Chapter 126

Solomon had to take a taxi home, and while the driver followed the great laws of Ireland, she sped on ahead just as Tanith had taught her.

At the mansion, Valkyrie parked the bike right by the front steps and left the helmet on the seat since it was a very blue-skied day and didn't look as if it would rain. Apparently it would storm that night, or that's what the radio had said that morning, but for now it was a nice day.

Solomon had to be five or ten minutes behind Valkyrie, so she decided to forewarn the others. In the front entrance, Valkyrie merely whistled loudly and it barely took a moment for the men to rush from all corners of the house towards her. Tanith and Nadia came right behind the men with frowns.

"Damn," Dexter cursed. "Who taught you that?"

"Pa," Valkyrie smirked. "He said he did that to 'bring you forth', and I figured it would still work after a hundred years."

"I feel manipulated," Saracen grinned and they all went into the parlour living room.

"That's conditioning for you."

Valkyrie put an arm around Nadia, hugging her from the side. Nadia looked up at her a little confused, which was understandable because Valkyrie had said she'd come back with Solomon and had turned up happy without him.

"Do you have news?" Anton asked from his chair.

"I found Solomon," she announced to the room, taking her seat with Nadia. "He'll be here in a few minutes, decided the bike was too dangerous for him."

Tanith grinned. "You mean my bike."

"Actually, I've taken it from you," Valkyrie told her sweetly.

"Oh, have you now?"

"Yes. It's mine and you can't have it. I will be teaching your child to ride it in the near future," Valkyrie grinned.

Tanith shrugged. "Sounds good to me. I'll get an upgrade."

"As lovely as this is, I'd like to know what's going to happen with Solomon," Anton put in with a small smile of his own.

"Nothing's going on with him. He was released this morning and he went to Ghastly's house because it was the nearest to the hospital and he didn't know what's been going on these last few weeks. Ghastly had been telling him when I got there, and I updated them both on some outdated information and when Ghastly got upset, he stormed off and Solomon said he'd follow me home. Well, he argued about the bike first, but he'll be here in the next few minutes."

They all nodded slowly. "How is he?" Erskine asked in a small voice.

"Quiet," Valkyrie admitted. "A little slower? I think he's just taking a little longer to take things in, but he talks the same, acts the same, uses magic. He's the same man as before. I think it's all just very overwhelming to have all the change and bad things happen to him in the last few months."

He nodded and Dexter put an arm around his shoulder. "Did he mention…?"

"We didn't talk about that," Valkyrie told him, referring to the torture. "I just updated him on what I know, nothing else. We spoke about Skulduggery and he was obviously upset over him, but he was ready to come with me here, so I don't think he's going to be running after him or anything. Skulduggery was honest about one thing, Solomon didn't know anything about any of this. He's just the victim."

Erskine nodded quickly and took a deep breath. "That's good."

"We'll be there for him," Dexter said quietly, looking at the ground.

"I imagine he'd like that," Valkyrie smiled softly, and saw the taxi stop right outside the property gate. "He's here now. Look, I know I shouldn't need to say this, but don't harass him and don't annoy him. He needs time."

"We know Cub," Saracen stopped her. "This isn't our first rodeo you know."

"I'm not a rodeo," Erskine glared.

Saracen grinned and began saying something about a bucking horse before Dexter smacked him and the front door opened. A moment later it closed and Solomon walked around the corner looking for all the world as if nothing bad had ever happened to him.

"Good afternoon," he nodded to the room, going around the sofa and sitting on Valkyrie's other side. The room had rearranged itself. Skulduggery's chair had been removed by someone, and the sofa's had moved in a U shape around a large square coffee table. There were two spare chairs by the fireplace for reading, but the main area was for talking, looking out the window and being a family.

It was nice, and homey which Valkyrie liked too. But, because of the recent events and changes, the seating plan had changed. Erskine, Saracen and Dexter sat together on one long sofa, Anton and Tanith sat on the loveseat alone opposite those three, and Nadia and Solomon sat on either side of Valkyrie on the middle on the U sofa layout. It felt easier to see everyone, or maybe it was because there were two fewer people to look at. When – or if, Valkyrie said firmly in her head – Ghastly and Skulduggery returned, it would actually mess up the seating plan. Something in her mind, completely separate from the situation at hand, clicked in her mind and she realised it was time to update her home to their new lives. She was sure Nadia would enjoy that given their conversation yesterday.

"Tanith," Solomon said when he had sat. "How have you been?"

"I'm alright," Tanith said almost nervously. "Stressed, I supposed, but I'm getting more excited for the baby to be here."

"I'm glad," Solomon smiled, and Tanith seemed to relax, finally taking in that Solomon was the same person as he was before, separate from the dramas of the last month. An innocent man. "Anton, have you recovered from your injuries? I wasn't given much information on what's happened to you."

"I will be fine soon," Anton revealed. That was news to Valkyrie – she assumed he was well already. Another note for later. "How about yourself?"

Solomon was quiet for a moment and lent forwards and back very slightly a few times before answering. "I've been better and worse. Valkyrie was gracious enough to allow me to live back here, so I'm sure I'll have enough to keep myself occupied. For one, I need to find a new object."

"Oh yeah," Erskine said suddenly and got up. He walked over to the mantelpiece above the fireplace and picked up the small black thing. "Here." He threw the thing and Solomon was still fast enough to catch it. "It's the jewel that was on top of your cane."

"Oh, so it is," Solomon smiled. After a slow moment of considering it, he looked up. "Thank you. My mother gave me this when I first joined Necromancy. I was worried I'd never see it again."

Saracen shrugged. "It looked important."

"It is. Thank you," he said and pocketed the trinket.

"It's fine," Dexter said, looking a little guilty. Valkyrie assumed he hadn't been in favour of keeping it. "Solomon, would you like some lunch? We were just making some…"

"I think so," he said, standing up. Everyone in the room did the same and they went quietly over into the kitchen, Nadia and Solomon sticking close to Valkyrie. It was a little strange to be boarder by her loved ones, but she could understand. There was still a little tension as they all wondered what was okay to mention and what was off limits. Valkyrie was downright curious about what the Spider's army was like, what Craven was doing, what the place was like, but she knew she couldn't really ask about that.

Plus, her head kept going straight back to redoing the house and she was struggling to stay focused. It was a fun idea!

Slapping herself internally, Valkyrie decided to step up and started asking people what they wanted and needed, and it wasn't long before they were all gathering food, plates and different things together and taking it all to the informal kitchen table to squeeze around like children. Tanith especially looked a bit squished, but she had a big smile on her face, and it really did feel as if a weight had fallen from her family's shoulder now this member was back.

"What time do you leave?" Nadia asked when there was a lull in lunch conversation.

"What's happening?" Valkyrie asked, looking at Tanith in the assumption it was a baby thing.

"The Sanctuary called an emergency meeting while you were out," Dexter said.

"We're voting on the new administration and the new building," Erskine continued. "Meritorious and Pa will be there, and all Irish mages are invited."

"Oh damn," Tanith joked sarcastically. "Guess I'll just sit comfortably at home with no boring politics."

Valkyrie tutted. "I have to go, don't I?"

"You're one of five remaining Head's," Dexter pointed out. "I think Pa would kill you if you didn't come."

"So are we just filling in the other Head spaces and the building? I don't think we're really needed for that," Valkyrie said, buttering some bread. "I mean, I don't care who works the phones. I just kick people's asses."

"Think of it as a government vote," Anton told her. "It's not enjoyed, but it is expected. And you have no right to complain if you weren't there to vote on the next leaders."

Valkyrie grumbled but didn't have much choice in any of it apparently, so she went along with the Dead Men. She brought Nadia along too, although she looked nervous, and she understood why – Nadia's parents could turn up. Solomon decided to stay back with Tanith and Saracen, who refused to go outright.

Without Ghastly's van, they had to take a car. The men went in that while Valkyrie coerced Nadia onto obviously-Valkyrie's-Bike. Nadia claimed it was a stupid name, but once she had the helmet on Valkyrie could only see an extremely tiny girl in a massive helmet and all her complaints became adorable. Something in Valkyrie's brain couldn't work when she saw Nadia being cute, that much was apparent. Once they were on the bike it was a slow ride over to the temporary Sanctuary.

That temporary Sanctuary was just a hall, really, in the middle of nowhere on a dirt road. Nadia had let her drive faster the further they went, so they were there a little before the car, but there were a lot of vehicles around looking very conspicuous. After helping Nadia off the bike and setting their helmets down, Valkyrie took her hand and they went into the Sanctuary.

In the double doors, the room was exactly as Valkyrie expected – literally a large room with a small kitchen area at the back with a window for passing tea and coffee through. Just an average Irish community hall. Boring, plain, nothing to it, but in the middle of nowhere which was the idea Valkyrie supposed. Squeezing Nadia's hand, they went directly to Pa.

"Elder Deuce," Valkyrie smiled.

"Detective Cain," he said deeply, his eyes narrowed on her slightly but a turning up at the mouth. "You haven't come to see me about the case you took from under the Dead Men's feet."

"I've been investigating independently for the last few days. I sent a group out this morning to search the Temple, but it ended up being unnecessary."

"Yes, one man in particular came to tell me about it," he growled. "I expect you to keep a closer grip over them from now on. Finding Skulduggery is my business. His pathetic hatred towards you is not."

"I'll do my best to kerb his anger," Valkyrie shrugged. "The others will be here in a moment. Do you know if Nadia's parents are coming?"

"This is an open invitation," he explained, his shoulders lowering slightly when he looked at Nadia. "I wish to apologise for my reaction at the hospital some weeks ago. It was not appropriate, nor right of me to become so angry. I should have used my sense faster."

"That's okay," Nadia said, smiling up at him. She was squeezing Valkyrie hand nervously. "It's probably stressful being an Elder, and this is your family and all."

"Thank you, Miss Robin," he said quietly. "It hasn't been the happiest time of my life, no. But when we have the new Sanctuary set up, I think we can move on from a lot of the damage."

"I hope so," she agreed more confidently.

Just then, the others came in with their serious faces on. In fact, only Anton looked calm, but that was the scariest thing about Anton for other people – they couldn't see if he was angry or not until his gist was out. Valkyrie knew the little signs, but even then, she could see why someone might fear Anton.

"I see you made it, but no Rue," Corrival commented as Meritorious marched over. "Eachan. Are we ready to begin?"

"Not until four," he whispered back. "Valkyrie. Welcome back. I hope you're working swiftly on finding Skulduggery?"

"Already begun. I located and brought home Solomon earlier today but I still need to ask him if he has ideas on Skulduggery. He still needs time to recover mentally and I don't want to push."

"Just keep me informed on the big things," he said quickly, looking around and straightening his robes. "Bring Mr Wreath in for questioning when he's of sound mind."

"I know, it's on the list," she said. "I'll be talking to the prior team to find out everything they already know and finish loose ends, I was just working independently for a new perspective. I have it covered Grand Mage."

"I hope so," he muttered without moving his lips, smiling and waving to someone else. Tipstaff came over to them with a clipboard and the doors were closed some way behind them moments later.

"It's time, sirs," he whispered to the Elders. The Dead Men and family stood back a few paces to give them room.

"Thank you for joining us on short notice," Meritorious began immediately and the room shut up. "I understand we are still struggling with the loss of so many colleagues and friends, and without the use of our former Sanctuary, but with all the pressures of recent events, I'm sure we'll all agree to move onto the point of this meeting. We need to choose and immediately relocate to a new Sanctuary to prove the strength of Ireland before others move in to threaten us. I open the floor to suggestions."

"Waxwork museum!" Someone shouted immediately. It was the woman apart of the Four Elementals, the one that made them a group of five, and also not an elemental. She looked annoyed. "We didn't need to move yet anyway."

"Bulldozed," Corrival said back firmly. "Developers in Dublin wanted the building, and we couldn't risk it being found. We raised the building and removed the Sanctuary last year."

There were some mutterings, and then another hand raised. "Build a new place, like the Indonesian Sanctuary."

"We do not have the time," Meritorious countered. "We need a building at least, and away from the cities with the Spider's threatening to bring war."

There was a lot of muttering for a moment, but then Erskine made a sound next to Valkyrie. "Roarhaven," he suggested.

The room went quiet and even Valkyrie wasn't all that sure why he suggested it. Erskine hated Roarhaven. He'd been kept prisoner there for years.

"There is a Sanctuary there," Corrival said after a very long silence. "And it is away from the cities."

"The Spider's used to haunt that area," Meritorious argued immediately. "They know the layout."

"But they don't have the Sanctuary. It's at the literal opposite end of the country to their last known hideout, and they wouldn't expect us to move to Roarhaven for that exact reason," Corrival nodded, thinking hard. "As well as there simply being other… connections they wouldn't expect us to put aside."

Meritorious looked around the room and asked for other suggestions. There were some responses, but none were viable to the Elders and after a long look at each other, they nodded their heads. "We move to Roarhaven."

"What about another Elder?" Someone asked.

"We will be reviewing candidates shortly," Meritorious said diplomatically. "Now we have our building, we may begin the task of settling, and then we will find a replacement Elder. I suggest the community begins thinking up candidates for our next meeting."

There was a lot of muttering, but for the most part, there were offerings of coming to help move to the new Sanctuary considering the lack of workforce, and about specific Heads of Department. Valkyrie was confirmed Head Detective without a Co-Head, as well as First Detective, and the Dead Men were also still under the same contract as they were previously. Several workers Valkyrie recognised from the Sanctuary were appointed the missing Heads as well as a few other important positions, and by the end of the hour, it seemed the Elders were happy that everything was sorted.

The relocation was scheduled immediately, and they all exited the building, the Dead Men hanging behind. Valkyrie kissed Nadia's cheek.

"That was quick," Valkyrie whispered to Erskine.

"It usually is," he muttered back. "It's just boring. Meritorious usually does a speech at the start though."

"I figured."

"I'm glad he didn't."

"Same," Valkyrie smiled.

When the public mages had left, Valkyrie left the Dead Men and told the detectives she was in charge of that they would be having a meeting in the new Sanctuary the next day, which was agreed to easily, although she got some side-eye. Not being bothered to deal with their bad attitudes as that was the main part of tomorrow's meeting, she left it short and sweet and dismissed them to do whatever they did when they weren't doing what she said.

"Ready?" Dexter asked her, standing by the door.

"Yes," she said slowly, seeing Nadia with a nervous look and an arm around her stomach like she was sick. "Is everything okay?"

"They're here," Nadia muttered, and Valkyrie saw Nadia's parents standing in front of her motorbike, serious-faced and surrounded by mages in suits.

It's been a while! Rome was great and now I am back! It took an extra week after my week holiday because the chapter I wrote is almost eight thousand words long! You'll be glad in the future, but I'm sorry this took extra time and is a bit short.

Have a good day/afternoon/night, hope you enjoyed!

PS I love reviews, it helps motivate me to write faster :)