Martin Millar - Lonely Werewolf Girl (67 page)

"Well," said Thrix. "You know, young love, it's always
difficult."

"Agreed. But there are limits, and I will not allow my idiotic
niece to upset my pastry chef over some boy she never cared for at all
only two days ago. The almost-adopted niece of the Hiyasta Queen does
not sob like a little girl when perplexed in matters of love. This is
beneath the dignity of the Hiyasta Royalty. I ejected her from the
palace with instructions either to either make Daniel love her, or else
forget about him."

"And how did that go?" asked Thrix, successfully cutting in
front of a taxi that was going far too slowly for her liking.

Malveria pursed her lips.

"Very badly. Vex has now retreated to her room and refuses to
communicate for any reason."

"What happened?"

"Daniel tried to explain the rales of- " Malveria paused.
"What is the human game that requires white clothes and a great deal of
time?"

"Cricket?"

"That is it. Cricket. Apparently the rules of this game are
most puzzling and complex. Daniel tried to explain these rules to Vex.
As a consequence of this I understand she almost lost consciousness,
and had to be helped to a chair, in a very poor state of mind. It was
some time before she could summon enough energy to return to her own
dimension. She has subsequently refused to leave her room, and has only
her favourite cuddly toy for comfort."

"Her favourite cuddly toy?"

"A fluffy dragon."

"It sounds comforting," said Thrix.

"Yes," agreed Malveria. "She has always found it to be a
tremendous comfort. Perhaps because it is so very fluffy. A present
from the First Minister on her eighth birthday, and a great favourite
ever since."

Thrix was puzzled. "Did Vex want to know about cricket? I
wouldn't have taken her for the sporting type."

"Indeed she is not. The Hiyasta are not great players of
sport, as a rule, and Agrivex less so than anyone. Vex will trip over
her own feet at the slightest excuse. But she was following her
standard procedure for attracting boys. She has read these procedures
in Cosmo Junior and sticks to them religiously. One of them is to find
out the boy's interests and ask him about them. It was just Vex's grave
misfortune that Daniel turned out to be interested in cricket.
Apparently the game has a great many complicated rules and many
peculiar names."

"Does it?" said Thrix, who knew nothing at all about cricket.

"So Agrivex claims. But she is prone to hysteria, and may have
misunderstood some of Daniel's words. It's hard to believe that any
game could involve a
silly mid-wicket,
though Vex swears that Daniel said exactly that."

Malveria sighed.

"Now things are worse than ever. Agrivex still pines for
Daniel but is convinced he is mocking her with false stories about
cricket. I think the whole affair may have shaken her belief in Cosmo
Junior, and that is a serious matter. It's never let her down before.
She's currently hunting through back issues to see if there is some
loophole in the matter of asking boys about their interests."

182

Fifteen days before the full moon, the Barons marched. The
MacPhees and the MacAllisters came from the south and the east while
Red Ruraich MacAndris occupied the land to the west. They did not yet
come near to the castle, but guarded all roads and trails then settled
down to wait.

Sarapen was losing patience with Baron MacGregor. It would
lend legitimacy to the rebellion if it was supported by all the Barons
but MacGregor had not yet indicated if he would join them. Sarapen's
natural inclination was to send a thinly veiled threat. Decembrius
disagreed, and urged Sarapen to make further efforts to win the Baron's
support through diplomacy.

"Time grows short," growled Sarapen.

"There are fourteen days till we attack the twins' gig.
Fifteen days till the first night of the full moon and our assault on
the castle. The MacGregors would need only a few days to make ready."

Sarapen was again irritated by Decembrius's appearance. His
swept-back red hair, pale skin and angular features were somehow
annoying. Decembrius's appearance had degenerated recently, in
Sara-pen's eyes. He had a new earring, which Sarapen didn't like at
all, and a pair of overly-fancy motorbike boots.

"What would persuade the Baron?" asked Sarapen.

"Marwanis."

"Marwanis? Has she influence with Baron MacGregor?"

"No. But she has influence with his son Wallace."

Sarapen frowned. It was the first he'd heard of it. Wallace
MacGre-gor, eldest son of the Baron, was a huge werewolf and a noted
champion, but he was not, by all accounts, the smartest wolf in the
clan.

"Why does Marwanis have influence with Wallace?"

"Because he's crazy about her."

Decembrius immediately regretted his choice of words.
Crazy
about her
sounded very out of place in the context of
planning a war. It was accurate however. Everyone knew that the Baron's
eldest son was enamoured of Marwanis MacRinnalch. Everyone except
Sarapen, who was above noticing this sort of thing.

"If Wallace can be persuaded to join our side his father will
probably follow."

"And what about the Baron's chief advisor Lachlan?" demanded
Sarapen. "We could not persuade him when he was in London."

"Send Marwanis," said Decembrius.

"Why?"

"Because Lachlan MacGregor is… also very attracted to her."

Sarapen frowned.

"Is this true?"

"Certainly. Wallace and Lachlan's rivalry over Marwanis is a
source of great interest among the MacGregors, and further afield as
well."

Sarapen shook his head. He was glad he never bothered himself
with clan gossip. Decembrius persisted with the idea.

"Marwanis is a shrewd wolf. I'm sure she could persuade them."

Sarapen was hesitant. Like many of Decembrius's suggestions it
went against the grain. Sarapen MacRinnalch did not relish the notion
of using the charms of his female cousin to influence the MacGregors.

"It's worth trying before we send threats," added Decembrius.
"We can always send threats the next day."

Sarapen allowed himself a rare smile.

"Yes, Decembrius. I acknowledge I may be too keen on sending
threats, before trying other means. Very well, I will contact Marwanis."

Decembrius asked Sarapen if he would rather that he made the
request but the offer was declined. Sarapen felt that if he was to
stoop to using Marwanis to further his ends, the least he could do was
ask her himself, in an honourable manner.

"Which of her suitors does she prefer? Wallace or Lachlan?"

Decembrius couldn't say. He didn't think that she favoured
either of them. He had an idea that Marwanis rather
favoured Sarapen himself, but he wasn't about to mention
it.

183

Malveria found herself unable to concentrate on selecting her
outfit to receive Beau DeMortalis.

"This is intolerable," she complained to her chief
lady-in-waiting. "How can one choose an outfit when Agrivex's gloom
pollutes the atmosphere?"

In their own realm, the auras of the Hiyasta were very strong,
and the energetic despair of a teenager could cast a very long shadow.

"Must she choose this moment to interfere with my dressing?"
cried Malveria. "When I am due to lunch with Beau DeMortalis, of all
people? Does she not appreciate that the slightest ill-selected stitch
of clothing can be fatal when meeting the Duke of the Black Castle?
Really, one still winces at the cruel things he said last week about
Countess Vesuvian. And I do not believe the Countess was really so
badly dressed, although it's true that pink is not her ideal colour."

"He can be cruel," agreed her lady-in-waiting, though from the
tone of her voice, Malveria guessed that she found the Duke rather
exciting. Ladies-in-waiting always did. It could be hard to calm them
down after he visited. The Fire Queen gave an angry exclamation as her
mirror darkened around the edges, falling victim to Agrivex's miserable
aura.

"This cannot be tolerated," she declared, throwing down her
newest jacket and marching from her chambers in search of her
almost-adopted niece. She found Agrivex slumped on a couch in the
corridor that led to the kitchens. She was staring vacantly into space,
sucking on the ear of her fluffy dragon. The aura around her was dark
and miserable. The sight moved the Fire Queen to anger.

"Dismal niece, are you aware that your foolish gloom is
casting dark shadows all over my palace?"

Vex didn't respond.

"Have you nothing to say? Why are you sucking that fluffy
dragon?"

"For comfort. My life is just awful."

"Awful? You're life is far from awful."

"It is too. I've no clothes and Daniel hates me."

"You have many clothes. Daniel does not hate you. And if he
did, what does that signify? You do not really care for this Daniel."

"Yes I do," said Vex, and stuck out her lower lip defiantly.

"I refuse to let you be depressed about a young man from the
mortal realm!" said Malveria. "It is unbecoming."

Vex stared at her feet.

"It's all your fault," she mumbled.

The Fire Queen was taken by surprise.

"My fault? In what way?"

"You're the one who insisted I meet him. It was you that
practically forced me to sleep with him. And now he hates me."

Malveria was temporarily lost for words, partly because there
was some truth in her niece's accusation. She had directed Agrivex to
form a relationship with Daniel. She had not foreseen these
consequences.

"Agrivex. I know perfectly well that this is not a serious
love affair. It will be forgotten in a day or two. Please try not to be
so miserable."

"You wouldn't understand," said Vex. "You're too old to
understand."

Malveria reeled. She'd never been called too old for anything
before. No one else would have dared to say such a thing.

"You miserable and ungrateful creature! How dare you say that
to me! Your problem is that your life is far too comfortable! When I
was your age I was fighting a war and facing danger every day."

Vex looked bored. Malveria narrowed her eyes.

"If you dare to yawn because I mentioned the war I will pick
you up by your toes and dip you in the great volcano."

Vex yawned, and put the dragon's ear back into her mouth.
Malveria became more agitated. Really, her niece was just impossible.

"Must you behave in such an aggravating manner, idiot niece?"

Vex looked up.

"It's so harsh the way you're always calling me idiot niece.
How about charming, pretty or intelligent niece?"

"You are not charming, pretty or intelligent."

"Fine," said Vex, folding her arms and crossing her legs.
"Destroy my confidence. I'll be sending you the therapy bills."

"The Hiyasta do not go to therapists, vile girl."

"Then it's no wonder they've always got fire pouring out their
ears. Who can be normal when their aunt just criticises them all the
time? I can practically feel the fire pouring out my ears right this
minute. I demand you send me to a therapist to repair the damage."

"You do not have fire pouring out your ears, foolish one. You
do not need a therapist. You need to occupy your thoughts with
something other than make-up and television and this Daniel who you do
not really care for. And will you please stop sucking on that fluffy
dragon? It's starting to make me ill."

Vex removed the dragon's ear from her mouth, but kept tight
hold of the toy.

"Cosmo Junior says the number one cause of girls needing
therapy is harsh criticism from their parents."

"Must you believe everything you read in Cosmo Junior? And I
am not your parent. No child who sprang from my loins could ever be
such an imbecile."

"I'm not an imbecile!" declared Agrivex.

"You are the biggest imbecile in all the realms of the
Hiyasta," countered Malveria.

The Fire Queen was surprised at what happened next. Instead of
answering back, Vex burst into tears and ran from the corridor.
Malveria was bewildered. Why had Agrivex done that? The Queen reviewed
their conversation. Has she said anything upsetting? No more than
usual, surely. Malveria frowned. She could only put it down to her
young niece's general idiocy, and dismissed it from her mind. Malveria
had more important things to worry about. Lunch with Beau DeMortalis,
for instance. That must go well.

The Fire Queen applied herself to dressing, and her lunch with
the Duke was not unsatisfactory. He made her laugh, as always, and
complimented her clothes, sincerely enough for the Queen not to have to
worry about him saying anything hurtful behind her back. She always
enjoyed the Duke's company and had never regretted not executing him
after the war.

There was one awkward moment. Beau DeMortalis had heard that
the Fire Queen had saved a young werewolf's life. The Duke of the Black
Castle raised one eyebrow very slightly. Malveria retained masterful
control over both her manner and her aura. No one could have discerned
that she was at all discomfited, though she was. Were the Duke to
suspect that Malveria had saved the life of a MacRinnalch werewolf out
of kindness or affection, he would be sure to be very cutting about the
incident.

"I did indeed rescue such a creature," said Malveria,
smoothly. "A small affair altogether, but a necessary part of a plan to
break a human heart. Though we don't do so much persecuting of Mankind
these days, I like to keep in practice."

The Duke nodded. Breaking a human's heart was quite reasonable
behaviour.

"I look forward to hearing of the completion of the episode."

"And I look forward to relating it," said the Queen, meanwhile
making a stern mental note to make progress with the matter of
tormenting Moonglow. It was a pleasant lunch. But when the Duke was
gone, leaving the hearts of her ladies-in-waiting fluttering, the Fire
Queen was annoyed to find that she hadn't managed to entirely dismiss
the matter of Agrivex from her mind.