Chapter 4
It was quite surprising how fast Valkyrie and Skulduggery passed through the first layer of the formal guard. They were only asked for a few papers and had no memory of Skulduggery's previous visit. The tourist area was mostly empty since today really was a regular Friday morning. The only 'tourists' looked increasingly mysterious as Valkyrie approached them.
"Those tourists really don't look like tourists." Valkyrie blurted out
"I've noticed. For that reason we should assume those people are trying to do the same thing we are." said Skulduggery
Valkyrie suddenly became tense. Even in the tourist area there already was dangerous. The original plan was that Valkyrie should study the castle first in safety and then catch up with Skulduggery if it was needed. With these 'tourists around' it was more advisable that they stick together.
"Look at the bright side, if they destroy it then there is nothing left to do." Valkyrie blurted out trying to comfort herself
"Meanwhile the dark side is that without us they will most likely fail. There is no escape. I told you to stay in the car." said Skulduggery
"Do I ever listen to you when you tell me that?"
"No, and for that reason you are going with this group into the castle so you may start studying this place whenever you feel ready."
Valkyrie could see no easy path out of this. The outside of the castle presented not even half of the difficulties that come when someone tries to destroy it.
"Listen, I hope you already know we are not going to be able to destroy it. All we need to do is perform an attempt that causes enough attention that will shift this town's attention away from the wedding." Skulduggery whispered
As more mysterious people poured in the situation started to become worrisome for the guard. Why were so many 'tourists' here on a Friday morning. They looked repeatedly at Skulduggery which had not bothered to cover the fact he was a skeleton. There were many strange looking people in Roarhaven so Skulduggery assumed there would be no exception with him. Yet, the guard kept looking at him as if they recognized him from an occurrence long ago. Valkyrie could see they were talking to each other on what to do. Finally, the guard had the courage to come up to the duo.
"Pardon sir, I would just like to know if you have any relation to the other people here."
"Oh no, I am here with this girl…she is my daughter. I am visiting as a tourist." Skulduggery said with confidence
"Do I smell that she must be a descendant of the ancients? At the same time you are a skeleton with strange garb. Don't take that personally."
"Is there anything wrong with that?" Skulduggery asked
"Wait a second…you are Skulduggery Pleasant! You can't have a daughter since Serpine killed you and the rest of your family! You survived only as a mere skeleton."
"Who said Skeletons cannot have children? Also never underestimate a skeleton." Skulduggery answered in a challenging way
"Don't mess with me here…she's not your daughter!" yelled one of the guardsmen
"What about an adopted daughter with the name Stephanie?" asked Skulduggery
"You shut up! This is not a game. She is an ancient and you are not. Her name is Valkyrie Cain!"
"Is there anything wrong with being an ancient here? If I remember correctly-"
"All right, enough questions! Valkyrie, we are at your service." said one of the guardsmen
"What the-"Valkyrie coughed out
"This castle is all yours. We have been waiting for his descendants to return from exile for a long time. Since Mevolent is dead it is time we lay are loyalty on someone else." said the guardsmen in unison
The 'tourists' started to form a circle soon enough. This conversation was already starting to attract their attention. At this point they were huddling up deciding what to do. Soon enough the 'tourists' unmasked their true identity. Valkyrie had met every single one of them but one at least in one occasion.
1. Tourist #1: Springheeled Jack, wearing his prisoner uniform
2. Tourist # 2: Vaurien Scapegrace, much weaker appearance and has new scars
3. Tourist #3: Madame Mist (children of the spider), in her human form
4. Tourist #4: Solomon Wreath, wearing his necromancer garb and more aged
5. Tourist #5: China Sorrows, expression of tiredness on her face
6. Tourist #6: Erskine Ravel, staring cautiously at the others
7. Tourist #7: Valkyrie's reflection, wearing an unusual evil grin
8. Tourist #8: The younger brother of Lord Vile, staring with a dead serious
expression
"Pardon this interruption but tourists cannot be here on Fridays, after 11 a.m." said one of the guardsmen
"I've never heard that ridiculous rule. I was here last Friday at two in the afternoon" said Solomon Wreath
"Oh no, you are allowed to come back at noon but we close for one hour for cleaning." the guardsman replied
"I detect nervousness in your voice. It surprises me it is not routine for you to say these rules after so many hundred years. I suspect you are up to something." said Solomon Wreath
"The guard maintains order here. We expect visitors to comply with the rules. I would appreciate it if you would all leave because it would be unfortunate to fight over something so trivial." said the guardsman
The seven infiltrators started to form a fighting formation. It was clear to Valkyrie that the guardsman was lying about closing for an hour. The infiltrators knew if they did not act quickly Valkyrie might gain possession of the castle and things would become more complicated for Lord Vile after that.
"Please don't play the fighting card. If you think you are going to defeat this guard then you must be insane. For that reason, I'd appreciate it if you would kindly accompany me to the exit." said a guardsman
At this point the guardsmen were sure this conflict could not be resolved without fighting. Valkyrie noticed they had pressed a hidden button in their pocket in order to call back-up guardsmen. Soon enough, about fifteen more guardsmen appeared near the exit, adding to the then that were already here. Skulduggery looked like he recognized most of the back up from the time he tried to destroy the castle. They also seemed to recognize him perfectly. After all, they were not called up to often.
"We are not here to cause any trouble so I would appreciate it if you were kind enough to let us stay here a little longer" said Madame Mist
"Please, there has been an unexpected occasion today with the arrival of the deserving inheritor of this castle. We have been waiting for this for hundreds of years. I hope you can understand." said a guardsman
Finally a guardsman had admitted the reason these 'tourists' were being forced to leave. That alerted all the infiltrators that trouble was coming. Erskine Ravel showed his realization by walking towards Skulduggery to show he was not one of the infiltrators. China showed her realization by subsequently using her beauty powers to lure the guards into letting her stay.
These guards were too strong for the elemental jokes China was trying to make them fall into. They knew the battle was coming close
"This is your last warning. Leave right know or the full power of the 6th guard of protection of this castle will use its entire force to eliminate every single one of you." said the guardsmen in unison
Lord Vile's younger brother raised his hand as if giving a signal to the rest of the infiltrators. The infiltrators responded to it promptly by running to the edge of the tourist balcony and jumping over the barbed-wire fence into a body of water. This was the body of water that separated the castle as an island. It was already part of the property which was the reason the guard wasted no time in activating.
"Those who are with us stand and walk towards the back up in the exit now!"
That prompted Valkyrie, Skulduggery, and Ravel to run towards the exit. They were unsure of what the guard was going to do but decided it would be best to go along with them.
It was very noticeable how the guard was pulling out several hidden weapons at a fast speed. In less than a minute they were more than ready
"Do you know how to swim?" Skulduggery asked Valkyrie
"Oh, I know how to swim very well." Valkyrie replied
"Well, I guess this is your first experience swimming and fighting. I think you should be all set since you already have had many first experiences." said Skulduggery
"I hope so." Valkyrie replied with less confidence than before
"Let's go!" One of the guardsmen told the joining trio
With lightening speed the group bolted so fast they were able to jump over the barbed wire fence with no difficulty.
Valkyrie felt the crash hard so she spent longer recovering underwater before pulling her face out. It seemed the guardsmen were waiting for her. Once they saw her they started swimming towards the people who might become vicitims.
Valkyrie tried to keep up but it was not always possible. Erskine Ravel and the lead guardsmen seemed to be way ahead of everyone else. Skulduggery seemed to have as much trouble as Valkyrie since he did not swim so often after he lost his skin protection.
Still, the biggest disadvantage was that somehow the infiltrators had acquired a large boat. This boat would usually be used by the guardsman to chase infiltrators. Therefore, its speed was fast enough for the infiltrators to get to the other side before any swimmer would catch up.
Yet the infiltrators made a big mistake pretty fast. Without this mistake perhaps they could have arrived before the guard and start their mission.
"Okay, let's kill two birds with one stone. Let's crush the skull guy and the girl with this boat. Hopefully we might get some members of the guards. Otherwise, we will be outnumbered." said Lord Vile's brother
Once everybody agreed the boat turned in the opposite direction to face the guardsmen and their companions. The lead guardsman was fast enough to pull out a hand grenade once the boat was close enough.
The infiltrators detected this movement and came to a stop to see what signal Vile's brother would give. Once he pointed his thumb now Wreath pulled his cane out and shot a black lightening from it hitting the lead guardsman in the face, blowing it off. The waterproof hand grenade sunk into the water. Erskine Ravel dived down to catch it.
Before the infiltrators had any more advantages, Skulduggery pulled his loaded gun out and aimed for Wreath. Noticing the danger Springheeled Jack pulled Wreath back and down to the ground. That uncovered China who was making symbols that would not allow anyone to pass the line where the boat was at that moment.
Skulduggery noticed that fairly quickly. He hauled Valkyrie and one guardsman on his back and started flying up. They went so high up it would be hard for the symbols to reach. Already ahead of the boat they landed at the other side. The battle was still up for grabs.
Lord Vile's brother saw the advantage and jumped into the sea to go after them. Skulduggery was quick to pull his gun back out and shot him in his left shoulder. Apparently, his hard armor forced it to bounce back. It went into Valkyire's right hand.
"Skulduggery! Help! I cannot swim like this! We need to leave this place." Valkyrie yelled in exasperation
"We cannot leave just because of you. I hope you are left-handed. If not, I hope you become left handed in the next few seconds." Skulduggery replied
Seeing Skulduggery was no help, Valkyrie decided to do one last strike before swimming away. She started to climb the back of the boat with her necromancer ring. Everybody was so busy fighting in the front that only Scapegrace noticed her.
"Attention, Code BCL, again, BCL." said Scapegrace
It was too late. Valkyrie jumped and covered Scapegrace's mouth and pushed him of the boat. She surrounded Wreath with the black coils from her ring. Wreath realized that as he turned back while raising his cane. Valkyrie jumped to the side causing it to hit the swimming Scapegrace who was right behind her outside of the boat. That was the end of him
Valkyrie's luck was over. Everybody had noticed her by now. As she rushed to stop the boat the person who was steering it, Valkyrie's reflection, it grabbed her neck. Valkyrie tried to run but soon enough the reflection was holding her in a chokehold. The crew surrounded her immediately. Oh no.