The Anxiety of Kalix the Werewolf (78 page)

Kalix walked out of her room. She hesitated for a second at the top of
the stairs then descended quickly. Her three flatmates were all watching TV.

“I've got something to tell you,” said Kalix.

Daniel looked up from the television. “Yes?”

“I'm going out soon to . . . I'm . . .” Kalix struggled to find the right words. “The werewolf clan is going on a mission.”

Moonglow swiftly muted the TV. “A mission?”

“Yes. A big mission.”

“You mean dangerous?”

“Yes, dangerous. There's going to be fighting. It's something the MacRinnalchs have to do. I know you won't want me to go and you're probably going to argue, but it's no use. It's my duty to the clan. And anyway, I want to go.” Kalix felt her mouth going dry. “I just wanted to tell you before I left,” she mumbled.

Kalix's announcement caught her friends by surprise. They'd been expecting a peaceful evening.

“Can't you not go?” said Moonglow.

“No. I have to. I want to.”

“Is it really dangerous?” asked Daniel.

“Yes. But I'll be OK.”

“Don't go,” said Vex. “I don't want you to go.”

“Neither do I,” said Moonglow.

Kalix moved toward the door.

“Where are you going?” asked Daniel. “Where's the mission?”

“I can't tell you that,” said Kalix. “And you can't get involved.”

“Don't go,” said Moonglow.

“I have to go now. It was nice that you let me live here. Thanks.” Kalix looked down and found that she was holding a piece of paper in her hand.

“Look, I drew a picture of us sitting on my bed, watching cartoons.”

Kalix thrust the paper into Moonglow's hand and then hurried out the front door. She ran down the steps, pleased that it was over. There hadn't been nearly as bad an argument as she'd anticipated, but it had still been excruciating. Moonglow had looked anguished.

In the living room, Moonglow looked at the picture Kalix had drawn with Vex's crayons.

“That's a
really
good picture.” She burst into tears.

“Well, this is no good,” said Daniel. “Kalix suddenly tells us she's going
on a dangerous mission and we're just meant to sit here and let her go?”

“What can we do?” said Vex.

“I've no idea,” admitted Daniel.

“Kalix said we couldn't get involved,” said Vex.

“We're not letting her go and get killed without doing something about it!” said Moonglow, wiping her tears on her sleeve.

“I agree,” said Daniel.

“Me too,” added Vex. “What should we do?”

“Where is this mission?” said Moonglow. “Someone must know. Vex, would Malveria know?”

Vex shrugged. “Maybe. Aunt Malvie usually knows what Thrix is doing.”

“Then go to the palace and find out everything.”

“OK,” said Vex. She disappeared from view, dematerializing in a businesslike manner. There was a crash in the kitchen.

“I went the wrong way! But I'm all right! I'm leaving again now!”

Vex departed.

“I can't believe Kalix thinks she can just go and get killed and expect us to do nothing!” said Moonglow.

“Absolutely. It's ridiculous.” Daniel paused. “What exactly are you planning?”

“I don't know.”

“If it involves a load of werewolf hunters with guns, for instance, there's no point us just charging in and getting shot.”

“No one is getting shot!”

Daniel hoped not. He didn't share Moonglow's confidence. It had always been in the back of his mind that living with a werewolf who had enemies was liable to get him into serious trouble at some point.

CHAPTER 152

Kalix sat on the top floor of the 159 bus, making the slow journey from Kennington to the center of town, staring vacantly out the window. It had now turned cold and condensation formed on the inside of the glass. She rubbed the window with her sleeve, clearing a patch to look through. The streets outside looked damp and gray.

Someone sitting nearby was listening to music. Kalix found it vaguely annoying. A rather large person sat down beside her, squashing her up against the window. Kalix might have been annoyed, but instead saw some humor in the situation. Here she was, suffering the common problems of commuting on a bus, while on her way to a deadly battle. She supposed it was probably quite normal to be uncomfortable on your way to battle. She didn't mind. The prospect of fighting had made her calm. Her phone rang. It was Dominil.

“Where are you?”

“On a bus, on the way to the hotel.”

“Don't go. There's a problem.”

“What problem?”

“Come to Thrix's flat instead.”

Dominil rang off, leaving Kalix puzzled. Why would Dominil want her to go to Thrix's flat? Wasn't that where the other attackers were gathering? Surely she wouldn't be welcome? Kalix didn't know what to make of it. She got off the bus as soon as it crossed the river, then walked down into Westminster tube station. Sloane Square was only a few stops along the line. A busker was singing and playing guitar at the entrance as she emerged. Kalix had some loose change in her pocket. She dropped it into the hat he'd placed on the ground, thinking that she probably wouldn't be needing it any more.

When she arrived at the apartment block, Dominil buzzed her in and was waiting for her upstairs at Thrix's front door.

“What's happened?”

“The attack is off,” said Dominil.

“No it isn't,” said Thrix, behind her.

Dominil closed the door. “We can't do it now.”

“We haven't finished discussing it,” said Thrix.

Thrix was wearing a pair of trousers that looked like a fashion designer's take on a military style.

“What's happened?” asked Kalix.

“Markus is sick,” said Dominil. “Quite badly. He's got pneumonia.”

“What? How?”

“I don't know,” said Dominil. “Pneumonia usually only affects people in poor health. I've never heard of a healthy werewolf coming down with it before. Doctor Angus says he'll recover but he's going to be in bed for a week or two.”

Kalix sat down heavily. It was a strange piece of news. Sickness among
the MacRinnalchs was rare.

“Why can't we do the attack? Can't someone come in Markus's place?” she asked.

“Everyone has pulled out,” said Thrix, angrily. “The barons have recalled their men. We don't have an attack force any more.”

Kalix was puzzled, and annoyed. “I don't understand. We could still have attacked, even without Markus. So what if he's sick?”

“There's more to it than that,” Dominil told her. “Apparently the castle has erupted in bad feeling during the past twenty-four hours.”

Kalix felt bewildered. “Why?”

“A rumor has spread that when Markus defeated Wallace MacGregor in single combat, Wallace was drugged,” said Thrix. “By our mother.”

“Drugged? Oh.” Kalix nodded. “I wondered why he won.”

“That's not the most appropriate response,” said Dominil.

“It's no doubt what everyone's thinking,” said Thrix.

“Perhaps. But it would be better for the MacRinnalchs to deny it. We don't know it's true.”

“You know it's true,” said Thrix. “We both knew it was true the moment we heard it.”

Previously, there had never been the slightest suspicion that there had been anything untoward in the fight between Markus and Wallace. But now, as soon as the suggestion had been made that Markus had cheated, everyone seemed willing to believe it.

Thrix groaned and shook her head. She had an empty glass in her hand. She poured a little whisky into it then handed the bottle to Dominil. Dominil poured herself a small amount and did the same for Kalix.

“Baron MacGregor is livid,” said Thrix. “He's threatening to leave the council and break with the MacRinnalchs entirely. MacPhee and MacAllister are furious too. So are the MacRinnalchs. Everyone's ashamed.” Thrix sipped from her glass. “It doesn't help that Markus had to choose this moment to get sick. It doesn't look good.”

“Who started this rumor?” asked Kalix.

Neither Dominil nor Thrix knew. It seemed to have come from nowhere.

Kalix drank from her whisky. “I wanted to attack the Guild.”

“So did I,” said Dominil.

“I'm still going to,” declared Thrix.

“Don't be ridiculous,” said Dominil. “You can't do it on your own. And the three of us can't do it either. We'll just have to wait for the next
council meeting and see if we can come up with another plan.”

“If we don't do it now, we'll lose our chance. The Guild won't just let that flower lie there for a month. Either they'll find it or the magic will wear off. We'll never have as good an opportunity to walk into their building again.”

“We don't know that,” said Dominil.

“I'll still do it,” said Kalix to Thrix. “I'll come with you.”

“No,” said Dominil, firmly. “You won't. All that would achieve is two dead werewolves. The Clan would be weaker and the Guild would be unaffected. I've no objection to facing danger but it's pointless throwing our lives away.”

The buzzer sounded. It was Decembrius. He walked in looking cheerful. “Time for the gathering of the clans,” he said. “Where is everyone?”

Dominil told Decembrius what had happened. His high spirits dissipated. “So we can't attack?”

“No,” said Dominil.

“There's four of us now,” said Thrix. “Isn't that enough?”

“No.” Dominil was emphatic.

Thrix growled. “What a complete farce. Some plan we made, Dominil.”

“We couldn't know that Markus would fall ill.”

“How do we know he's really ill?” asked Decembrius. “Maybe he just changed his mind.”

“He's ill,” said Thrix, and looked at Decembrius angrily. Though Thrix didn't get on that well with Markus, she didn't intend to let her brother be accused of cowardice. “Pneumonia. It happens.”

“Really?” said Decembrius. “I've never heard of it happening before. Not to a werewolf anyway.”

“Stupid pneumonia,” said Kalix. “I wanted to attack the Guild.”

“So did I,” said Thrix. “And I still think we should, before the opportunity vanishes. The Fairy Queen isn't going to give us another spell, no matter how much Dominil bribes her.”

Thrix's phone rang, and she had a very brief conversation. “That was Morag MacAllister, the Baron's sister. She's on her way here.”

“Why?” asked Dominil.

“She still wants to take part in the attack. Baron MacGregor called them back from the castle and she just ignored him. She's always been fierce.”

“I fought her,” said Kalix. “She is fierce. I'm glad she's coming.”

“So that makes five of us,” said Thrix.

“Any chance of a cup of tea?” asked Decembrius.

“If you make it.”

“What happened to MacRinnalch hospitality?” Decembrius headed for the kitchen.

“Is five enough?” asked Kalix.

Dominil hesitated, but shook her head.

“I say it is.” Thrix was insistent. “If we get five strong werewolves here, I'm going. You can stay behind if you want.”

Dominil glared at her cousin. “You know perfectly well that if you attack the Guild's headquarters, I will accompany you. That doesn't mean you should do it.”

Thrix's phone rang once more. “Hello? Eskandor? Really? Good.”

Thrix rang off. “That was Eskandor. He's coming as well. And he's bringing Feargan and Barra. From the sound of Eskandor's voice, they weren't about to let the MacRinnalch name be disgraced.” Thrix smiled in satisfaction. “Wallace MacGregor is with them.”

“Wallace?”

“Apparently. Wallace likes to fight. When he saw the MacRinnalchs were going anyway he didn't want to be left out.”

“I wouldn't have expected him to go against his father, the Baron.”

“Maybe he feels like it's time to break away from his father. Anyway, that makes nine of us. That must be enough. Their headquarters might even be empty. We'll be able to destroy everything, all their records, everything they've learned. We can't pass up the chance.”

The others waited for Dominil to speak.

“Very well, I agree. Nine werewolves may suffice.”