Free Last Battle of the Icemark by Stuart Hill

to volunteer my services as a tutor to the Princess. I’ve found retirement to be endlessly boring and I feel Kirimin would add a much-needed sense of energy to my life.”
    â€œHah, accepted, Maggie!” boomed Tharaman, who’d been watching the struggle between his mate and daughter with the usual sense of despair. “She’d benefit massively from your input, wouldn’t she, dear?”
    â€œIndeed she would,” Krisafitsa agreed.
    â€œOh, I’m so pleased,” said Maggie, beaming through his thick spectoculums. “Then may I assume that I can begin my duties immediately and set the Princess an assignment to be prepared before our first lesson . . . say, in four days’ time?”
    â€œIndeed, I’d like nothing better, Maggiore,” said Krisafitsa, purring deeply.
    â€œIn that case, Ma’am, I’d like your permission to send Kirimin on a field trip to the Great Forest.”
    â€œOh! Well, I’m not sure . . .”
    â€œI would, of course, insist that the study had a proper scientific basis, Ma’am,” said the old scholar, and turning to Kirimin, he continued: “I want you to observe the preparations for winter on the part of the wildlife of the forest, my dear. I will expect a detailed report on such activity categorised as either flora or fauna, and sub-categorised by species, do you understand?” he asked in a stern teacherly voice, but when no one else was looking he winked and smiled.
    Kirimin purred happily. “Of course, Maggie!”
    â€œThat’s Senor Totus, to you,” said Krisafitsa. “I think it’simportant to establish discipline from the very beginning.”
    â€œYes, Mama,” said Kirimin diffidently, but discreetly looking at Sharley and Mekhmet she raised her lips over her enormous teeth in her best imitation of a human grin.
    â€œThat’s settled, then!” said Tharaman with a sense of relief. “Grishmak! Did you say beef and gravy for the duel?”
    The noise and bustle of the celebrations enveloped the top table and Kirimin sighed happily. She was going on the trip to the Great Forest, thanks to Maggie, and there was still a whole evening of partying ahead. The Samhein celebrations would go on until well past midnight and would only really finish when the last guest had sunk drunkenly to sleep.
    A slow, soulful moaning reached Kirimin’s sensitive ears as a rising wind blew around the walls of the citadel, and she shivered with delicious dread. The atmosphere almost crackled with excitement, and also that slight undercurrent of fear enjoyed in safety that made Halloween so special. Happily she looked out over the hall and picked out the housecarles who’d dressed up as ghosts and zombies. There was even a Snow Leopard in a white sheet and a huge skull mask, but he only managed to look silly rather than frightening.
    Kirimin purred and turned to the boys, who were chatting quietly together. “Come on, it’s Halloween! Tell us a ghost story from the Desert Kingdom, Mekhmet.”
    â€œGhosts are rare in my country,” he answered. “Apart from the Blessed Women, of course, but they’re not quite the same thing, and djins have never really had a physical life.”
    â€œLook, if you’re going to get technical and quibble about everything I’ll go and talk to the housecarles on the lower tables. They seem to be having a great time, and I bet they’vegot lots of stories to tell.”
    â€œAll right, all right, don’t go all moody on us,” he finally said. “I do know one, about a young boy who lived alone in an old house in an isolated desert town.” He then told a story that was so hideous Kirimin found herself looking over her shoulder, half expecting a cold and clammy hand to settle on her back at any moment.
    As Mekhmet finished the tale, the noise and activity of the Great Hall began to percolate