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17.2: NIGHTMARES (part 2)

A small distance away, at the rise of a hill overlooking The Traveller's Rest, a very accurate judgement of these events was being made. As this judgement was being made by Edmund, it was admittedly a little vague, but accurate nonetheless.

"Something is going on," announced Edmund with as much gravity as he could muster. He took the rolled-up newspaper from his eye, unrolled it, rolled it up again more tightly, and put it back to his eye. Squinting through this improvised spyglass, he made a slight revision: "Something is definitely going on."

Elizabeth and Pim ignored him. They were trying to sleep. Unfortunately, they were also simultaneously discovering that neither the seat nor the floor of a gig is a comfortable place to do this. As such, they were both cramped and grumpy. The coachman, however, was sleeping like a baby. Apparently used to furtive activities like this one (he was from Barthane, after all), he was curled up on the driving seat, wrapped in his cloak, snoring gently.

The coach was parked just below the brow of the hill, so as not to be seen from the inn. Edmund, having decided he wanted a more active part in this particular operation, was lying on his belly at the hill's crest. Elizabeth and Pim had left him to it. He seemed to be enjoying the newspaper.

Edmund watched as Winkton's coach trundled out of the inn's coach-house. The coach was followed by a rather nervous looking innkeeper. And there was the red-bearded man, looking bleary, and there was the muscular man, looking determined. And there was Fang. Now, Edmund wasn't particularly intelligent, nor was he particularly perceptive. He had once been both of those things, but about a century back a screw had come loose which had proved, over the years, to have been vital to the proper functioning of his brain. But even Edmund could see-and even at this distance-that Fang was not happy. In fact, Fang looked distinctly unhappy. In fact, Fang looked distinctly unhappy and distinctly anxious. Neither of these were emotions Edmund was accustomed to seeing on his brother-in-law's face. In his experience, Fang usually went in for Steely, Annoyed, or Downright Angry.

Edmund, being Edmund, decided to cheer him up.

"Cooo-eeee! Fang! Over here!" He stood up and waved the newspaper over his head. This did not last long, as he was promptly set upon by two females. Springing from the coach, Pim slapped a hand over Edmund's mouth while Elizabeth clamped his arm to his side, knocking the newspaper to the ground.

"What are you doing, dear?" Elizabeth hissed. "We're supposed to be hiding, remember?"

Edmund nodded. They released him.

"Now behave yourself, please, dear," Elizabeth implored. "You mustn't wake Fang."

"Um, Aunt Lizzie?"

"What, dear?"

"I think Uncle Fang is already awake."

"What?"

Pim was peering down at the inn.

"I think... I think he's leaving."

"Leaving?"

Elizabeth joined her. Edmund retrieved his newspaper and proffered it. They both ignored him. He shrugged and used it himself.

"You're right," Elizabeth exclaimed. "Why would he be leaving at this time? I thought he was only moving by day." She squinted, lips pursed. "I do not like that Middler he's with," she added quietly.

"The beardy one?"

"No, though I don't like him either. It's that other one..."

"With the crossbow?"

"Yes." But it wasn't the crossbow that was worrying Elizabeth. "Can you see the way Fang's watching him? Something's going on."

"Told you so!" Edmund chirped.

"Yes, dear."

"Aunt Lizzie, why is Fang with those Middlers?"

Elizabeth pursed her lips. "That's exactly what we need to find out." She turned to Pim. "Right, dear, wake the coachman."

"But I-"

"And hurry-we mustn't lose them," Elizabeth cut her off.

Pouting, Pim did as she was told. Elizabeth and Edmund continued watching as Fang, Winkton and Gustav boarded their coach. Elizabeth's face hardened. It was not a face to cross. Especially not on a woman whose familial instincts were combined with vampiric ones. Like Fang, Elizabeth held the firm belief that family was important, and she was willing to go to great lengths (some of which would be extremely unpleasant for those unlucky enough to be involved) to ensure that her family was safe.

"Fang might think he's got everything under control," Elizabeth said, "but he can't always look after himself."

Edmund put down his newspaper. "It's a good thing we're here," he contributed gravely.

Elizabeth surprised him by taking his hand before leading him back to the coach.