Valkyrie sat in the Bentley and rubbed her knee. The dull ache had spread from where her knee had connected with Gyle Finch's face and now reverberated through her entire body, pulsing in time with the headache dancing behind her eyes. She wanted nothing more than to go home. But her reflection, no- Stephanie had the Sceptre, and she wouldn't hesitate to defend what she had claimed as hers. Valkyrie couldn't wait to take the Sceptre off of her and beat her with it.
Skulduggery was whistling happily as he drove towards Roarhaven. The face he wore was tanned and attractive. Skulduggery's whole existence revolved around the extraordinary, yet even the magic that held him together followed certain rules. Not even the great Skeleton Detective could whistle without lips. So every time he had the urge to break into song using nothing but his lips, his hand would creep down his collar and tap the hidden symbols carved there.
Valkyrie remembered a time when Skulduggery's façade could only be used when absolutely necessary. They had come a long way since then, or perhaps Skulduggery simply had a different view than Valkyrie on exactly how absolutely necessary whistling was.
"We've come a long way" said Skulduggery, eerily echoing Valkyrie's earlier thought.
"That's just what I was thinking," Valkyrie cut in "And I know it's cheesy, and I promise that this is a one time thing, and after this I'll return to my non-sentimental self, but I just wanted to say thanks to you, Skulduggery. For, you know, sticking with me through all of the Darquesse stuff. So, thanks I guess"
Skulduggery didn't respond for a moment as he tapped his façade symbols. The handsome face he'd been wearing melted away.
"I meant we've come a long way towards Roarhaven today," Skulduggery finally replied, "We might need to stop for petrol soon"
Valkyrie stared at her skeleton partner, mortified.
"But it was very kind of you to thank me" continued Skulduggery "I could definitely get used it. Maybe throw in some compliments next time"
Valkyrie crossed her arms and looked out the window at the scenery rushing past her window. "I hate you" she replied.
"Think of this as a lesson. Next time you won't interrupt me as promptly. One more thing to thank me for, if you think about it"
"I hate you" Valkyrie repeated adamantly.
Skulduggery hesitated. "Are you sulking now?"
"Yes"
"Splendid" he replied as he tapped his façade symbols and resumed whistling.
Roarhaven was a young city. It was no longer a small town next to a dead lake. It had spires that spiraled and towers that twinkled in the soft afternoon light. The Sanctuary no longer squatted in the middle of the town like a toad too old and stupid to move on to somewhere nicer. The new Sanctuary didn't look like a toad anymore to Valkyrie; in fact, it didn't look like an animal at all. The new Sanctuary was, by all definitions of the word, a palace. Designed as the first magical capital city, the architects of New Roarhaven had expected a mass influx of sorcerers wanting to live in this new city. Much like the dreams of the Roarhaven mages, the city was big, empty and ruined.
The Warlock attack had carved away large chunks of the landscape, not to mention a large chunk of the population. Valkyrie didn't like the new city. It had seen too much bloodshed in its short life. In all honesty, she hadn't been a fan of Roarhaven before its transformation either. It now took the Bentley eight minutes from the gate that shielded the city from mortal eyes to the Sanctuary's door. They went down a ramp and parked underground. They took a brightly lit lift to the lobby, where the Administrator almost immediately intercepted them. Tipstaff greeted them and with a disapproving glance at the unconscious man over Valkyrie's shoulder told them that the Grand Mage expected them immediately.
"She's not happy," Tipstaff added as the duo began to walk away "I just thought you should know"
Neither of them turned around or stopped walking.
They dropped Finch off at the Medical Bay and only managed to continue on their way after promising Doctor Synecdoche that they wouldn't drop off any more unconscious people for a day. The battle with the Warlocks was over, but many sorcerers were still battling for their lives in the Medical Bay. Valkyrie walked away from the sounds of people dying with a heavy heart, anger in her veins and revenge on her mind.
Grand Mage China Sorrows was not happy. She sat in what could only be called a throne room – her throne room. The black cleaver stood behind her. Scythe sheathed, but easily accessible in a moments notice. As Skulduggery and Valkyrie walked in, China allowed herself a small frown. She was not looking forward to the upcoming conversation. Of all people, she thought to herself, she could understand their need for revenge better than most. Her own personal revenge scheme was already in motion, but she was Grand Mage and thus she got certain privileges that her subordinates simply weren't allowed. No matter how much she might like the particular subordinates.
Her hands settled in her lap. She was wearing a dark blue sleeveless top and black trousers and boots. Not even the might of Tipstaff's passion for proper procedure had been enough to make China wear those dreadful Elder robes.
Valkyrie and Skulduggery stopped at a respectful distance from the throne and waited patiently.
"I was not aware that Mr. Gyle Finch was an Accelerated mage," China began dryly "I offer my sincere congratulations to both of you for following my orders perfectly"
"China," Valkyrie said before Skulduggery had a chance "you know how important this is to us" In a lower voice "he needs to pay"
China's face softened. She really did like these two. "I know, my dear," China stood up gracefully and walked towards the two "but revenge can come after we deal with the dozen or so insane super-powered sorcerers that are currently roaming freely. Besides I am Grand Mage and I expect everyone to obey me. It gives me a fuzzy feeling. You wouldn't want me to not feel fuzzy, right?"
Her voice had turned playful and she directed the question at Skulduggery.
"We're keeping our ears to the ground in case anything comes up," Skulduggery replied ignoring her question "but the Monster Hunters, Vex and Saracen have got it covered"
"Then focus your attention on Darquesse," China said waving her hand in the air dismissively "I'm assuming you have no further information on her?"
Valkyrie looked at Skulduggery. He simply shook his head.
"Well then," China continued, "after all the current disasters have been averted you may go hunt down the traitor with the full power of the Irish Sanctuary at your disposable and my personal blessing. Do we have an understanding?"
Without waiting for an answer she continued, "Now go, I have important people to talk to and far more original matters to attend to than you two not following orders"
With a sly smile on her lips and a final wave of her hand, the meeting with the Grand Mage came to an end.
As they walked out of the Room of Prisms, Skulduggery turned to Valkyrie.
"You run ahead to the car, I'll check on Finch and see if I can squeeze any information out of him. I wouldn't you getting sentimental again and thanking me in front of him. It'd be embarrassing"
Valkyrie scowled as she caught the keys Skulduggery chucked at her and walked down the brightly lit corridor towards the lifts that'd take her to the parking level.
Valkyrie waited impatiently in the Bentley for what the irrational side of her brain considered to be an eternity, but what her rational side knew to be no more than twenty-five minutes. The garage, much like the city above it, was brightly lit, huge and empty. There were only a few other cars sparsely spread out.
When Skulduggery finally slid into his seat and started the engine with the keys Valkyrie had wordlessly given him, he turned to her.
"Ravel is still in the country"
"I assume we're not going to follow China's instructions, then?" she replied
"Not in the slightest"
Valkyrie smiled.
