The Curse of the Wolf Girl Read Online Free PDF Page A

“Without the MacRinnalchs’ help I would have overshadowed her. Does it please you that your daughter now suffers mockery and derision from the ladies of Malveria’s court?”
    The empress considered this. Though they were at peace these days, the Hainusta and the Hiyasta had never gotten along well. There was no denying that Malveria was very full of herself. Asaratanti couldn’t blame her daughter for disliking her.
    Around the empress’s throne, her ministers and courtiers stood at a respectful distance, careful not to let any flames emerge from their bodies, something that was frowned on at court as rather common.
    “So what, dearest daughter, do you want me to do?”
    “Provide help to the enemies of the werewolves.”
    “You already helped their enemies by giving them sorcery. Without asking my permission.”
    The princess shifted uncomfortably. It was true that she’d provided Thrix and Malveria’s enemies with powerful spells without consulting her mother, something Asaratanti had not been slow to point out afterwards. The empress’s own sorcery was of great importance for the defense of her realm, and its secrets were not to be transmitted to all and sundry at the whim of her irresponsible daughter.
    “And when you did this,” continued the empress, “you failed. Which made it all the more lamentable. I don’t intend to allow any more of my private sorcery to be shipped to Earth, where it may be examined and copied.”
    “Then we could send someone to assist the Avenaris Guild instead,” suggested the princess.
    “The Avenaris Guild? The werewolf hunters? According to your report of that sorry affair, they were soundly defeated.”
    “That’s why we should help them now. With our help, they’d soon put an end to the Werewolf Enchantress. Once the enchantress is defeated, she won’t be making any more clothes for Queen Malveria. Without a new outfit every day, the woman is nothing.”
    The empress mused on her daughter’s words. Dealing Malveria a blow wouldn’t go amiss. Particularly now, with the border dispute over the Western Desert still dragging on.
    “What I require,” continued the princess, “is a Hainusta who can go to Earth. A strong warrior to defeat the werewolves.”
    “No Fire Elemental can survive for long on Earth. You know our visits to that dimension are limited. And incidentally, that blue dress does not flatter you.”
    “My designer is not up to the task!” exploded the princess. “Which is another reason to destroy Thrix MacRinnalch!” The princess was indeed enraged by the deficiencies of her outfit but calmed herself by glancing at her feet. She wore a new pair of high-heeled sandals fresh from Italy in a beautiful shade of gray with a delicate strap, which were beyond reproach. Even if her dress was deficient, her shoes were excellent, which was something at least. “As for the matter of how we might send a warrior to the Earth, I was hoping you might think of something.”
    “I’ll ponder the matter,” replied the empress.
    “Might you ponder it quickly?”
    The empress yawned. “I’m two thousand years old, dearest daughter. I don’t like doing much quickly these days. But I’ll consider it.”
    As the princess withdrew from the jeweled throne room, passing under the great burning arch of state, she was reasonably satisfied. If she could elicit her mother’s support, she was sure she could defeat the hated Werewolf Enchantress. Thrix MacRinnalch, however, was not uppermost in the princess’s mind as she made her way back to her chambers. There was another werewolf the princess was much keener to destroy: Kalix MacRinnalch. Princess Kabachetka hated the young werewolf because it was she who’d plunged the knife deep into Sarapen’s heart. Princess Kabachetka had fallen in love with Sarapen, and she now intended to take revenge for his downfall. The princess had sworn to herself that Kalix MacRinnalch was going to die.

Chapter 8
     
    Dominil