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

Twenty-Two - Kiss of Judas

^^Above: The Arrest of Christ (Kiss of Judas), by Giotto c. 1304.^^

Thomas

We passed a chilly autumn, both in weather and our marriage. Since the incident at the Elemental Advancement headquarters, Emmeline had stopped trying to get me to recount the events of it. She treated me with cordiality and civility, but I could sense she wasn't about to hold back for much longer. A storm was brewing, and any day now it would break. Except I hadn't the faintest idea of when that would be.

It was one especially cold evening in early November, when Phil and Eddie were finally put to bed, that she broached the subject again. She took a deep breath and thumped her book shut, making me look up from the seemingly endless Order documents that dogged me at all hours. Ashbury must have believed "joint Head of the Order" was synonymous with "dogsbody."

"Tom," she said, rising from her chair with her brow furrowed at the flames in the fireplace. "I've been doing some thinking..."

"About what?" I sat up, noticing she was now facing me and her hands gripped the back of the chair opposite me so tightly her knuckles were white.

Her jaw tightened visibly. "That night, Tom. The one we have been ignoring for months."

I sat back, running one hand over my face. "For Heaven's sake, Emmeline–"

That made her temper snap. "I've waited long enough, don't you think? You may believe I don't notice, Tom, but I do! I see how you avoid it even now!"

I got to my feet. "Lower your voice."

She swept her book off the table with a thud as she rounded the table, her eyes flashing dangerously. "You've no right to tell me what to do, not now! Not when you push me away and keep to yourself! Not when I, as you say, know more about you than anyone else!"

I tried not to flinch. She'd used my own words against me, and at the exact right time. "I do it to protect you."

"Do you?" She snatched up a sheaf of paper, holding it aloft. "Is any of this to protect me, Tom? Are you trying to protect me with rules and regulations?"

"We would have no civility otherwise. We would be lawless, you see," I said, reaching for the papers. "Give those to me."

She curled her lip at me, her entire stance a challenge, as she held them out of my reach. "Tell me about that night first."

"Emmeline..." It was a last-ditch plea. Somehow I knew I would not be winning this.

"That's what I thought." She slapped the papers into my chest. "You will continue to do as you wish and not listen to a word I say. And at the same time expect me to keep on doing as you bid me."

"Wait," I said, as she whirled on her heel and made to storm out. "If you must know, it involved the same men who terrorised Francis."

She stopped in her tracks, and then after a moment turned to face me. Her expression was completely unreadable. "What were they there for?"

I shook my head. "I don't know. And I doubt they would have told us if we asked."

She was breathing hard, appearing to be conflicted about whether to believe me or not.

"We fought them off when they attacked," I went on, when she didn't speak. "Lord Ashbury seems to have a remarkably firm command of his Elemental powers, because he managed to distract them enough to give me an opening."

Emmeline held my gaze for just a moment before looking over at the fire. I could see their reflection in her eyes, even as they narrowed. "And his state? What was the reason for that?"