The princess frowned. That didn't seem like a relevant question. She held up her hand and briefly caused one of her fingers to ignite. "I can do many things you would find strange. But they are not of great importance at this moment. What is important is that you must kill Thrix."

Easterly's brow furrowed. Thrix was an unusual name, and he seemed to know it from somewhere.

"She owns a small fashion house. Thrix Fashions."

He almost laughed. He'd met Thrix briefly at a fashion show. Quite a well regarded designer, he recalled. "I know her. She's not a werewolf."

"She's the most powerful werewolf in London."

"She certainly isn't."

The princess compressed her lips.

"I did fear that this would be a tedious conversation. Captain Easterly, believe me when I tell you that Thrix MacRinnalch-"

"MacRinnalch? You're saying that Thrix, the fashion designer, is a member of the MacRinnalch clan?"

"Of course."

"That's ridiculous."

"It only sounds ridiculous because she's a powerful sorceress and has spells of bafflement that hide her from hunters. Anyone who wishes evil on Thrix cannot hold onto his thoughts. The memory of her werewolf nature is made to fade."

Easterly looked at her very skeptically. "So now she's a werewolf and a sorceress? This isn't sounding very convincing."

Princess Kabachetka help up one hand, beautifully manicured. "Enough. It's beneath my dignity to try and persuade a human I'm telling the truth. You should be honored I'm talking to you at all. Fortunately, I am prepared."

With that, the princess touched her fingertips to Captain Easterly's forehead. Easterly looked concerned, then interested, then amazed.

"Thrix MacRinnalch is a werewolf," he said, very surprised.

"As I just said. I have removed her spells of bafflement from you. And though your memory will fade again, I can replenish the energy and keep it in your mind that she is a werewolf. You can hunt and kill her."

"I can't believe that Thrix is a werewolf. I really admired her last collection."

"I don't believe her clothes are really so fine. It's irrelevant in any case. Now that you know what she is, I'll help you defeat her."

"Why are you so keen to see her dead?" asked Easterly, who felt he had good reason to be suspicious of this so-called princess.

"Because I don't like her. Not that, once again, it is of any relevance."

"Are you really sure you've got the right woman?" he asked.

The princess touched her fingertips to his forehead again and transmitted some clear knowledge of Thrix's past, knowledge that didn't fade immediately. Easterly shook his head and felt angry that a powerful werewolf like Thrix MacRinnalch could have passed herself off as human for so long.

"The first thing to do is secure you an introduction," said the princess. "Do you like opera, Captain Easterly?"

CHAPTER 53.

"I sense some sadness in you," said Dithean NicRinnalch.

"You do? How?" asked the Fire Queen.

"The trees tell me that you're not happy."

"Hmm...Perhaps the trees should mind their own business. But I admit that I'm not entirely happy. Despite my brilliant success in securing the services of Mr. Felicori for the Mistress of the Werewolves, I myself will not be able to attend the event. Really, it's intolerable. One almost wishes there was no feud between the Hiyasta and the MacRinnalchs."

"Could you end the feud?" asked Queen Dithean, reasonably.

"Not without a heartfelt apology from the MacRinnalchs who were the prime instigators of the whole affair. The Queen of the Hiyasta cannot go cap in hand to a bunch of werewolves."

"Then you must take pleasure in doing your friend Thrix MacRinnalch a good favor, without any benefit to yourself," said Queen Dithean.

"I suppose so. But I'd like it better if there was some benefit to myself. I have never claimed to be a philanthropist. Beau DeMortalis sends his best regards, by the way."

The Fairy Queen laughed. At the chariot races, he had shamelessly flattered her. "Perhaps you should take DeMortalis as a consort?"

"Impossible. He was an enemy in the war. I like him, but he has too many detractors among my loyal supporters. How lucky you are, Queen Dithean, to have many children already fluttering around. Had I not the estimable Distikka to protect me from the constant complaints of my government, I would have despaired. A little more whisky in my buttercup? Thank you, Dithean, that would be very acceptable." Queen Malveria sipped her drink, but though she was comfortable in Colburn Woods, she couldn't shake the feeling of dissatisfaction that clouded her mind. "Thrix will be at the operatic event. I can't help feeling that she could have applied more pressure on her mother to enable me to attend. But she seems unwilling."

"Did I not say that the MacRinnalch women think mainly of themselves?"

"Really, Dithean, that was not my meaning at all. You are far too severe in your judgments. Thrix has many warm and selfless emotions, and she has often helped me out."

"For payment, in the main."

"Perhaps, but she is a businesswoman." Malveria felt slightly annoyed by Queen Dithean's criticism of her good friend Thrix. When the Fairy Queen again mentioned the enchantress's notable lack of romantic success, Malveria refused to let it pass unchallenged. "Once more, you are being unfair. True, she may have scared off men all over London, but these were unsuitable men. It's not her fault."

The Fairy Queen smiled sweetly. "I've known her longer than you, Malveria. Like her siblings, she's too self-obsessed to enter into a fulfilling relationship."

"I am certain you are wrong, dearest Fairy Queen."

"And I'm certain I'm not, dearest Fire Queen."

Malveria smiled sweetly herself. The Fire Queen's agile mind had spotted an opportunity. "Would you care for a wager on the matter?"

"A wager? What sort of wager?"

"A small bet, for our entertainment. I understand the fairies are not averse to betting?"

The fairies weren't. Queen Dithean looked interested.

"I really feel that Thrix is capable of a happy romance. You may look cynical, Dithean-far more cynical than I would have guessed for a fairy queen-but I have faith it will happen. I'm prepared to bet on it."

Dithean chuckled. "What do you want to bet?"

"Your fairy lipstick," said Malveria, a little too quickly.

The Fairy Queen raised her eyebrows. "That is a fairy secret."

"Well, obviously, dearest friend. If it were not, I wouldn't have to make the wager."

A very delicate frown played over the Fairy Queen's brow as she considered Malveria's offer. The secret of her lip coloring was an ancient one, not to be dispensed lightly. She would be loath to give it up. On the other hand, she did enjoy a good wager. And Malveria had something she rather craved. "What will you stake?"

"Gold?" suggested Malveria.

"How about your necklace?"

Malveria's hand went involuntarily to her neck. She immediately regretted that she was wearing the Santorini necklace. It was one of the Hiyasta royal family's most valuable heirlooms. First Minister Xakthan would be appalled at the thought of it being gambled away.

"But I am Queen," thought Malveria. "And it's my necklace. Besides, no one will ever know if I win the bet."

"You appreciate the value of this necklace? It dates back more than three-and-a-half-thousand years," Malveria told the Fairy Queen. "It was made from the flaming elements of the volcanic eruption at Santorini, captured in mid-flight by my ancestor Queen Malmardi. Who had rather encouraged the explosion, so the family legend goes. It contains the living fire of a previous era and is quite priceless."

"I admire the way it glitters. I always have."

The Fire Queen grappled with emotion. She really shouldn't be betting her Santorini necklace. But she really wanted the Fairy Queen's lipstick.

"Very well," said Malveria at last. "It's a bet. Provided you extend our parameters somewhat. Shall we say that if any of the MacRinnalch women engage in a happy romance in the next four months, I shall be the winner?"

"Three months."

"Dithean, you drive a hard bargain, as fairies often do. Very well, three months."

CHAPTER 54.

Vex's enthusiasm for college had not dimmed. She infuriated Kalix by rushing into her room, demanding to know why Kalix wasn't ready yet. Kalix regarded the morning with bleary eyes. She wished it was still dark so she might turn into a werewolf and kill Vex on the spot. Instead, she rose slowly from her bed, pulled on some old clothes, and trooped miserably downstairs. Moonglow was up already, making tea and yawning. Moonglow wasn't at her best in the early morning, which was some relief to Kalix. At least it spared her the annoyance of having to listen to an encouraging lecture.

Daniel and Moonglow both had classes at university, and Daniel drove them all into the center of town. As they moved slowly through the morning traffic, hemmed in by buses and a great fleet of parental vehicles carrying children to school, the mood in the car settled into a familiar pattern. Daniel was morose, Moonglow was thoughtful, Kalix was in a bad mood, and Vex was agog with excitement.

"Isn't this great! We're going to college again! We're going to learn math today!"

Vex's long-suffering tutors in her own dimension would have been amazed at the enthusiasm she now displayed for studying mathematics. Vex had proved herself resistant to their best efforts. Now, liberated from the constraints of the imperial palace, she showed almost as much enthusiasm for college as she did for Camden Market.

"Good luck," said Moonglow, sincerely. Moonglow had been impressed by Vex's enthusiasm, though she knew that Vex and Kalix's math class was nothing more than a simple entry-level affair, designed to bring them up to the level of numeracy shown by eight- or nine-year-olds.

"Do you think we should be cheerleaders?" screamed Vex, and began to make up a cheer.

"There aren't any cheerleaders," said Kalix, angrily.

"There must be."

"We're not going to school in California, you idiot," said Kalix. "It's just some small college for stupid people. There aren't any cheerleaders."

"Are you sure about that?" asked Vex. "I've never seen any college on TV where they don't have cheerleaders."

Agrivex's entire experience of education had been formed from television, most of it American. The fact that the shabby old building they now attended bore no relation to anything ever shown on television hadn't disturbed her illusions.

"Do you have cheerleaders at your university?" she asked Moonglow.

"No. I don't even know if there's any sports."

Daniel didn't know either. Neither he nor Moonglow had ever paid any attention to sports, either at school or university. It had never been an important subject at any institute they'd attended.

"Look, I've got new paper and a pencil and a marker pen!"

Vex brandished her college supplies enthusiastically. Kalix sunk down in the back seat and wished that she were somewhere else. It was bad enough having to display her ignorance in front of strangers without Agrivex making the whole thing intolerable. When Daniel dropped them off just south of the river, Vex leapt from the car.

"I am so ready to learn things!"

Catching sight of Kalix's unhappy face, Moonglow was again moved to pity. "Poor Kalix," she said as they drove off. "If the lessons don't kill her, Vex might."

Daniel didn't reply. In recent days, his conversation had dropped to a series of grunts. His demeanor was now so hostile that Moonglow felt they couldn't go on like this. It was too much of a strain. Moonglow regretted that she couldn't go out with him, but there was nothing to be done about it. "Although," thought Moonglow, "even if it wasn't for the curse, he's not exactly showing himself in an attractive light anyway."

At the remedial college, Vex was rushing into class, exchanging greetings with everyone. She was already a well-known figure, both for her extravagant appearance and for her outgoing personality. She exchanged friendly smiles with two young Chinese students, here to improve their English skills, and with a rather sinister-looking middle-aged man with dark tattoos on his arms. He was a prisoner nearing the end of his sentence, now on day-release to improve his education. Their teacher for the day stood in front of the class. A prematurely aged man in a gray suit that had seen better days, he had the air of a man who was disappointed with his lot.

"We're about to learn the basics of long division," he began.

"I have a new marker pen!" came a voice from the middle of the class.

The teacher looked up in surprise. "Pardon?"

"Bright yellow!" said Vex, waving the pen. "I can really highlight things now."

"Very good," said the teacher, dryly. "Now if you'll look at the example on-"

"Will there be a lot of stuff to highlight?"

"I'm sure you'll find plenty of opportunities."