The town of Haggard showed no signs of distress or suspicion as Skulduggery and Valkyrie rolled through the streets in the Bentley. As much as she had hoped to forget about the previous night, Valkyrie kept trying to find some flicker of an image of her attacker yet came to no conclusion. To say she was worried is an exaggeration. In fact, Valkyrie wasn't fearful whatsoever, whoever attacked her did it like a coward and she would be afraid of no such person.

"Package," Skulduggery announced, pulling Valkyrie out of her thoughts as he dropped a heavy package on her lap.

Valkyrie pointed at the bag like it was a bomb, "I didn't order anything."

"I 'ordered' it for you," Skulduggery replied. "This will help in any situation whether you're winning or losing. Ghastly Bespoke makes the finest garments while creating pieces that will protect your body in combat."

Valkyrie's eyes narrowed. "And just how did you know my size, hm? I swear if this is going to be like wearing a sack I will kill you."

"I already told you, he doesn't need to take the measurements."

"I also didn't believe you. Besides, we saw him a few days ago and you said he works fast…"

Skulduggery shrugged. "He wanted to be sure of your measurements, so he waited for the ball last night before making them."

Skulduggery knew it was a lie and lying to Valkyrie wasn't something he felt comfortable with. He was earning her trust after all. On the other hand, he also didn't want to tell her that Ghastly hadn't wanted to make clothes in fear she may have turned out bad.

"Well, when I see him I'll have to thank him," she softened. Upon opening the bag, the first thing that caught her eye was the blackest of black fabric with blood red stitching. This, she thought, is cool. As she pulled them out, each garment seemed heavier than the next. These clothes were clearly a major advantage.

XxXxX

Valkyrie had decided to go to her parents' house since there was nothing to do in the town. When she entered the living room, her little sister was stacking wooden blocks on top of one another. Though the blocks were colourless and plain, Valkyrie wished she knew what Alice was learning by doing this activity. Seeing Alice always gave her a sense of dread. What if she grew up to find magic at her fingertips? Or what if she somehow caught Valkyrie using her own magic? Those kinds of questions always bounced around her brain, though every time she had to remind herself that Alice was still an infant and there were many years to come before any magic were to occur.

"Oh!" Melissa jumped. "You scared me! I didn't hear you come home."

"What can I say?" Valkyrie replied, "I'm a ninja."

"That you are," her mum laughed. "Staying for dinner?"

"Sure," Valkyrie agreed.

XxXxX

Skulduggery reluctantly decided it was time to pay China Sorrows a visit. As he ascended the stairs of the rundown building to the floor he knew would be completely clean and opulent. At the top of the stairs, the bodyguard at the front of the door didn't speak but instead moved aside immediately. It's not like there are many living skeletons you need ask for identification.

China sat at one of the tables in the centre of the library skimming through a large, leather-bound book. She didn't even look up when she said, "Skulduggery, what a lovely surprise."

"China," he replied.

"So, what brings you here today?" China finally raised her ice-blue eyes to Skulduggery and smiled. Her kindness was a well-practiced act and Skulduggery knew from experience not to trust her.

"I wanted to know if you've heard anything surrounding a young, female sorcerer."

"This wouldn't be about a Miss Valkyrie Cain, would it?"

"Of course, you know about her," Skulduggery muttered. "Yes, it is about Valkyrie. Her freelance work has gotten some attention as of late and she was just recently attacked in her own home. Do you have any leads on specific sorcerers who might be interested in her?"

"Not enemies, but I heard you have a particular interest in her," China smiled without warmth or sincerity.

"She's very good at what she does –"

"How so? If she was attacked in her own home I can't imagine she's anything exceptional," China interrupted.

"China, I am here for some information you may or may not have. I am, however, not here to listen to you warped opinion on a girl you don't know. So, if you have nothing then I'll just be on my way."

Skulduggery turned on his heel toward the exit when she spoke up. "When I heard there was a hit out on Valkyrie Cain I immediately thought it might have been the sanctuary. I know about what they asked you to do. You were to determine her capabilities and report back your thoughts on her behaviour. To my understanding, you weren't told to appoint her as your new little guinea pig."

"Seriously China, I'm here on business. If you have nothing, then you're wasting my time."

China continued as if he hadn't spoken. "I assume they don't know about her working with you, so my thoughts remained with the sanctuary wanting a hit on her. That was until this morning when a couple of sorcerers came into my library. I heard them mention Cain and how she's this mysterious woman fighting crime," China said as she rolled her eyes. "At first, I thought nothing of it until they mentioned Sanguine."

Skulduggery's balled his fists and flexed them straight again. "I knew it," he said through gritted teeth.

"Hold on," China replied calmly. "Sanguine had been in a bar when Skulduggery Pleasant walked in with a girl everyone had been talking about. That's what caught my attention. It was what came after that was even more interesting. There's a bounty on her head. Whoever kills her or brings her in wins a prize. I imagine it's a cash prize."

"Why do they want her so bad?"

"You said it yourself, she's good at what she does I suppose. I assume they don't like her fighting their own criminal kind and want to eliminate her, but what I do know is Sanguine is awfully fond of her."

Skulduggery ignored that part. "Who do you think is spurring this on? There has to be a ringleader in all of this."

China shrugged her shoulders once and said, "That is exactly what I'm wondering."

"If you hear anything can you just please contact me? For once just forget your own opinion of someone and help me," Skulduggery's tone was serious.

"I give you my word if I find information I'll contact you but tell me one thing. You took her to the ball, she has met Ghastly and befriended Tanith Low, are you sure she should be getting this far into your world? Do you really know her enough and trust her to be loyal?" China's icy eyes narrowed on Skulduggery.

"Yes, I do."

"I'm just saying, if she turns against you she has all of this information and people at her fingertips. You're fond of her, I can see it, but just don't let your judgement become clouded by charm."

Skulduggery laughed humorlessly. "You're telling someone not to be clouded by charm? China, your existence revolves around using people with your charm. I am not stupid enough to fall for it. I trust the girl and trust isn't something I easily give. She won't turn on us but if she did walk away, she wouldn't be unfair about it."

China replied with a sure nod, agreeing to trust his response. He seemed sure of his opinion of her and she would have to trust Skulduggery's opinion.

XxXxX

On the way back to Haggard, Skulduggery's head was full of questions and thoughts. So far, China and Ghastly had both questioned Valkyrie's reliability. While he knew it was fair to question someone's intentions if they didn't know the person, he didn't understand why they both don't seem to trust him when he gave his judgment. He was going to enjoy the day they realise exactly what he saw in her the day he spoke to her. Valkyrie was a strong, independent and reliable girl. However, these were also things he couldn't focus on until he figured out what was going on with this bounty? Who was leading all of it? Skulduggery did know one thing, he was going to have to consult the sanctuary.