Anton was the next to sit, as casually as the other two but without either Skulduggery's inherent elegance (Anton hadn't been born into nobility) or Sanguine's irreverence. Anton was the owner of this establishment, and the way he sat was with the intimate ease of that ownership.
"He cannot harm you," Anton corrected. That was different to 'not being able to do anything'. "I stand by my rules, Sanguine. If Skulduggery tries to harm you, I'll fight on your behalf. But if you do indeed intend to steal one of the Remnants, then we have a problem."
He wasn't going to comment on the banter, but he took it in. When the cowboy said 'friend', did he mean Skulduggery's guest or Professor Kenspeckle? Either way, the Texan was likely talking about Dusk. That didn't put either of them in a good position, regardless of whom he was referring to.
~~~
Ah. Now this was more what Solomon had expected from any subsequent meetings with Valkyrie. The ex-Necromancer nodded to himself, but didn't move his gaze from the window, his fingers moving over the head of the cane as if to reassure himself.
This one was mundane. Dangerous, but mundane. It wouldn't betray him.
"I taught you Necromancy," he said softly, "and it infected you. Like a ..." Without his consciously wanting it, his face came up to brush his cheek while he remembered the way it had clung to her, shrouding her face. "It was like a shadow. Or a virus. Or a ... a parasite. Stifling what light you had."
What had he looked like? His hand moved to his chest, pressing against it to feel the pound of his heart, just a little too quick. If he could have looked at his own soul in the mirror, how dark would he have been?
no subject
"He cannot harm you," Anton corrected. That was different to 'not being able to do anything'. "I stand by my rules, Sanguine. If Skulduggery tries to harm you, I'll fight on your behalf. But if you do indeed intend to steal one of the Remnants, then we have a problem."
He wasn't going to comment on the banter, but he took it in. When the cowboy said 'friend', did he mean Skulduggery's guest or Professor Kenspeckle? Either way, the Texan was likely talking about Dusk. That didn't put either of them in a good position, regardless of whom he was referring to.
~~~
Ah. Now this was more what Solomon had expected from any subsequent meetings with Valkyrie. The ex-Necromancer nodded to himself, but didn't move his gaze from the window, his fingers moving over the head of the cane as if to reassure himself.
This one was mundane. Dangerous, but mundane. It wouldn't betray him.
"I taught you Necromancy," he said softly, "and it infected you. Like a ..." Without his consciously wanting it, his face came up to brush his cheek while he remembered the way it had clung to her, shrouding her face. "It was like a shadow. Or a virus. Or a ... a parasite. Stifling what light you had."
What had he looked like? His hand moved to his chest, pressing against it to feel the pound of his heart, just a little too quick. If he could have looked at his own soul in the mirror, how dark would he have been?
How dark would he still be?