Skulduggery turned and began walking out of the medical ward. "Now? Now, we're going to solve a mystery. If Sanguine is working for Scarab, we need to know why, and we need to know what Scarab is planning. That Engine must be very important, for him to launch a full-scale attack like this." The detective turned just before closing the door to let Gabe follow, and smiled at Guild. "Get well soon. It wouldn't look very good if you were taken out in the first attack, would it?"
Guild muttered something incomprehensible, and then suddenly tried to sit up in the bed with a resulting body-wide cringe. "When I next see you, Pleasant," he managed, "you'd better not have a face anymore."
Anywhere else, in any other circumstance, that might have been construed as a threat - or at the very least a clear indication of the person's less-than-peaceful feelings. Skulduggery decided to take it as a sign of endearment, however, and didn't lose the smile that was making Guild so uncomfortable. "You really should be used to it by now. You've had a full five minutes. It took you longer to look me in the eye when I didn't have one."
Guild looked like he might try to retaliate, and that really wouldn't be good for his health right now, so Skulduggery gently closed the door and walked on.
"Back during the war," he told Gabe as they went, launching right into an answer to the Archangel's earlier question without preamble, "there was a very prominent pacifist trying to end the fighting. Esryn Vanguard. Dreylan Scarab was an assassin working for Mevolent, and he did what assassins often do - he killed Vanguard. He was arrested for it."
Skulduggery had never tried to tell anyone about his deeper suspicions involving Vanguard's murder, partly because Scarab going to prison had given them a tactical advantage, and partly... well, mostly because at the time, brutal though it was, Skulduggery had agreed with the need for the assassination. Vanguard's speeches had been getting dangerous.
"And Sanguine..." Skulduggery stopped for a moment, and chuckled. "Billy-Ray Sanguine is an American cowboy with a unique Adept talent. You two would get along well, if he wasn't a psychopath."
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Guild muttered something incomprehensible, and then suddenly tried to sit up in the bed with a resulting body-wide cringe. "When I next see you, Pleasant," he managed, "you'd better not have a face anymore."
Anywhere else, in any other circumstance, that might have been construed as a threat - or at the very least a clear indication of the person's less-than-peaceful feelings. Skulduggery decided to take it as a sign of endearment, however, and didn't lose the smile that was making Guild so uncomfortable. "You really should be used to it by now. You've had a full five minutes. It took you longer to look me in the eye when I didn't have one."
Guild looked like he might try to retaliate, and that really wouldn't be good for his health right now, so Skulduggery gently closed the door and walked on.
"Back during the war," he told Gabe as they went, launching right into an answer to the Archangel's earlier question without preamble, "there was a very prominent pacifist trying to end the fighting. Esryn Vanguard. Dreylan Scarab was an assassin working for Mevolent, and he did what assassins often do - he killed Vanguard. He was arrested for it."
Skulduggery had never tried to tell anyone about his deeper suspicions involving Vanguard's murder, partly because Scarab going to prison had given them a tactical advantage, and partly... well, mostly because at the time, brutal though it was, Skulduggery had agreed with the need for the assassination. Vanguard's speeches had been getting dangerous.
"And Sanguine..." Skulduggery stopped for a moment, and chuckled. "Billy-Ray Sanguine is an American cowboy with a unique Adept talent. You two would get along well, if he wasn't a psychopath."