condition."

"And that condition is?" asked Decembrius.

"The Baron wants justice for the old Thane. Baron MacPhee was
his companion for two hundred years and he's never been reconciled to
the Thane's killer walking free."

"I agree with the Baron," said Sarapen. "Kalix MacRinnalch
should have been brought to justice long ago. It's only lack of will on
the part of the Mistress of the Werewolves that's prevented it. As
proof of my commitment to her capture - "

Sarapen paused, and drew out a leather purse. He emptied five
gold coins onto the table.

"I offer these as reward for her capture. Or for her heart."

The werewolves looked with wonder at the coins. Five gold
nobles, minted in the reign of King David II of Scotland, in the year
1357.

Ancient gold, from the legendary vaults of the MacRinnalchs.
These coins were hardly known to exist in the world these days. Gold
like this was coveted by any werewolf.

"Then Baron MacPhee will support you," said Murdo MacPhee.

Red Ruraich MacAndris was adamant that the MacAndrises would
never follow Markus, no matter what the Great Council decided. Sarapen
was pleased. He'd known from the start that Verasa had overestimated
the strength of her own position. Sarapen clearly commanded the loyalty
of almost all who were gathered here. It was surely enough support to
defeat the Mistress of the Werewolves, if it came to a confrontation.
The MacRinnalchs were strong but would the MacRinnalchs in the castle
really fight for Markus? It had not gone down well with them that
Markus was in hiding.

"Very good. I'm grateful for your support. At the next full
moon, we'll advance on Castle MacRinnalch, demanding that the Mistress
of the Werewolves rescinds my expulsion. If necessary we'll storm the
castle. Then I'll call a meeting of the Great Council at which I will
be declared Thane."

Morag MacAllister chafed at the delay. The next full moon was
four weeks away. She wanted to know why they couldn't march earlier.

"You forget," said Decembrius, "A great many of the
MacRinnalchs in the castle can take on their werewolf shape any night.
The majority of werewolves under the Barons cannot."

"I can be wolf any night I choose," declared Morag, fiercely.

"Indeed. But most of your clansmen can't."

Sarapen nodded his agreement. There were other reasons to
wait. Thanks to Madrigal, Sarapen now knew that Butix and Delix would
be playing on the fourteenth of next month, directly before the next
full moon. Dominil would be with them. It was possible that Kalix and
Thrix would also be there. Five members of the Great Council, all
opponents of Sarapen, all together at a venue in Camden. Sarapen
planned to attack the gig. With the promise of help from Princess
Kabachetka, Sarapen was confident he could defeat the sorcery of the
Enchantress. Kalix would be killed and the other members of the council
taken prisoner. That night Sarapen would deal his enemies a fatal blow
and the next day he'd fly to Scotland to lead his troops against the
castle.

Before the next moon Sarapen would send out the Barons. Though
they'd hold off from attacking the castle, the threat would draw back
to Scotland many of the werewolves Verasa had dispatched to protect her
allies in London. Then Sarapen would sweep up every MacRinnalch who
opposed him. Butix, Delix, Thrix and Dominil could vote for him or they
could die like Kalix. Either way, Sarapen was going to be the Thane at
the next full moon.

165

With the moon being full, Kalix had gorged on pizza and raw
beef. Though Moonglow was out with Markus she had not forgotten to
provide well for her, which Kalix completely failed to appreciate. She
hated it that Moonglow was having an affair with Markus. To spite
Moonglow, she decided not to learn to read anymore.

To make matters worse, Kalix felt as if she'd betrayed Gawain.
Even though her plan to sleep with Daniel had crashed in flames before
she'd got started, she'd still betrayed him. It was treacherous
behaviour on her part. Though it was almost impossible for a werewolf
to be miserable on the night of the full moon, the uniquely troubled
Kalix managed it. When the clouds parted outside the kitchen window,
revealing the white moon looking down over London, Kalix scowled.

"Stupid moon," she muttered, and hunted in the fridge for more
meat, and another carton of ice cream.

The atmosphere in the house between Daniel, Moonglow and Kalix
was now quite awkward. On her way back from the kitchen Kalix met
Daniel in the living room but headed for her own room without greeting
him. Daniel wondered if he should go after her but at that moment
Malveria materialised with an unusually violent flash. Something was
obviously wrong. Flames were flickering around the Fire Queen's eyes,
nostrils and fingers. Tears rolled from her eyes, hissing and sizzling
in the heat.

"I am here to burn the Enchantress's foul designs!" she
announced, and made for the stairs.

"Wait!" yelled Daniel, not liking the idea of his flat burning
around his head. "Wouldn't you like to tell me about it?"

"There is nothing to tell, young human! The perfidious
werewolf has deliberately delayed the making of my clothes leading to
inevitable disgrace at the Sorceress Livia's birthday celebration."

"I'm sorry about that," said Daniel. "But I'm sure you'll look
beautiful whatever you wear."

The Fire Queen set her mouth in a firm line.

"It is no use bombarding me with compliments, Daniel. The
clothes must burn!"

The Fire Queen began to ascend the stairs with a determined
gait.

"But you can't burn them. I saw you wearing the new orange
dress. You looked eh… fabulous."

Daniel writhed in embarrassment as he said this but it brought
Malveria to a halt. She turned her head slowly, steam still hissing
from the tears that mixed with the flames in her eyes.

"I did?"

"Absolutely," said Daniel, nodding his head furiously.
"Fabulous. Believe me, I've never used that word about a dress before."

The flames around Malveria's eyes and nose grew smaller. She
took a step back towards Daniel.

"It is a good dress."

"It's wonderful," agreed Daniel, meanwhile searching
frantically for a further compliment. He remembered something he'd
heard Moonglow say about a friend she admired.

"And of course, not everyone could wear it."

Malveria nodded.

"You're right. It is a bold orange. Few elementals could carry
it off. And yet the moment I laid eyes on it I knew I would look as
brilliant as the midday sun."

"That's the very words I was looking for."

The flames went out. Malveria descended the stairs. Then,
quite abruptly, she dissolved in tears.

"There there," said Daniel, leading her back into the living
room and helping her to the couch. "Do you want to tell me about it?"

It took Daniel a while to learn exactly what had happened
between Malveria and Thrix. When her tears dried Malveria descended
into a deep depression. Daniel brought her wine and scanned the TV
guide for any fashion-related programme which might cheer her up.
Unfortunately, when he found a programme on makeovers, it only made
Malveria sadder.

"I have no one to make me over," said Malveria, gripped by her
maudlin emotions. "You are so lucky to live with friends
who would never betray you."

Daniel nodded.

"But we're not getting on so well," he admitted. The Fire
Queen seemed interested in this, so Daniel told her of his unhappiness
over Moonglow and Markus.

"Moonglow is much more crazy about Markus than she was about
Jay."

Daniel started the conversation as a way of diverting
Malveria's attention from her own misery but it didn't take him long to
forget Malveria's problems and concentrate on to his own. The Fire
Queen proved to be a good listener. She was interested in everything he
had to say about himself and Moonglow.

"Don't despair, young Daniel. I have much experience in the
ways of lovers. Do not abandon hope. One day Moonglow will want you."

Daniel took heart. After all, Malveria was well versed in
these matters. He felt sufficiently grateful to refill Malveria's wine
glass, though he wouldn't have felt so grateful had he known of the
Fire Queen's bargain with Moonglow. Daniel tensed as he heard the front
door open, but Malveria reassured him.

"It's Moonglow on her own. She is not with Markus."

"Maybe they've broken up?" said Daniel, hopefully.

Moonglow burst into the room looking radiant.

"I love Markus!" she cried.

Daniel and Malveria regarded her sourly.

'Another MacRinnalch annoyance,' thought Malveria, and
wished ill on the whole family.

"Where's Kalix?" asked Moonglow.

"Sulking in her room."

"Oh dear." Moonglow noticed that neither Daniel nor
Malveria were looking very happy either.

"What's wrong?"

"Malveria argued with Thrix," explained Daniel, not wanting to
refer to his own problems. Moonglow was concerned. In her happy state
she didn't like to see anyone miserable. She listened as Malveria
related her sorry tale. When she finished, Moonglow nodded.

"Very upsetting," she agreed. "But surely you don't really
think Thrix is betraying you?"

"Of course," exclaimed Malveria. "It is the treacherous
behaviour I have come to expect from the Enchantress."