“Would you like it if they did?” asked Dominil, seriously.
“Of course! It was the best thing ever!”
Dominil nodded.
“I thought they pleased the audience. Rather more than I expected. But I’ve come here about Kalix.”
Moonglow told Dominil that Kalix wasn’t around.
“She goes out. We don’t know where.”
“Is she taking care of herself?”
“Not at all.”
It had been the Mistress of the Werewolves’ suggestion that Dominil visit Kalix. Dominil had surprised Verasa by accepting the commission. In truth, the white-haired werewolf had swiftly realised that she was bored at Castle MacRinnalch. She wasn’t quite ready to return to her private chambers and spend her days translating Latin poetry.
“You should take her shopping,” said Vex, brightly.
Dominil stared at her curiously.
“In what way would that help?”
“Everyone likes shopping.”
Dominil had no inclination to bandy words with Agrivex.
“I will find Kalix and talk to her,” she said, and left without saying goodbye. Daniel shivered.
“She’s more likely to push Kalix over the edge than help her.”
The doorbell rang. Vex yelped.
“It’s Aunt Malvie! I’m meant to be in history class!”
Vex swiftly dematerialised.
“It’s your turn to answer the door,” said Daniel. Moonglow hurried downstairs. As she opened the door her eyes widened in astonishment. Standing next to the Fire Queen was a woman who was so beautiful, so ethereal, so lovely as to defy all description.
“May we come in?”
Moonglow nodded, too awe-struck by the woman to speak. Her hair shimmered like underwater gold, and her eyes were so large and blue that Moonglow felt she might be swallowed up by them.
“Allow me to introduce Dithean Wallace Cloud-of-Heather NicRinnalch, Fairy Queen of Colburn Wood. She is my guest for Livia’s grand chariot race. I am lending her a handbag.”
The Fairy Queen smiled at Moonglow. Moonglow stammered to make some reply, but failed.
“Don’t worry,” said Malveria. “The Fairy Queen always has this effect.”
They swept past Moonglow and mounted the stairs. Malveria snapped her fingers as they ascended, illuminating the stairwell.
“You really must buy a light bulb,” she said.
By the time Moonglow reached the living room Daniel was on his feet, looking bewildered.
“And this is Daniel,” Malveria was saying to her companion. “A most charming young man, though not at this moment displaying himself to his best advantage.”
She turned to Moonglow.
“I knew you would be pleased to meet my good friend the Fairy Queen of Colburn Wood. Normally, of course, she prefers to remain at a somewhat smaller size, which is more convenient for most fairy activities. But she has consented to take on her human form, that you may see her.”
Dithean Wallace Cloud-of-Heather NicRinnalch smiled at Moonglow and Daniel. They were quite overwhelmed, but managed to smile back. There was a muted flash and the Enchantress appeared in their midst. She wore a very stylish red suit with matching heels and a jaunty red hat atop her hair, which once more tumbled down in a bright golden stream over her shoulders.
“Enchantress!” cried Malveria. “You look splendid. The troubles of the past weeks are quite forgotten and you are again radiant.”
Thrix knew the Fairy Queen, and greeted her warmly. They were both Malveria’s guests for the chariot races, and were looking forward to the event. Malveria suddenly glanced towards the door, then waved her hand, bringing Vex tumbling into the room.
“Agrivex. When attempting to hide from me, does it never occur to you to travel further than Kalix’s bedroom?”
Vex’s face wrinkled in pain. She held up her arm towards her aunt, and looked hopeful.
“I bumped my elbow.”
Malveria shook her head sadly.
“This, dearest Dithean, is what I have to put up with. Had the fairies stolen my idiotic niece at birth, I would have counted it as a great favour.”
Malveria snapped her fingers, sending Vex back to her classroom. Moonglow took advantage of the interruption to approach Thrix.
“We’re worried about Kalix,” she began.
The Enchantress regarded her coldly.
“What do you expect me to do about it?”
Thrix turned her back, and linked arms with Malveria and Dithean.
“Time for the races?”
“Indeed,” replied Malveria. “They are such thrilling events. And DeMortalis is quite trembling at the thought of meeting you again. He is even now working on new ways to flatter you both on your beauty, I assure you.”
Malveria, the Enchantress and the Fairy Queen swept upstairs to pick up the handbag for Dithean. Moonglow and Daniel collapsed on the couch.
“Was that really a fairy queen? Here in our house?”
Daniel was still struggling to speak.
“I’ve never…” he began, but couldn’t finish the sentence.
“You’ve never seen anyone so beautiful?” suggested Moonglow.
“Something like that,” admitted Daniel.
“More beautiful than Malveria and all these fabulously beautiful werewolves?” Moonglow sounded cross. “Now I’m feeling frumpy.”
“You’re not frumpy at all,” protested Daniel. “Who said anything about frumpy? I never thought any of the werewolves were that beautiful. And they’ve all got really bad personalities.”
“The first time you met Kalix you described her as a wild beauty,” said Moonglow, displaying a memory for detail which Daniel thought quite unreasonable.
“I like you much better than all the werewolves or fairy queens in the world,” he blurted out suddenly, then cringed as he realised what he’d said. He waited for Moonglow to withdraw. She didn’t. She looked him in the eyes, and edged closer.
It had been kind of the Fire Queen to bring Dithean to meet Moonglow. Malveria knew that Moonglow would be pleased. Of course, Malveria also knew that it was very hard, after being in the presence of a fairy queen, not to feel a great arousal of the senses. Moonglow moved closer to Daniel.
“Perhaps…” she began.
They were interrupted by a gentle cough from the doorway. Malveria was standing there looking curiously satisfied. She directed her gaze towards Moonglow. Her eyes twinkled, but not kindly.
“Take care, my dears,” she said. Then she vanished.
“What was that about?” said Daniel, but by this time Moonglow was on her feet.
“I need to study,” said Moonglow. “In my room. Right away.”
She too departed, leaving Daniel mystified, and not happy.
236
Kalix woke from a curious dream in which the Fairy Queen of Colburn Wood had appeared beside her in the bushes. Malveria had been with her, and they’d looked down at her, and smiled. She woke up feeling slightly heartened. She thought about Gawain, and Sarapen, and all her troubles of the past weeks.
“Stupid MacRinnalchs,” she muttered, and stared at her feet.
She sensed someone approaching. It was Dominil, forcing her way into the small clearing. Kalix didn’t look up.
“Is it your intention to sit here until you die?”
“Maybe.”
“It’s a foolish plan.”
Kalix raised her head an inch or two.
“I’m fed up with you telling me what’s foolish. If you don’t like it then go away.”
Dominil’s eyes narrowed a fraction. The she shrugged, and sat down beside Kalix. She took a small bronze flask from the pocket of her great black coat, unscrewed the cap, and handed it to Kalix. Kalix took a sip.
“The Merchant is surprised we’re still alive,” said Dominil. “I should kill him for helping Sarapen. But then, where would we find laudanum?”
Dominil told Kalix that the Great Council
had not pardoned her. She was still an outlaw.
“In theory, you can still be taken back to the castle for sentencing. In reality, it seems unlikely. The Mistress of the Werewolves will not encourage it.”
Kalix professed not to care. A bird sang, somewhere among the cold bushes. They sat in silence for a while.
“I looked for Gawain,” said Dominil, eventually. “I promised you I’d talk to him. However, he’s gone. He is no longer in his room in Camberwell.”
Kalix stared at the ground.
“I did speak to the Enchantress. She regrets what happened. She didn’t mean to become involved with him.”
Kalix scowled.
“It strikes me that the MacRinnalch feud not only led to many deaths,” continued Dominil. “It also had a surprisingly bad effect on the romantic lives of those involved. Markus lost the werewolf he loved, and subsequently broke Moonglow’s heart. I doubt he will be happy for long with his current amour. The Enchantress entered into a foolish relationship which did not bring her any happiness. Gawain ended up with nothing, and has fled. Moonglow and Daniel are engaged in some form of attraction which I don’t see ending well. And Marwanis and Princess Kabachetka are left pining for Sarapen.”
Dominil paused.
“I miss him too.”
Kalix looked up.
“What do you mean you miss him?”
“He was a passionate lover, when we were together.”
“You tried to kill him.”
“Of course. And I was pleased when you did. But I doubt I’ll meet anyone else like him.”
Dominil screwed the top back on her flask.
“You should take satisfaction from your achievements, Kalix.”
“What achievements?”
“You defeated Sarapen. Which means something. No matter how much the Mistress of the Werewolves seeks to modernise the clan, the MacRinnalchs still value prowess in battle. We can’t help it.”
Kalix nodded. Many things made her feel bad, but killing Sarapen wasn’t one of them.
“And you have made progress,” said Dominil. “Your mental strength is returning, even if you don’t realise it. The moment I appeared you obviously told yourself you weren’t going to let me push you around any more. Furthermore, you now have friends. Daniel and Moonglow like you, and you like them. If you didn’t like them you’d have left by now. You are no longer quite such a lonely werewolf girl.”
Kalix considered this. She supposed it might be true.
“Well so what?” she said.
“So you’re stronger and you have friends. I’d say that makes your life better.”
“But Gawain…”
“There’s nothing to do about that. Just bite it and swallow it. It’s not worth killing yourself over. And it’s probably better if you live.”
Kalix snorted.
“Couldn’t you at least pretend you’d be sad if I was dead?”
“Not without straining myself.”
Kalix smiled.
“Vex also likes you,” continued Dominil. “Though whether that’s a good thing, I’m not certain. She suggests I take you shopping.”
“She’s stupid,” said Kalix.
“I won’t argue with that. It’s also stupid to sit in the middle of this cold clump of bushes. Let’s go to the café.”
“Okay.”
They made their way through the park. The snow had stopped but the ground was still hard and frozen. Only a few dog walkers were about. Their dogs shied away from Kalix and Dominil as they passed.
“How is your reading coming along?”
“A bit better,” said Kalix. “Are you going to help the twins more?”
“Probably. They want me to.”
Kalix shivered as they left the park.
“This coat is useless.”
“I’ve been telling you that for ages,” said Vex, materialising in the street beside them, with no regard for the feelings of passers by. “We have to go shopping. It’s an emergency. I can’t stay in class while you need a new coat so badly.”
“I don’t have any money,” replied Kalix.
“I thought your clan was rich?” Vex looked at Dominil. “You can get money, right?”
“I have money left over from the sum the Mistress of the Werewolves provided.”
“Well that’s that problem solved,” said Vex, cheerfully. “I already called Daniel and Moonglow. They’re meeting us in the café. Then we can all drive somewhere and shop.”
They reached the café where Daniel and Moonglow were waiting for them. Vex was excited at the prospect of shopping. Also, she’d never been in a café before.
“I like this. Do they serve roasted oggy monster? No? Okay, what’s a sausage?”
She glanced at Daniel and Moonglow. They were sitting very close to each other, though Moonglow seemed deep in thought.
“There’s something funny about your auras.”
“Never interpret my aura again,” said Moonglow, sharply, and moved away from Daniel.
“All right. I’m bored with it anyway. Hasn’t this been a great month? Me and Kalix became best friends, you got cable TV, I went shopping in Camden, Yum Yum Sugary Snacks were brilliant. Everything just went really well.”
“You seem to be forgetting the violent feud,” said Dominil.
“Maybe. But you have to look on the bright side. So, this money you have, does it extend far enough to buy me a few things? Because you know, Aunt Malvie hardly gets me anything. It’s cruel the way she treats me, you’d be shocked.”
Kalix laughed at Vex. She couldn’t help herself. It was warm in the café. She felt better than she had for a long time. And hungry, which was unusual. She felt confident enough to try reading the menu, and managed to make out enough to place her order. She forgot, for a while, her unhappiness over Gawain. She forgot her anxiety, and even found herself looking forward to buying a new coat.
“You see, I knew shopping would cheer you up,” said Vex.
“Stop reading my aura you stupid Hiyasta,” said Kalix.
“Hey, don’t get cranky. Whose clever plan was it to trick Moonglow into getting cable TV?”
“What?” said Moonglow.
“Forget I said that. So this is what a sausage looks like? Interesting. Daniel, that jacket is really bad, you need a new one. Me and Kalix will pick one for you.”
“This jacket is not bad,” protested Daniel.
“It is,” said Moonglow.
“It’s awful,” said Kalix.
“I agree,” said Dominil.
“Everyone stop picking on my jacket.”
“We can help you find a better one,” said Kalix. “There’s no need to get stressed about it.”
THE END
Martin Millar was born in Scotland and now lives in London. His previous novels include The Good Fairies of New York, and Suzy, Led Zeppelin and Me. Writing under the pseudonym of Martin Scott, he won the World Fantasy Award for Thraxas.
www.martinmillar.com www.lonelywerewolfgirl.com
Author’s agent - Imrie and Dervis [email protected]
Cover art by Simon Fraser www.simonfraser.net
Copyright © 2007 Martin Millar. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.
Published in Great Britain by Meadow & Black in 2007
This is a work of fiction. names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.
eISBN : 978-1-593-76312-1
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