The Anxiety of Kalix the Werewolf Read Online Free PDF Page A

“You were facing hopeless odds and you defeated them. You became Queen.”
    â€œEventually, yes,” agreed Malveria. “But it was a long, weary process and it took up my youth. I never had an eighteenth birthday party, or any sort of party. I was always running, hiding or fighting. And now, observing Agrivex, I suddenly wished that I had had some parties when I was a young girl.”
    The Fire Queen sighed again. “And now I feel old.”
    Malveria sank further into her armchair. “Look at that young model in her beautiful dress. I could not wear that. It is too young a style.”
    â€œYou could wear it perfectly, Malveria,” said Thrix sincerely.
    â€œAnd now the model is pouting!” cried Malveria. “It is annoying!”
    â€œWhat’s wrong with pouting?”
    â€œOnly young people can do it gracefully. Agrivex pouts furiously. Many days she does little else. But on me it would be unbecoming.”
    Thrix was quite certain she’d seen Malveria pouting many times, quite becomingly, and didn’t understand her friend’s gloom. Though the Fire Queen was prone to excesses of emotion, it was unusual for her to exhibit depression. She lapsed into silence in front of the television. Thrix caused the wine bottle on the table next to her to levitate, filling both their glasses, and they sat mostly in silence, only occasionally commenting on the fashions on display. From the kitchen came the faint hum of the air conditioning. Though it had been an indifferent summer in London, the clouds had cleared in the past week, ushering in an unexpected wave of heat that now hung over the capital.
    â€œThere is much talk in the elemental lands of the new young Empress of the Hainusta,” said Malveria, suddenly.
    â€œAh . . .” said Thrix and nodded. “Kabachetka.”
    â€œEveryone is talking about her!” exclaimed the Fire Queen. “The young Empress with her blonde hair and beautiful outfits. Ha! It is the same vile Kabachetka. Just because she has ascended to the throne—no doubt after poisoning the old Empress—does not mean that people should be making a fuss over her. I cannot tell you how it irritates me!”
    The Fire Queen, Thrix realized, had been considerably younger than the previous Empress. Now the younger Kabachetka had taken power and it had obviously upset her.
    â€œYou know the bards on the borders are singing songs about her youthful beauty? Youthful beauty! The only beauty Kabachetka has came out of a clinic in Los Angeles. Her mother was bad enough with her visits to the cosmetic surgeon, but at her age, one could find some excuse.Kabachetka has been hopping through the dimensions since she was a girl, getting this tucked and that altered. I swear she’ll fall apart one day, hopefully in a most painful manner.”
    The Fire Queen drained her glass and snapped her fingers, tilting the wine bottle over her glass. Nothing emerged.
    â€œIs there something the matter with this bottle?” said Malveria. “It seems to have emptied far too quickly.”
    â€œI’ll get another,” said Thrix, and headed for the kitchen. The Fire Queen followed her.
    â€œSo between the new young Empress and my foolish young niece, I am now feeling old. A relic from a past age, like one of these pieces in the museum that Dominil is so keen on visiting. Please tell me that my outfits for new season are ready?”
    â€œThey’re ready,” said Thrix.
    As well as a good friend, Malveria was also a very important client. Her money and patronage had kept Thrix’s business going when times were hard.
    â€œGood.” The Fire Queen was partly mollified. “Perhaps there may be one last flowering of my fashionable glory before I retire into my dotage.”
    Thrix couldn’t help herself from laughing. “‘Dotage’? When did you learn that word?”
    â€œIt was used in a harsh piece in American