Martin Millar - Lonely Werewolf Girl (62 page)

"Appalling niece. When you came downstairs there was something
about your aura I did not like."

Vex looked at Kalix, a pained expression on her face.

"You see what I have to put up with? Even my aura gets
criticised."

"It looked to me like the aura of a girl with a guilty
conscience," continued Malveria. "Of course, you often have a guilty
conscience due to your numerous crimes. But I would judge this
particular guilt-tinged aura to be the result of trying on my new
clothes which are at this moment hidden in the attic."

Malveria glared at Agrivex.

"I completely deny it," said Vex.

"You dismal girl. If you go near these clothes again you will
find yourself swimming briefly in the great volcano before disappearing
under a torrent of lava, and a great benefit to the Hiyasta nation that
would be, now I think about it."

"We should be going," said Thrix.

"Ah, Enchantress. Moonglow's tears have discomfited you. You
are not comfortable in the presence of such raw emotions, no?"

Thrix didn't reply. Malveria was correct. Thrix didn't feel
comfortable when confronted by great public displays of emotion. The
result of a rather cold upbringing, a therapist had once told her. But
Thrix didn't really approve of therapy either, and had only gone for
reasons of fashion, when a therapist seemed like a necessary accessory.

With a final stern exhortation to Agrivex not to go near any
of the clothes in the attic, the Fire Queen dematerialised. The
Enchantress looked at Kalix, who was sitting with Vex on the couch,
watching TV.

"Are you all right?" she asked.

Kalix mumbled a reply without looking up. As a werewolf with a
mouth full of pizza, her words were very hard to understand. It
aggravated Thrix that Kalix couldn't tear her attention away from the
TV screen for a few seconds to talk to her older sister. The
Enchantress left abruptly, and was soon back in her office, hard at
work.

The Fire Queen was not so direct in her journey home. After
dema-terialising downstairs, she rematerialised in Moonglow's room.
Moon-glow was now on her own, and lay crying on her bed.

"You yearn for Markus?" said Malveria.

Moonglow looked up.

"I love him," she sobbed.

"And he has ended it? Why?"

"He didn't say," wailed Moonglow. "He just ended it."

The Fire Queen nodded sagely. She was not surprised. Malveria
knew Markus to be ambitious. A young human girlfriend was not what he
needed to become Thane. The kind and compassionate Moonglow had exactly
the right sort of character to comfort Markus, and bring him back to
life. And probably, thought Malveria, she was a moderately good
companion in bed, which would be a help. But once healed, Markus would
no longer need her.

The Fire Queen chose her words carefully. Moonglow was
distraught, and could not be comforted. But she could surely be
influenced.

"You may soon come to realise that this is a good thing. Now
that you have been released from Markus, you will be free to meet the
per-son who is truly right for you."

"I want Markus."

"Indeed. But that will pass. I can sense it passing, more
swiftly than you realise."

Moonglow didn't respond, She didn't think her anguish over
Markus was ever going to pass.

"Meanwhile, as a way of taking your attention from you own
troubles, perhaps you could attend to the troubles surrounding Daniel?"

"What troubles?"

"I believe he may be in for some awkwardness with Vex and
Kalix."

Moonglow had no idea what the Fire Queen was talking about.

"Daniel slept with Vex," explained Malveria. "Did you not know
that? I believe that Kalix was rather jealous and upset. It may be
awkward for Daniel if these two young beauties are competing for his
attention."

Moonglow looked surprised. She had no idea that Vex and Kalix
were competing for Daniel's attention.

"And I understand a young woman at your college - what was her
name? Agrivex did mention it to me - Alicia? -1 understand that she has
now been calling Daniel."

"Alicia's been phoning Daniel?"

"So Agrivex informs me. Poor Daniel may find it hard to cope
with so many girls in urgent pursuit of him. As a good friend, you will
be ideally situated to help him choose for the best."

The Fire Queen departed, leaving Moonglow puzzled at the
thought of Vex, Kalix and Alicia all competing for Daniel. Malveria was
well pleased with herself. Perhaps, she mused, Moonglow would not
regard him as quite so unworthy now.

169

After the full moon there was great activity around the lands
of the MacRinnalchs. The Barons' representatives arrived back from
London carrying Sarapen's instructions, and now every fortified keep
was alive with preparations. When Sarapen gave the order each Baron had
to be ready to advance on Castle MacRinnalch.

Young Baron Douglas MacAllister, to the east of the castle,
was to march through Colburn Wood. Douglas and his sister Morag were
eager for war.

The MacPhees would come down from the hills to the north.
Baron MacPhee was too old and obese to conduct a campaign, so they
would be would led by his eldest son, Euan MacRinnalch MacPhee.

As for Baron MacGregor, his lands also hummed with activity,
but so far he had neither refused nor consented to support Sarapen's
insurrection. His son Wallace favoured joining with the other Barons,
but Wallace was war-like by nature, better at fighting than thinking.
Lach-lan MacGregor still advised caution.

News of the Barons' preparations reached the castle quickly.
It was time for all werewolves to choose sides, or else retire to their
homes, and hope the storm might pass quickly. The Fairy Queen of
Colburn Woods drew her people to her, and waited on events. Far away to
the north, old Minerva MacRinnalch, now retired, turned her gaze
southwards. She could see the troops gathering and the troubled times
to come. She could see Lucia MacRinnalch fretting in the castle, hardly
knowing which side to support, that of her sister or that of her son
Decembrius. She saw her old pupil Thrix MacRinnalch struggling to
maintain her grip on events in London, and watched as Marwanis left the
castle to take up residence at Sarapen's keep.

The Mistress of the Werewolves did not really believe that the
Barons would attack the castle, but made careful preparations
nonetheless. She informed those members of the Great Council still
remaining - Lucia, Kurian, Kertal, Dulupina, and Tupan - that she had
recalled Markus.

"I've appointed Markus captain of the castle guard and he will
direct all our troop operations."

Tupan smiled to himself. He doubted very much if young Markus
would direct the troops. Verasa herself was far more experienced in the
art of war.

"Is it true that Sarapen has put a price on Kalix's head?"
Tupan enquired.

"Yes. Five gold nobles."

Tupan was impressed.

"A fine price. As much as has ever been offered for a
werewolf, I'd say."

"So I believe," replied Verasa, stiffly.

"I wonder who'll try to collect?" said Tupan.

"No one will collect a reward for Kalix," declared Verasa.
Tupan wasn't so sure. He knew many werewolves who'd do a lot to earn
five gold nobles.

The Mistress of the Werewolves stared over the battlements.
Beneath the great dark castle the MacRinnalch lands were green and
peaceful, though the skies were overcast. The land to the north sloped
gently downwards for almost a mile before giving way to the great glen
that came down from the Rinnalch hills, where Baron MacPhee sat in his
fortified keep, as his ancestors had done for more than a thousand
years. Verasa had known the old Baron all her life. He'd been present
at her christening, and her wedding. She had sent him lavish gifts when
his son Euan was born. Now Euan was about to lead the MacPhees against
her.

170

There were three and a half weeks till the Sorceress Livia's
birthday celebration and Princess Kabachetka already had a beautiful
new wardrobe. Five days' worth of exclusive shoes, coats, dresses,
blouses, skirts, trousers, and accessories. It should have been enough
to make her happy. It wasn't. The Princess knew there was something
missing from Zatek's designs. Something that could hardly be named, but
something of ultimate importance. Zatek could not provide for Princess
Kabachetka the final touch of genius which Thrix could give to Queen
Malveria.

For months now, Kabachetka had trumped every fashion statement
made by Malveria, wearing clothes ostensibly made by Zatek, but really
designed by Thrix, and swiftly stolen. Now Zatek designed on his own
and the results weren't good enough. Kabachetka knew that if Malveria
turned up at the party in a full array of Thrix Fashion, she would
outshine her. All the great ladies would nod as the Princess passed,
and congratulate her on the splendour of her attire, before raising
their fans to whisper that really, she was no match for Queen Malveria.

If Princes Kabachetka's garments were seriously deficient in
com-parison to her rival's, then Beau DeMortalis, Duke of the Black
Castle, might even raise an eyebrow. Beau DeMortalis was a fabulous
dandy whose disapproval in matters of fashion was feared all over the
realms. A raised eyebrow from Beau DeMortalis had been the kiss of
death for many an aspiring fashion leader. The Princess grew cold at
the thought. She simply couldn't bear it if Beau DeMortalis were to
raise an eyebrow.

Princess Kabachetka bent all her will to discovering the
hiding place of Malveria's clothes. She scanned the area around Thrix's
office, widening her search, hunting for any secret places where
werewolves had been. She would find out what Malveria was going to wear
and Zatek would copy the ideas.

'And if I discover her clothes too late,' thought the
Princess. 'If there is no time for Zatek to adapt them for me, then I
will destroy Malveria's new garments, every one of them.'

171

Kalix was surprised to receive a phone call from Dominil.

"I need help handing out fliers," said Dominil.

Kalix didn't understand. Dominil explained that the twins had
a gig and now Dominil needed to give out leaflets advertising it. To
Dominil's mind this was a tedious task, and probably unnecessary. Using
Verasa's money she could have paid for adverts in every music paper and
website. That however was tantamount to buying success and the twins
wouldn't allow it.

"If there's expensive ads everywhere everyone will mock us for
being rich girls. We need fliers."

Not that there was any likelihood of Beauty and Delicious
handing out fliers themselves.

"We're busy writing songs and stuff. We can't hand out fliers.
Anyway it's cold outside."

Dominil had designed the leaflets herself. She was pleased
with the result but wasn't looking forward to giving them out. Dominil
knew she was certain to attract a lot of unwanted attention if she
stood around outside Camden tube station. Thinking that a companion
would make the work easier, she selected Kalix, and offered to pay her.

Kalix would probably have done it without being paid. The
atmosphere in the house was still strained, and she'd been curious
about Dominil since the eventful night in the park. Kalix put on an
oversized jersey that Daniel had given her, wrapped herself in her
coat, and slipped out into the cold afternoon. She took the tube from
Kenning-ton to Camden where Dominil was waiting.

"I've never done this before," said Kalix.

"Neither have I," said Dominil, taking a wad of fliers from
her bag and handing them to Kalix. "Just give one to everyone who
passes."

Although Camden was always full of people giving out fliers,
and most people studiously avoided taking them, Dominil and Kalix had
no trouble in disposing of theirs. Their combined strangeness and
beauty acted as a magnet to almost everyone who passed. Their hair
alone was enough to attract attention. Dominil's hung long and
ice-white over her black leather coat and Kalix's, thick and lustrous,
streamed down to her waist. Kalix was so skinny it seemed there was
more hair than anything else. Her health had improved and though she
was still very pale, her large, elfin eyes were now shining rather than
dull.

The two werewolves soon found themselves on the receiving end
of the sort of unwanted attention Dominil had anticipated. After
chasing off the twentieth man who lingered beside them, wanting to
discuss the gig, the weather, or anything else, Dominil pursed her lips.

"This is just as tedious as I imagined it would be."

Kalix shrugged.

"We've given out a lot of fliers."

They had. As a first attempt it had been a success. Dominil
suggested that they retire to a bar and Kalix followed her across the
street. Dominil asked Kalix if she wanted anything to eat. Kalix shook
her head so the white-haired werewolf bought two bottles of beer. Kalix
suddenly felt nervous. Outside she had been fine but now she wondered
if Dominil was going to start lecturing her about family business.
Kalix generally assumed that any family member was going to lecture her
about something.

"Thanks for the book," she said.

"Thank you for saving my life," replied Dominil.

They sat rather stiffly together. Neither of them were great
conversationalists. Dominil politely inquired how Kalix was getting
along with her new friends.

"Everything is awful," replied Kalix, to Dominil's surprise.

"I understood you were co-existing well with Daniel and
Moon-glow."

"Moonglow's depressed and Daniel's unhappy and we've been
arguing."

Kalix told Dominil about her recent experiences in the house.

"These do not seem like serious problems," said Dominil,
dismissively. "Merely the sort of things that are to be expected when
sharing a flat. I also suffer from the idiocies of Beauty and
Delicious."