At each others' throats
In the morning Skulduggery picked up Valkyrie as usual. As she stepped inside she hit her head on the frame. "Ow." she muttered, "I need coffee"
"Nice job." he commented, "What do you think happened to Rife?"
"Bad blood, I presume. Why you ask?"
"Just wondering." he lied.
"Uh huh." Valkyrie didn't much believe him, "Damn, I just realized something."
"What?"
"My magic is gonna mature soon, isn't it?"
"I believe so."
"Do you think I'm ambidextrous? Because I'd hate to choose."
"I don't know."
She huffed and thought about it during the ride there.
Inside the Sanctuary Larrikin was chatting with Vendetta while Tanith and Ghastly were talking to Rife.
"Tenterhooks." Skulduggery somewhat greeted.
"Pleasant." Rife mimicked, "Can I help you?" Skulduggery passed him and Valkyrie took over. "He really hates me."
"He doesn't hate you, really." She tried, "He just doesn't like you, that's all. There's a difference." She looked at his bandaged hand, "Oh, you got it fixed, good." She looked back at Skulduggery who waited for her, "I should go, bye." She walked to Skulduggery and they cornered right.
"You really don't like him," Valkyrie asked Skulduggery, "don't you."
"He could have been wrong."
"So? You could've been too." he fell silent and she smiled, "That shut you up."
"Should we worry about Maladroit?" Skulduggery finally asked.
"Depends, I mean we might as well. Unstable, has little control, etcetera, etcetera. Plus we have nothing else to do."
Ghastly tapped Vendetta's shoulder to get her attention. She turned and smiled. "Vendetta, here.", He handed her a paper-wrapped object tied with red twine. She didn't wait to open it, she tore away the paper and found her new clothes. Vendetta grinned bigger and walked to a closet to change.
Her waistcoat was black with a hairline fracture pattern in red. Instead of the classic skinny jeans, she had faded-black khakis that had plenty of pockets and it ended above her ankles. The shoes were simple sneakers with good tread. And her tunic was a simple black. Vendetta headed back to Ghastly and he smiled, quite happy with himself.
"So?" He asked, "What do you think?" she smiled with two thumbs up, "Good." Vendetta nodded and cornered back to the closet.
Vendetta looked at herself in a mirror and frowned a little. Shadows danced from her fingers and hashed only the outer fabric. Vendetta 'mouthed' a giggle when Ghastly saw what she did.
"How the hell did you manage that?" she let shadows play with her shagged hair.
Rife examined Vendetta's outfit as she walked by.
You like?, she quickly wrote down
"Much" He sounded better which she liked.
Skulduggery and Valkyrie circled back around towards them.
"Rife?", Valkyrie started, "We need to know what exactly happened between you and Maladroit."
"From yesterday?" His smiled faded.
"Actually, since you two met." Valkyrie said.
"Will Pleasant be there too?" Rife asked and crossed his arms.
"No."
"No?" Skulduggery echoed, confused.
"Yes, no you can't. You'll just be at each others throat in you're in the same room for more than five minutes." He shrugged and Rife smiled.
"Fine, I'll do it."