Moonglow was surprised to arrive home and find a happy looking Kalix eating a bowl of cereal, without appearing to grimace or threaten to vomit.
“Gawain rescued me!” Kalix said, and told her all about it. It was a dramatic tale.
“I dreamed we met,” said Kalix. “And then he rescued me.”
Kalix danced around the room. It was so unusual to see Kalix so cheerful that Moonglow managed to forget her own misery for a while. She laughed as Kalix danced. The young werewolf looked at the clock, and realised she was going to be late.
“See you later!” she cried, and hurried from the house. Tonight she’d remembered to put on her pendant. Now that Gawain had come back, Kalix wasn’t so uncaring about her own safety.
Moonglow planned to catch up on her studies before going to the gig this evening. She was hoping that seeing the infamous MacRinnalch twins onstage would distract her from her worries though it struck her, rather depressingly, that she didn’t have anyone to go with. Daniel, her once reliable companion, would probably be going with Alicia, her once reliable friend. Moonglow didn’t much feel like being the extra person at their side.
Later in the day she heard voices in the living room. Daniel and a girl. Alicia no doubt. Moonglow hesitated. She didn’t enjoy seeing them together. She shrugged, and went downstairs. Daniel was in the living room, but not with Alicia. Vex was sitting on his lap, staring into his eyes.
“Eh hello…” said Moonglow.
Daniel looked around, awkwardly.
“She’s practising reading auras,” explained Daniel, and looked embarrassed. Vex turned her head towards Moonglow.
“Hi Moonglow! I’m really making progress with reading auras. I was just telling Daniel about his secret thoughts and feelings.”
“With you sitting on his lap I can probably tell what he’s feeling,” said Moonglow.
“Aunt Malvie can’t stop me going to the gig now. Are you coming? Me and Daniel are going together.”
“You are?”
They were. Daniel was apparently putting Alicia on hold for the evening to go out with Vex.
‘Probably Alicia’s at home dreaming about him right now,’ thought Moonglow, and felt irritated. She went to the kitchen to make tea, and was sufficiently annoyed not to offer a cup to Daniel or Vex.
206
Dominil had a late breakfast in a café then picked up the van she’d hired for tonight. She called in at a print shop in Camden High Street to collect the small batch of Yum Yum Sugary Snacks T-shirts she’d had made on a whim, doing the design in a moment of boredom. Tonight she planned to either give them away, or sell them if anyone expressed enough interest to hand over money. T-shirts were good publicity.
Dominil had drawn a stylised version of the twins, mostly colourful hair, put the band’s name underneath, and their set list beneath that, made up of some of the twins’ more notable song titles, such as Yum Yum Cute Boys and Stupid Werewolf Bitch. Dominil knew that Stupid Werewolf Bitch had been written about her, as had Evil White-Haired Slut. It didn’t annoy her. Nor did it amuse her. She didn’t care.
It was snowing again. Bad for tonight, unfortunately. The cold might keep people in their homes. Beauty and Delicious had better be prepared for a low turnout.
‘They’d better be prepared for anything,’ thought Dominil. She entered the house expecting to find a chaotic scene as the twins made themselves ready. Instead she found the house completely silent. Dominil hurried through to Beauty’s room.
“What are you doing?”
“Staying in bed.”
Dominil frowned.
“Are you ready for the gig?”
“We’re not playing.”
At that moment the doorbell rang. Dominil was scowling as she answered the door to Kalix.
“What’s wrong?”
“Beauty and Delicious have lost their nerve. They refuse to leave their beds.”
“Oh,” said Kalix.
Dominil paced the room.
“Gawain stayed with me last night,” said Kalix.
Dominil cast a frozen stare at her.
“Am I meant to care about that? I have to get the twins onstage.”
Dominil headed for the door.
“Are you going to shout at them?” asked Kalix.
“Damn right I’m going to shout at them,” replied Dominil.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” said Kalix. The glare which Dominil now turned on her was so fierce that Kalix took a step back.
“Do you have a better suggestion?”
“Well… you could…” Kalix found it hard to get her words out.
“Get to the point,” growled Dominil.
Kalix wished she hadn’t started the conversation, but struggled on.
“Maybe you should encourage them. You know… sort of try being nice. If you shout at them they’ll just get more nervous and refuse to play.”
“Do I strike you as the sort or werewolf who can be encouraging? Or nice?” said Dominil, in a tone of voice which suggested an icy gale blowing down from the frozen north.
“Well, sometimes,” said Kalix.
Dominil seemed about to give vent to another furious retort, but paused, and looked surprised.
“I think you can be quite encouraging,” said Kalix.
Dominil laughed. Kalix had never heard her laugh before. It was a harsh sound.
“Nice. Encouraging,” she muttered, as if she’d never heard the words before. “Possibly it is worth trying. Come with me.”
Beauty was still hiding under the covers. Seeing that Dominil was unsure of how to begin, Kalix made a start.
“You should get up and get ready for the gig. Because you’ve made all this progress. All the hard work rehearsing. It would be a shame to throw it away.”
There was no reply from Beauty.
“Kalix is right,” said Dominil. “I have been impressed with your efforts. It would be foolish to let it be for nothing.”
Beauty stuck her head out from under the covers. There was a bottle of whisky beside her on the pillow.
“You just want us to go to the castle and vote,” she said to Dominil, and looked at her accusingly.
Dominil considered this for a few moments.
“That is not entirely true,” she said eventually. “It was my main motivation, I admit. But since I’ve been here I’ve been impressed by your talent. You and your sister can be successful.”
Beauty didn’t look entirely convinced.
“You deserve to be successful,” continued Dominil, with a final effort.
Beauty still hesitated.
“I have run out of encouragement,” said Dominil. “If you don’t get up of your own accord, I really will pick you up and throw you in the van.”
The next half hour was utter chaos as Beauty and Delicious made themselves ready. They had to cram five hours worth of hairstyling, make-up and dressing into under thirty minutes. Dominil and Kalix were forced to withdraw to the kitchen to avoid being trampled in the melee. Kalix rather hoped that after her reasonably kind words to the twins, Dominil might have something positive to say about her momentous news concerning Gawain, but Dominil didn’t mention it. She glanced at her watch.
“Almost time to go. Help me load the van.”
“Gawain came and rescued me,” said Kalix.
“You told me that already,” replied Dominil.
207
The Fire Queen appeared in Thrix’s apartment in a triumphant mood.
“The Queen of the Hiyasta will tonight crush and obliterate all who spoke harshly of her fashion achievements. Princess Kabachetka will acknowledge that Malveria is supreme.”
She took the Enchantress in her arms and kissed her.
“Thank you for the wonderful clothes.”
The Enchantress had been expecting Malveria to send a minion for the missing handbag but the Fire Queen explained that she had journeyed here herself in order to thank Thrix once again.
“Soo
n it will be time to mount the imperial carriage and dazzle the assembled hordes. But my preparations are now complete, and as in time of war, there is now nothing to do but wait till the appointed moment, and then attack. “
Malveria looked thoughtful.
“And I have been struck by another thought. Tonight you will confront Sarapen, yes?”
“It seems likely,” said Thrix.
“For which reason I forgive you the rather utilitarian T-shirt you are wearing. It would not do to be fighting in over elaborate clothing.”
“I’m hoping there’s no fighting involved,” said Thrix. “I’m planning to blanket the area with protection spells and keep him out.”
“Yes, this is wise. And it leads me to my other thought. Sarapen is a mighty werewolf. He will have other werewolves with him. I do not wish to insult your skills in any way, but are you certain you can keep them all out? If you have the slightest doubt, I will attempt to add some power of my own to yours.”
“I’m sure I can manage,” replied the Enchantress.
“The white-haired werewolf has her doubts. When I last encountered her she asked if I could lend extra protection.”
Thrix was moderately displeased to learn this.
“I told Dominil I could manage.”
Malveria looked squarely at Thrix. As happened on those occasions when the Fire Queen turned her attention fully to the art of war, she was serious and to the point.
“You are not completely certain if you can manage. You don’t know what forces Sarapen may bring with him. If you block every door you may find he has a company of wolves on the roof. Take note of my words, dearest Enchantress.”
Thrix didn’t like any suggestion that she might be lacking in power. Had it been anyone else warning her, she’d have thrown them out.
“I’ll be fine. Dominil is strong, and there will be four or five other MacRinnalchs in the audience. That should be enough to take care of any werewolf who breaches my spells. Not that any werewolf will breach my spells.”
“Very well, stubborn Enchantress. But will you be insulted if I make a brief visit during the evening?”
“To check I’m all right?”
“Yes. I worry about you. And, I confess, about my idiotic niece, who will also be there, plaguing the audience.”
“I won’t be insulted,” said Thrix. “Though I doubt you’ll have time to visit, you’ll be on your way to Livia’s.”
“Indeed I will. The population is even now gathering to see me ride off in my most splendid carriage. But I will visit if I can spare a moment.”
Malveria thanked Thrix effusively for her new clothes once more.
“It is a victory for your skill, genius, artistry and unparalleled work ethic.”
She de-materialised, leaving Thrix slightly annoyed at the thought of Dominil doubting her powers.
208
Clan secretary Rainal had rarely seen Verasa so livid.
“Markus challenged Wallace to single combat? Without consulting me?”
Verasa slammed her fist on a table. The table was a hefty old piece of wood, but no match for a werewolf’s temper, and it split apart.
“Is my son losing his mind? Does he want to die?”
“He wants to prove himself,” said Rainal.
Verasa growled, and kicked out at a small chair. It too disintegrated. The sound of it smashing jerked Verasa back to her senses. She looked at the pieces of wood.
“That chair,” she said calmly, “has been in the family for five hundred years, and is quite irreplaceable. You see, Rainal, what a fury this has driven me to? I’m sure I never before broke two pieces of furniture in such a short space of time.”
Rainal had found out most of the story concerning Markus’s challenge. Soon it would be known by everyone.
“I can’t believe Buvalis planned to betray the castle,” said the Mistress of the Werewolves. “Damn that Kertal for corrupting her.”
She shook her head.
“What a mess this all is.”
Verasa was terrified at the thought of Markus falling before the awe-some strength of Wallace MacGregor. Her immediate inclination had been to forbid the duel even if it meant putting Markus under guard. Now, as her reason returned, she realised that it was not so easy. If she were to ban the fight, Markus would be disgraced. He’d be regarded as a werewolf who hid behind his mother’s skirts. No MacRinnalch would support him as Thane. She cursed her son for getting them into this mess.
“So what should we do about it?”
It was a dilemma. A werewolf who issued a challenge to single combat couldn’t easily withdraw it. In all the history of the clan, Rainal couldn’t remember a single instance of that happening.
“I’m not certain what to do for the best,” he admitted.
“In one stroke Markus threatens to ruin all of our work,” fumed Verasa. “All we have to do is sit tight in the castle and wait. They cannot take it. Eventually the rebellion would have petered out and by then I’d have had Markus declared Thane. Now he’s about to risk his life before Sarapen even arrives.”
“Don’t you think Markus can defeat Wallace?” asked Rainal.
“No, I don’t,” replied Verasa. “And I’m not about to let him try.”
Verasa paced her chambers, deep in thought. The single combat was due to take place in less than ten hours and she had to find some way of guaranteeing Markus’s safety. She poured herself a goblet of wine and drank it down quickly, then lit another cigarette. Finally she told Rainal to send for Markus.
“And remain here when he arrives. If I’m left alone with him I might start breaking the furniture again.”
209
Kalix was intrigued by all the events surrounding the gig. She rode in the van while Dominil picked up the other musicians, helping to load their equipment and then carry it into the venue. She watched as the twins set up, then listened to their sound check. It didn’t go all that well, and Beauty and Delicious were agitated when they came offstage. They went downstairs to meet friends in the bar.
Kalix and Dominil had both taken laudanum before coming out. Each knew that the other had, but they didn’t mention it. Kalix sipped from a bottle of beer, and studied the inky stamp on the back of her hand. It meant she could come in and out of the gig without paying, because she was helping the band. Again, Kalix felt important. Dominil went downstairs to check that the twins were not getting too drunk, but Kalix didn’t have to sit on her own for long. Daniel and Vex arrived early, due to Vex’s eagerness to be here. The young fire elemental had never been to a gig before and was feverish with excitement. With her youthful, honey coloured complexion, her wildly spiked and bleached hair, her colourful, mismatched clothes, and a pair of boots large enough to anchor her skinny frame firmly to the ground, she looked strange, but beautiful and exotic. Daniel walked in rather proudly at her side. Kalix asked where Moonglow was.
“She’s coming along later,” Daniel said. “She’s in a funny mood.”
Downstairs Dominil was attempting to regulate the twins’ alcohol intake. This was difficult because they were at the heart of a great group of friends and acquaintances. The venue was filling up. Despite the bad weather, it seemed there was enough local interest in the notorious Beauty and Delicious to draw a reasonable audience. She was forced to abandon her guardianship of the twins when Thrix arrived. Some sleep, her own werewolf vitality and the expert application of cosmetics had restored the Enchantress to her former golden beauty. Despite the prospect of a confrontation with Sarapen, Thrix had no intention of turning up anywhere looking less than her best. She informed Dominil that her spells were in place.
“You seem uncomfortable,” said Dominil. “Is there some problem with the sorcery?”
“None at all,” replied Thrix. “I’m uncomfortable because I’m in a bar in Camden with a lot of nineteen year old boys gawking at me.”
“I feel this too,” admitted Dominil.
At a table in the far corner were f
our men who Thrix recognised as MacRinnalchs, in the employment of Verasa.
“Our guards for the night?”
Dominil nodded. The Enchantress noticed Dominil’s T-shirt under her open coat.
“What’s the writing?”
“The band’s set list.”
Thrix read it with interest.
“Stupid Werewolf Bitch? Evil White-Haired Slut?” She laughed. “They wrote two songs about you.”
“Three,” said Dominil. “They encore with Vile Werewolf Whore.”
Kalix arrived in the downstairs room, looking for Gawain. She was disappointed not to find him there, and gravitated towards Dominil. At that moment Beauty and Delicious came over to complain to Dominil that the venue wasn’t giving them enough free drinks.
“Then don’t drink any more,” said Dominil.
Beauty was not impressed.
“That’s your solution?”
“Yes.”
“You’re the worst manager in the world,” said Delicious.
The bar was now busy. When the MacRinnalch women came briefly together, the din in the room noticeably diminished. As Kalix, Dominil, Thrix, Butix and Delix talked, all eyes were drawn to them. Young men all around the room lost interest in whoever they were with, and gazed with wonder at the sight. It seemed as if five of the most beautiful and colourful women in the world had suddenly stepped out of a magazine and into the bar. Many people decided there and then that no matter what Yum Yum Sugary Snacks sounded like, they were going to come back and see them again.
210
By the time Markus answered his mother’s summons, the Mistress of the Werewolves had her temper under control. It didn’t prevent her from lecturing him at length about the stupidity of his behaviour.
“Is this your idea of the modern world? A challenge to single combat? Is this how you plan to run the clan’s affairs after I make you Thane?”
“I can’t be Thane if no one respects me,” protested Markus.
“Do you want to be well respected and dead?” roared Verasa. “Isn’t it enough that Sarapen wants to kill you? Do you have to let Wallace MacGregor do his work for him?”
Lonely Werewolf Girl Page 58
