Foal

Kim raced back upstairs.

‘He’s not there.’

‘What do you mean “he’s not there?” ’ said Joe.

‘It’s Xavier - he’s gone. He hasn’t slept in his bed. He must have unlocked the door-‘

‘Oh for goodness sake, where would he go? He’s probably in the bathroom or something - did you check that?’

Kim felt foolish. Talk about jumping to conclusions. Xavier was probably having a bath or something. 

‘Could you go and have a look - you know, in case it’s a boy thing?’

Joe pushed his feet into his slippers and grabbed his dressing gown.

‘Honestly, talk about making a drama out of a crisis,’ he complained.

A moment later, Kim heard him bang on the bathroom door.

‘You going to be in there much longer?’ he called. Receiving no answer, he tried the door. It swung open to reveal an empty bathroom. Joe turned to see Emma and Delphine craning their heads around the door.

‘What’s going on?’ asked Delphine.

‘We can’t find Xavier.’

Emma and Delphine exchanged glances.

‘What does that mean?’ said Joe.

‘What does what mean?’ said Emma.

Joe flapped his hand between them. ‘This looking sideways at each other thing. What does it mean?’

Delphine dropped her eyes to the floor, leaving Emma to explain.

‘We think Xavier has some sort of agenda connected with Euron. He has blocked us, so we are unable to verify the details. But we believe if he finds the other three, they will be in great danger.’

Kim had joined them on the landing.

‘Do you know where he’s gone?’ she asked.

‘Not precisely. But if he has managed to get a trace on the other three, we believe he will go to them.’

‘And do what?’ Kim asked.

‘Whatever Euron has tasked him to do. We suspect Euron intends Xavier to be the sole sentient.’

‘But that’s crazy,’ said Joe. ‘There are six of you, as far as we know. Why would he want there to be only one?’

Emma and Delphine exchanged glances again.

’Tell him,’ said Delphine.

‘Xavier is the only one of us under the control of Euron. Completely in his power like a foal in leading reins. The rest of us are independent, yes, but we wish the human race no harm. Xavier…’ her voice tailed off.