The Might of Evil Dreams (A Novel of the Elemental Chronicles)

Fifteen - What the Night Hides

Thomas

I could have thrown myself from a cliff after I spoke those words. Emmeline's expression changed from hot anger to sorrow, fear, and worry all at once. A great pain entered her eyes, and once again I saw the terrified, traumatised girl who had sought shelter from me a year ago.

"Your disappearance did not go unnoticed, Emmeline," I went on, and her knees gave out. She barely got herself into a chair, keeping a tight hold on the boy as she did. I saw him squirm, and her grip loosened. "They know you are alive, and they know you are my wife. Before too long, they will know the reasons as well."

"And you told them nothing," she whispered. "They knew everything all this time."

"So it would appear," I said, the pain from my shoulder fraying the edges of my mind.

"How would they..." She was shaking her head, breathing hard and ragged. Her fist clenched again in Eddie's christening gown, knuckles white. "No one saw me that night...they couldn't have..."

"You still remember nothing?" I sat up, and my shoulder throbbed. "Nothing at all?"

"One thing. Their eyes..." She raised her eyes to mine, filled with tears. "Their terrible glowing eyes..."

"Glowing?" As far as I knew, no Elemental's eyes glowed in the dark. No human creature's either.

She nodded and then turned away again, holding on to Eddie as if he were the only thing keeping her steady. "They...they were looking for something...a weapon, by the sound of it...they were saying that...it could only be used on Elementals..."

"And?" I said. Her memories were returning. I had learned to be patient, but I'd half expected them to not come back at all.

"Don't..." She shook her head, and her tears emerged. "Don't make me...I can't bear it..."

"You've been through a great deal, Emmeline." I finally stood up, although it hurt to do so. "I will not force you to relive it."

"Oh, Tom..." She rose to her feet as well, immediately curling into my chest with our son enveloped between us. I pulled her close to me and rested my chin on her hair. But she'd given us a valuable piece of information, even though I saw the pain it caused her. There was a weapon, something that could only harm Elementals. Whatever it was, these men were looking for it. That meant there was only one solution: find it before they did.

||

Our first capture came in two nights after Emmeline and I celebrated our one-year anniversary. It was really only a special dinner and an early bedtime for Eddie so we could have a few quiet hours alone together. But since our marriage I'd felt my love for her growing, slow at first and accelerated by the birth of our son. Watching her carry him around, talk to him as if he were capable of responding, dandle him and let him sleep on her chest at night was reason enough. She had been through so much, seen terrible things, had been beaten and tortured and threatened with death, but was still able to love another. He was small, helpless, dependent on her for everything. But that was the beauty of it. She had brought joy to my life, and now Eddie had brought joy to hers.

The note that came in the post at tea time was unsigned, not even in an envelope. I unfolded it underneath the table, while Emmeline fed Eddie. It ran thusly: Captain Haywood, Delivery coming in tonight at Minehead, around nine-thirty. Boat's called Queen Anne, captain's name is Linden. Said if no one's there when he arrives, he's turning right back around. I know you are injured but the captain would not know me if I went alone. Would you be prepared to go in the next half-hour, when I bring the coach round?

The handwriting was unfamiliar, but I recognised its polite tone — it was Dr Braithwaite. Not to mention I didn't know the man well, although he seemed perfectly respectable and safe. Nothing like Ray, who seemed to attract trouble to him wherever he went, or me. I seemed to drag it around with me all the time, wearing it like a coat.