Chapter Two: Signing on a derelict

Skulduggery paced the room, his body taught like that of a strung bow, ready to fire at any sign of movement. He was clicking his tongue fervently.

"If we know the whereabouts of Venom Adder then we'll have the first leg up on regaining the African Cradle," he said, hollow eyes gazing steadily at the disintegrating carpet below his polished shoes. "His establishment holds the barriers in place and houses the ammunition. A strike team on him would give us a chance to overwhelm them, stop them from building that god-forsaken amplifier." He looked up at Valkyrie who had been watching him silently from her perch atop his desk. "Thoughts?"

"How do we plan on breaking the barrier when we find it? If you remember the Delta Team from twenty-twentyfour then I'm sure you're aware that they evaporated when they accidently stumbled across it." Valkyrie ran a hand through her long, dark hair. "And I don't know about you Skulduggery but I like not being evaporated. Slow deaths are more my style. Gives me time to think."

Skulduggery had stopped in his tracks and cocked his head, listening. "Mmm," he agreed quietly. "It's a dilemma."

"But we know that there's a shipping port that Phoenix the Ash delivers to," Valkyrie continued. "It's cliché, but we could hijack a shipment."

"They haven't taken shipments since twenty-fortytwo, Valkyrie," he said with a sigh. "Everything since then they obtain through individual and specialty sale."

Valkyrie raised her eyebrows. "And?"

Skulduggery looked at her inquiringly. "And, what?"

"And so we really, really need Phoenix the Ash to like us."

Skulduggery muttered heatedly under his breath.

"What was that?" Valkyrie leaned forward on the desk, ear outstretched. "Something about some idiot leaving his Bentley on the side of the road in the worst part of town?"

"Valkyrie, I'm not taking on some derelict child. If I remember correctly I have you for that!"

"Oh ouch!" Valkyrie gave him a hurt expression. "I don't know if you've noticed Skullers, but I'm sixty-eight now."

Skulduggery was silent for a moment. "Are you really!?"

Valkyrie's face fell. "You're kidding, right?"

"Well that settles everything. The kid is your responsibility Valkyrie," he gave an airy chuckle and left the room with a wave of his gloved hand. "Good luck trying to tame a wild child!"

Valkyrie fumed silently to herself, hopped off the desk and went to search for Ghastly.

Slight change of perspective :)