The Necromancer
Valkyrie woke up pleasantly and saw the bright sunshine spilling out of the opened curtains. She found herself laying on the leather sofa and sat up, hearing voices in the kitchen. She just then registered the fact that she had forgotten all about why they were really here. She guessed last night was too perfect to stop.
Valkyrie dragged her feet into the kitchen where she saw Fletcher and Ghastly bickering over who should have the last of the bread.
"Why won't Fletcher teleport to the shop and buy some?" Suggested Valkyrie.
Fletcher turned to protest. "Look, I'm not your mobile shopper who you slay away to get bread. I have rights."
Valkyrie rolled her eyes and dug deep into her pocket. "Here, here's a couple of Euros. Now be a good boy."
Fletcher held the coins in his hand and looked at Ghastly then to Valkyrie and then to his hand, he nodded, "Okay, but only because I'm starving." he declared, then he vanished.
Tanith walked into the room following the phantom of Gordon who entered the kitchen. "I might cook some eggs," Decided Gordon, sitting himself down on the table.
Valkyrie looked at him. "Er, Uncle, you can't eat. You're just an anagram." Valkyrie said uncomfortably.
Gordon's face fell in realisation, "Oh yes. So I am."
Valkyrie sighed, then remembered what she had been planning to do.
"Guys, I asked you here so we could get into action. It's been far to long and we have a location for the Trolls and I think we could get our hands on one to interrogate."
Ghastly, Tanith and Gordon sat there, listening to her intently.
"I agree," Tanith stood up from the table, "We need to get started. We've wasted time as it is."
Ghastly nodded too, "So, where are these Trolls?"
"Dead Man's Coven," Replied Valkyrie with a tone of foreboding in her voice.
"Ahh," Nodded Ghastly remembering the name.
"Do you know where it is?" Valkyrie asked. Finally, they had a starting line.
Ghastly nodded, "I have maps in my library. Dead Man's Coven is on a magic line where it's invisible to mortals and only Sorcerers can enter. I will go now. I'll call when I find anything."
Ghastly started to the front door when Fletcher appeared with a bag of bread. "Hey! Aren't you going to have some bread or what?"
Ghastly smirked, "'Fraid not." And he disappeared outside to his van.
Fletcher stood there for a moment, then shrugged. "More for me then."
Valkyrie continued. "Okay, until Ghastly rings back for the information, Tanith, you can join me to see Guild."
Tanith scowled, "Why are we going to see Guild for?"
"Because the Sanctuary must know something. And we have to find people to help us, we can't do it alone."
Fletcher raised a hand, "Hello, what about me? I did save the world last time, you know."
Valkyrie shrugged, "You can come along, if you behave."
"Behave, what do you think I'm going to do? Set fire to the place?"
"I wouldn't put it pass him," muttered Tanith, low enough for only Valkyrie to hear.
Gordon stood up and clapped his hands, "Well, I guess I better get going. I might have a kip."
He smiled to Valkyrie, Tanith and Fletcher. "Good luck."
Valkyrie waved him goodbye and he disappeared into the glowing Echo stone.
"Right, a ride on my bike then?" Offered Tanith.
Fletcher grinned, "Go on!" but Valkyrie stopped him sitting on the end of the seat.
"She means me, we can meet you there, Mr Teleporter."
He sighed, "One day, Tanith." and he disappeared.
Valkyrie laughed and sat on the bike, but when Tanith held out her helmet to her she saw something in the sky.
It was like a black streak of lightening, but the sky was blue and clear. It came out of nowhere and it shot down to the middle of the road and hit the tarmac. But it didn't flash away like any normal lightening stroke would, it stayed and the then shadows came out and swirled around the lightening stroke very fast, then a foot stepped out of the black vortex, than a leg appeared and following that the body of Solomon Wreath, the Necromancer.
His cane stepped in the rhythm he walked and when he submerged out of the shadow it shot back into the sky and disappeared as fast as it had arrive.
He strode over to the motorbike and smiled a greeting to Valkyrie and Tanith, who were too stunned to speak.
"I was hoping to catch you."
"What are you doing here?" stammered Valkyrie. She was still perched on the bike.
Wrath tapped his fingers on his cane as he thought. "I was hoping to hear if you had an answer?"
"An answer?" Valkyrie arched an eyebrow.
"Aye, an answer whether you want me to tutor the lessons of Necromancy."
Tanith looked at Valkyrie in amazement, shaking her head slowly. This was the first time she had heard of it.
Valkyrie shrugged, "Been too busy."
Wreath nodded as if he believed her but of course he wasn't convinced. "You know it would help you get Skulduggery back."
Valkyrie had eventually got up from the bike and stood uncomfortably on her feet. "How can I trust you?"
"You can't, but you have no choice."
"She does!" Piped up Tanith stepping between Wreath and Valkyrie. "She can either keep clean and work with her friends, and she forget everything about your…offer."
But she added, gently. "But I do appreciate everything you did for us on the Farm. We are grateful, but this does not mean we shall be allied in the future."
Wreath didn't move but just looked at Valkyrie and handed her a card. "In case you change your mind."
And with that he turned back, his cane tapping on the floor and another flash of black erupted from the sky and swallowed him up. He was gone.
"Wow," admitted Valkyrie. "He does make an entrance, I give him that."
Tanith eyed the card in Valkyrie's hand. "What does it say?"
Valkyrie hadn't looked at the card yet but did so now. It was plain in black with red writing.
Cemetery lane
The Forgotten Grave
Friday, 9.00 o'clock
Bring no one
"You're not thinking of going, are you?" Tanith asked darkly.
Valkyrie didn't look up from the card. "We need to try everything that could save Skulduggery. I have to do it."
