The Nightmare Detective by K. Childs

Author:K. Childs [Childs, K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy, steampunk, young adult
Publisher: Filles Vertes Publishing
Published: 2019-10-22T07:00:00+00:00

I woke up covered in sweat. Light streamed through the windows and the bed covers twisted around my shins.

I got out of bed and splashed water on my face. There was no bathroom en suite; I’d have to find it in the hall. I threw my robe over my nightgown and padded to the bathroom on the freezing stone.

The light hurt my eyes. I stayed in the sunshine, forcing myself to endure it, leaning out the window to get the chilly air to cool the water on my face. Eventually the sting of the sunlight reduced.

It was past breakfast time; the men gathered in the garden and I saw the maid hurrying into the kitchen with a wicker basket of vegetables and bread, looking like she had been at the market.

I returned to my room and dressed, spraying a little lavender about my body to mask the smell of sweat.

I remade the bed and tied my hair back. By the time I was opening the door, the Duke was standing in front of it, hand raised to knock.

“Good morning, Your—Darrien.”

“It’s almost lunch time, Rose. I would have woken you sooner, but the Sergeant said not to.”

“Thank you,” I said.

He offered me his arm. “Will you take lunch with me in the garden?”

“If you wish.”

“I do.”

“Did you sleep well?” I asked.

“Yes, no nightmares at all.”

I decided to trust the Duke. The rest of the castle would not have been so lucky. But I had deterred the dragon this night. “I made good progress on the beast last night. I suspect I will have it in hand tonight. I know a weakness now.”

“Oh?”

“When I kill it in the Dreamscape, there is a chance it will survive and attack in some form in the physical world. Do you know the Animancy to enchant a weapon?”

“I suppose I could infuse a weapon with Anima; it depends on what you want it for. I mostly fought ghouls during the war—using the blood of the living in a blade or bullet is the best defence against them. Anima enchantments are rather specific.”

Oneirology worked best with specific wards as well. Enchantments were tricky things. I had hoped something generic existed in his own study, but it didn’t sound like it.

We stopped in the kitchen and Darrien picked up a readymade basket, then turned, resuming our walk outside. I expected to end up just outside the door, but he took me down to the river and to a pergola. We sat down under the shade and I took my cloche off, tying it to my neck so it wouldn’t fly away.

“What about dragon slaying?” I asked.

“I doubt it would be easy. For a dragon, I’d need something that was naturally against it. I’ve no idea what is opposite to a dragon.”

“Most breathe fire; would ice work?”

“Living, animate ice, surely. I’ve no idea how to get such a thing, if it exists. Given the magnitude of the situation, should I pursue that?”

I shook my head. “I can’t be sure it would work.

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