Skulduggery and Valkyrie strolled through the sanctry. Dexter, Gordon and Tanith followed behind. People stared and welcomed the two men back. They stared even more when a boy went up and asked Valkyrie out to dinner and Skulduggery punched him and draped his arm around Valkyrie. This was new. The skeleton never did things like that.

They walked into the meeting room. Their other friends looked up and seats were pulled up on both sides of Valkyrie.

"I call this meeting to order," Valkyrie said and everyone sat.

"Welcome back Dexter Vex and Skulduggery Pleasant," Ravel said.

Everyone nodded and said welcome back and made Skulduggery and Dexter feel loved.

"We have a very good plan for tomorrow," Tanith said.

"I'd love to hear it," Skulduggery replied.

"We break into groups of seven. The north, south, east, west, sewers, Aranmore and rescue. We are all on rescue," Gordon replied.

"I suppose that Valkyrie told you of the castle?" Ravel inquired.

"Yes she did. We may be ever so slightly screwed but we can always hope that he has replaced it with a car that I can easily blow up."

"Yes we are screwed," Dexter echoed.

"Yes. And then we join the teams. Ready to fight," Ghastly added.

"Nice. I believe that there would be crowds to brief?" Dexter asked.

"Of course there is," Valkyrie replied.

"Excellent," Skulduggery said.

"If that's all then I dismiss this meeting," Valkyrie said.

They got up and walked through the sanctry. Skulduggery watched Valkyrie carefully. She was a born leader and she wasn't reaching her full potential as a leader. They stoped at the armoury. They went inside and they were greeted with a rush of hot air. Valkyrie asked around for numbers and did mental calculations. She encouraged the mages to work faster, it helped that half of them were in love with her and were desperately trying to impress her. Skulduggery was becoming jealous of all those men staring at her.

She didn't have time to realise that she was the reason all of them were working so hard. The others work because it was their job but some people worked because they feared her. They have heard stories of Valkyrie with unimaginable anger. They heard that the skeleton detective had to subdue her. Skulduggery could almost smell the fear of those people.

Valkyrie asked for all the weapons to be made by afternoon. The mages agreed and she turned and stalked back to the others. The ones in love with her were staring at her as she walked the distance to her friends. Skulduggery stared the boys down, even if he didn't have eyes they got the message and resumed their work.

Valkyrie walked in front and Skulduggery thought they were heading to the briefing of the masses but Valkyrie changed their course. They walked past mages taking more turns until they all arrived outside one of the rooms that housed the wounded. Valkyrie knocked before opening the door and strolling into the place like she owned it.

At first Skulduggery was shocked. He never thought he'd see the day Billy-Ray Sanguine would knock on the sanctry's door for help, even though he technically hadn't seen it. He heard about the problem with Sanguine but he didn't think that Nye would be able to heal his mind.

"Miss Cain," Sanguine said when he saw her.

"Sanguine," she responded back being polite.

"You bought the skeleton and the blond back. We didn't think you'd be able to," his thick lazy drawl echoed in the small room.

"I may be blond but at least I'm not mentally blond," Dexter pointed out.

Everyone bit back laughter and Sanguine looked truly insulted.

"Can you remember?" Valkyrie asked.

"My memories? Not yet but I can feel the cloud lifting. I feel strong enough to break through tomorrow."

"Good then I can bring those here to be trialled if they don't get killed tomorrow when we start the war."

"I want to fight."

"Mr Sanguine..." Valkyrie started.

"If I am well enough I will fight beside you. I want to wrong those who wronged me. Don't worry we can go back to killing each other afterwards."

"If you wish. We will fit you in the team that will fight at Aranmore."

Valkyrie turned and left before anymore could be said. The others followed. The halls were empty for every mage has stopped work to be briefed. The team walked down the hall.

"Is it wise to have Sanguine fight with us?" Tanith asked.

"He only wants justice and apparently it's crueller to let me live so I won't die," Valkyrie shrugged.

"I think we should let him," Skulduggery said.

"Then it is decided. Sanguine will fight beside us and if he lays a hand against anyone we can kick his butt," Ravel announced.

Everyone laughed and continued walking.

"I won't let him lay a hand on you Tanith," Ghastly whispered for only her to hear.

Tanith smiled weakly and they joined the others.

They approached the main hall and looked at the doors waiting for Valkyrie's decision. She looked nervously at the door. Skulduggery turned her to face him, bony hands on strong shoulders. Valkyrie took a deep breath and opened the heavy door with ease. The group walked into the room and all went quiet. They stared at the Skeleton and the blond but no one said anything. Valkyrie and her gang climbed the stairs to a platform facing the crowds. There was a wooden podium at the front of the platform. Valkyrie nervously walked up to the podium and surveyed the crowd. He friends filed behind her in a straight line looking tough and strong. Tanith breathed encouragement and that's when Valkyrie spoke.