A great log fire burned at one end of the long stone hall. Clan banners decorated the walls. Torches cast a flickering light over the werewolves who sat at the great circular oak table. No servants attended them; servants were banished from such an important meeting. The only werewolf in attendance apart from the council members was clan secretary Rainal, the well-respected administrator whose duties included the recording of all proceedings of the council. In front of each werewolf was a crystal decanter of whisky and another of spring water from the clan’s estates. It was midnight, and the meeting had just begun. Most of the werewolves were in wolf form but some had retained their human shape. Thrix sat as a human, her long golden hair gleaming in the torch light, but across the table from her Sarapen sat huge and black in his werewolf form, eager to get on with business. He turned his head toward Great Mother Dulupina, a werewolf of such tremendous age that she rarely left the confines of her chambers.
Dulupina was no longer strong. Her hair was grey, and even in werewolf shape she looked fragile. Though she was closest to the great fire her legs were covered by a woollen blanket, woven in the dark green MacRinnalch tartan. Her voice was rather soft. Since her son died she had spoken little. The death of the Thane had been a terrible blow to the old werewolf. Dulupina held Kalix responsible. He had never recovered from her brutal assault.
Tupan and his daughter Dominil were talking to each other in low voices. The Great Mother looked at them for a while. Tupan, her second son, had always made her proud, almost as proud as the Thane. In his werewolf form he was strong, upright, a true MacRinnalch. As for his daughter Dominil, she was rather different. Dominil was a very striking figure both as human and werewolf. She was tall, and her hair was white, as it had been from birth. Not an albino; rather, it was if she had somehow inherited the genes of an arctic snow-wolf. Dominil’s eyes were deepest black. With her long white hair, the effect was startling, which Dominil knew.
Quite what her granddaughter’s thoughts were, Dulupina had never been certain. Dominil seemed close to no one. It had been rumoured at one time that she had some involvement with Sarapen but if that were true, nothing ever came of it. Dulupina had never seen them show any signs of familiarity. If anything, a slight enmity seemed to exist between them and they had exchanged only the briefest of greetings when entering the chamber. Sarapen was as often at the castle as he was at his own keep, but Dominil rarely encountered him during his visits. She had her own chambers which she seldom left.
Baron MacPhee, a huge, fat man and an even fatter werewolf, coughed rather pointedly in Dulupina’s direction. Dulupina smiled. The Baron was a friend and supporter of very long standing and she understood him well. There were stags roasting in the banqueting hall and he wished to get the meeting over with so he could proceed to the eating. Dulupina looked towards the Mistress of the Werewolves. She in turn looked towards Rainal.
“We will begin the meeting,” said the clan secretary.
The hall fell silent. Verasa, Mistress of the Werewolves, transformed from her human shape.
“It is time,” said Rainal. “To elect the new Thane.”
41
“Who makes nomination for the new Thane?”
There were a few seconds silence, then Baron MacPhee spoke up.
“I nominate Sarapen MacRinnalch.”
This was good. It was fitting that the nomination should come from the loyal supporters of the clan rather than a member of the ruling family. Baron MacPhee had been a great friend and companion of the Old Thane. There were murmurs of agreement from around the table and the Barons prepared to raise their glasses to Sarapen as the new chief of the clan.
“I accept the nomination,” said Sarapen, which was the only correct response.
“Are there any other nominations?” asked Rainal, merely as a matter of form. More seconds passed in silence. The huge fire crackled in the corner. Sarapen began to rise. Then, as if she had been waiting for that moment to discomfort him, Dominil spoke up.
“I nominate Markus MacRinnalch,” she said.
There were more murmurs, a little louder. Sarapen sat down firmly. He glared at Dominil. Dominil, still human, still with her mane of straight white hair spilling over her shoulders, stared back at him with her black eyes. Though he was angry at the delay, Sarapen was not yet perturbed. Nor was he overly surprised at Dominil’s words. There was something of a history between Sarapen and Dominil and relations between them were now very cool. Sarapen was surprised that she chose to bring her dislike of him into this meeting where it would surely do nothing but cause her embarrassment, but he could put up with it. He waited for Rainal to speak.
“Do you accept the nomination?” asked Rainal, looking to Markus.
Sarapen did not believe for a moment that he would. When Markus calmly echoed his own words of a few moments before, the huge werewolf was stunned.
“I accept the nomination.”
The murmurs round the table became louder.
“You accept?” growled Sarapen.
“I do.”
“Who do you expect to vote for you?” said Sarapen, angrily, his temper already beginning to give way. Markus did not reply. The Barons looked uncomfortable. They hadn’t expected that there would be any need to vote.
Verasa remained silent. She had known that Tupan’s daughter planned to nominate Markus. Verasa herself had suggested it to her some time ago. Such was Dominil’s dislike for Sarapen that she needed little persuasion.
It was not a time for speeches. Whatever campaigning, plotting or arguing had to be done was done outside the council chamber. Here, there would simply be a vote. The clan secretary frowned. He hadn’t been expecting this either, and he hoped the meeting might end without rancour.
“Those in favour of Sarapen MacRinnalch please raise their hands.”
Rainal counted the votes.
“Those in favour of Markus MacRinnalch.”
The secretary again counted while the werewolves sat in uneasy silence.
“And those abstaining.”
The only sound to be heard over the roaring fire was the heavy breath of Sarapen as he struggled to control his emotions.
“There are seven votes for Sarapen MacRinnalch. There are five votes for Markus MacRinnalch. There are two abstentions. Three members of the council are absent. Since no member of the Great Council has received the required nine votes, I declare, in accordance with the laws of Clan MacRinnalch, that we’ll vote again tomorrow.
Sarapen exploded. He smashed his fist on the table.
“You dare to oppose me!” he yelled at his younger brother. “You will regret this!”
Markus remained seated, expressionless but not cowed. Sarapen turned his eyes on his mother. He struggled to control himself. He knew that she had organised the opposition to him. She herself had voted against him. Against Sarapen, her oldest son. It was beyond belief. Unable to contain his anger and fearing that he might become violent, Sarapen threw back his chair and marched out of the room.
Those seven who had voted for Sarapen were Sarapen himself, Kurian, Kertal, Marwanis, and the three Barons. Those five who had voted for Markus were Verasa, Tupan, Dominil, Lucia and Markus. Thrix had abstained from the vote. So, inexplicably, had Great Mother Dulupina.
42
“Are there no more pop-tarts?” enquired the Fire Queen.
“Eh… shouldn’t we look for Kalix now?” said Moonglow.
The Fire Queen pouted, which she liked to do, when her lips were looking their best. Malveria never left her palace without a careful application of several layers of lipstick. Today she’d used an undercoat of deep plum overlaid with a layer of Russian red, and was pleased with the dramatic effect. She looked at Daniel.
“Do you want to rush off to find the young werewolf?”
Daniel saw Moonglow directing a pointed look in his direction.
“I suppose we should look. After all, you went to all the trouble of getting a new pendant.”
Malveria nodded. It was true. She had gone to a lot of trouble. And while she did not much care if Kalix lived or died, it would be wasteful not to use it.
“It is easier to track a werewolf in werewolf shape than it is to track a werewolf in human shape,” explained Malveria. “But I am a skilful enough hunter to find either. So let us hunt. Young man, I believe you have a car?”
Daniel nodded. He didn’t much like being addressed as young man, particularly as Malveria looked only few years older than him, but he was prepared to put up with it. Malveria was a famed beauty and her voice was soft and sweet like an exotic musical instrument. Daniel felt he could put up with a lot from her.
The Fire Queen had been in a car before but it was still sufficiently novel for her to feel some anxiety that Moonglow might take the front seat, and she hurried to claim it for herself. Daniel turned the key in the ignition. The Fire Queen struggled to open her window. Daniel tried to help and she giggled as he leaned over her. In the back seat Moonglow frowned. For a powerful ruler of an alien dimension, Malveria could be extremely helpless when it suited her.
“How entertaining this is,” said Malveria, as they drove slowly through the grey London streets. “I am hunting for a werewolf! It is just like ancient times in my kingdom, though then of course any Hiyasta hunting a werewolf would have been attempting to kill this werewolf. How strange that I am seeking to save one’s life.”
“Did Hiyastas and Werewolves fight each other?” asked Moonglow.
“At one time.”
“Why?”
“The original reasons are now a little obscure,” replied Malveria. “Though the bad feelings between us became worse during a wedding hosted by the Fairy Queen.”
Moonglow was agog at the thought.
“There really is a Fairy Queen?”
“Of course. There are several - ”
Before Malveria could elaborate further something caught her attention and she looked sharply to the left.
“That way,” she said. “I can sense her.”
They drove for another ten minutes, the Fire Queen now concentrating on the hunt. Moonglow was becoming anxious.
“Should we try the hospitals?” she wondered out loud.
“If she has been taken to hospital she will surely be dead,” said the Fire Queen.
“Why?”
“Different blood. You can’t cure a werewolf in a human hospital. Anything they gave her would poison her.”
Malveria laid her hand on Daniel’s leg.
“Stop here.”
“I can’t. No parking.”
“Stop here.”
Daniel stopped.
“She is in that alleyway,” said Malveria, indicating a dark and narrow opening. They hurried from the car, shivering in the cold winter air.
When they found Kalix she was almost dead. She lay stiff and cold at the very end of the filthy alley. The Fire Queen had to check her frozen body carefully before discovering the tiniest flicker of life.
“But she will die very soon.”
“What will we do?”
Malveria shrugged. There was nothing to be done. In a few minutes Kalix’s life would ebb away and that was the end of it.
“Perhaps we could eat more pop-tarts?” suggested Malveria.
Moonglow glared at her.
“Do you have no feelings at all?” she said angrily.
Malveria was astonished. She was not used to that tone of voice being used against her. She started to utter an angry retort but Moonglow wasn’t listening. She was hastily pulling the boxes off Kalix’s body and telling Daniel to help her carry the werewolf to the car.
“But she is going to die,” said the Fire Queen, matter-of-factly.
“No she isn’t,” said Moonglow. “We’re taking her home and she’s going to recover.”
Malveria looked towards Daniel, expecting him to agree with her. It was obviously hopeless. Daniel, however, was too busy helping Moonglow. Malveria noticed for the first time that Daniel was in love with Moonglow. And yet she had heard Moonglow speak of her involvement with another young man called Jay. Her mood brightened. This was surely entertaining.
“Very well,” she said. “If you wish to take her home.”
Malveria muttered a few words. In an instant all four of them were transported back to the new flat. Daniel was open-mouthed with astonishment. He had just been teleported through space. Life was becoming stranger all the time.
“How did you do that?”
“Never mind how,” said Moonglow. “Help me to get Kalix warm. Get a quilt. Make a hot water bottle.”
Malveria laughed.
“You hope to save her life with a hot water bottle?”
“I’ll try my best.”
Watching Moonglow forlornly rubbing Kalix’s wrists, trying to bring life back into her, the Queen felt an odd twinge of emotion. Sympathy for the werewolf? Surely not. Sympathy for the girl? Again, that would be strange. Malveria had not forgiven Moonglow for talking sharply to her. No one in her kingdom would have dared to do so. Yet this girl apparently felt quite free to take an angry tone with her even though the Fire Queen could have blasted her out of existence with a wave of her hand.
“Perhaps this is amusing also,” thought Malveria. “I am interested in this girl, and her strong spirit.”
She attempted to venture a word of sympathy, and did her best to sound sincere.
“The werewolf really is going to die. I’m sorry, she is beyond your help. She has been broken inside, in many places. Bones and organs are shattered. She doesn’t work any more.”
Moonglow’s eyes misted over. She took Kalix in her arms as if trying to lend her warmth from her own life force. Kalix was cold, colder than anybody Moonglow had ever touched. Her skin was like ice and the blood that covered her nose and mouth was hard and black. Moonglow raised her head to look at Malveria.
“Can’t you help? You have power.”
The Fire Queen said nothing. Daniel arrived back with a quilt and a hot water bottle. He stood and watched helplessly as Kalix lay dying and Moonglow hugged her, now in tears.
“Fetch water and a cloth,” said Malveria abruptly. Daniel hurried off.
“You understand if I were to help this werewolf it would cost me dearly?” said the Fire Queen to Moonglow. “She is so far down the path of death that she cannot easily be brought back. Already her soul is communicating with the other souls in the forests of the werewolf dead. And though I have great power it would cost me much to reach out so far towards these forests. I would not be a welcome visitor there. The effort would…”
Malveria searched for words to explain what she meant. There was nothing in human language to communicate it exactly.
“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.”
Moon
glow 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.
Lonely Werewolf Girl Page 11
