The sudden light made Gabe hiss and wince, one hand lifting to shade his face, and he blinked a little, dazzled. "Okay," he said, sounding a bit baffled. "I just--wasn't expecting physical light to do that. But I'll be okay."
He came to the door, standing behind Skul so that when he opened the door again the light would be less brilliant and easier to adjust to. "Did you call Valkyrie?"
~~~
At China's assent Solomon entered the apartment, feeling rather as if he would have liked a few extra moments to compose himself further. Then again, he'd been feeling like that since last night, and he would never do any better. At least he could be assured that his control was at least as good as China's--where angels weren't concerned, and weren't trying to read his mind, at least. He even managed to keep his grip on his cane from being too tight (although part of that was, admittedly, because a piece of him didn't want to be holding it at all).
"Good morning, China," he said courteously, looking her in the face as he stepped properly into the room. He had met China before, knew of her more than well enough to register the feel of her magic and then quite firmly harness it. "I apologise for the early hour," he continued, and let his cane rest on the floor, "but I found myself in urgent need of some information and you were, of course, in the forefront of my thoughts."
For a brief second he paused, wondered if he should bother with inanities, and found he didn't particularly have the serenity to do so. Straight into business, then. Perhaps it would be suspicious. Perhaps, depending on what China knew, it would be understandable. "I assume you're aware that Skulduggery Pleasant has returned." As if there was any doubt. "I don't suppose you have any information on the friend he apparently brought with him."
no subject
He came to the door, standing behind Skul so that when he opened the door again the light would be less brilliant and easier to adjust to. "Did you call Valkyrie?"
~~~
At China's assent Solomon entered the apartment, feeling rather as if he would have liked a few extra moments to compose himself further. Then again, he'd been feeling like that since last night, and he would never do any better. At least he could be assured that his control was at least as good as China's--where angels weren't concerned, and weren't trying to read his mind, at least. He even managed to keep his grip on his cane from being too tight (although part of that was, admittedly, because a piece of him didn't want to be holding it at all).
"Good morning, China," he said courteously, looking her in the face as he stepped properly into the room. He had met China before, knew of her more than well enough to register the feel of her magic and then quite firmly harness it. "I apologise for the early hour," he continued, and let his cane rest on the floor, "but I found myself in urgent need of some information and you were, of course, in the forefront of my thoughts."
For a brief second he paused, wondered if he should bother with inanities, and found he didn't particularly have the serenity to do so. Straight into business, then. Perhaps it would be suspicious. Perhaps, depending on what China knew, it would be understandable. "I assume you're aware that Skulduggery Pleasant has returned." As if there was any doubt. "I don't suppose you have any information on the friend he apparently brought with him."
It wasn't quite a question.