Skulduggery nodded. He wasn't happy with it, not in the least; but the feeling of victory hadn't quite faded yet, and he was determined to make that last as long as possible. Facts. Valkyrie made a mistake, but at least she'd known how to stay alive. She was still alive. Gabe had strained himself saving her, but at least he didn't disappear, or die, or Fall. At least he could still walk, even while needing the extra support.
And Gabriel was right. Skulduggery did prefer it this way. It was good to see that the Archangel was finally starting to listen.
"Detainment," he answered. "Guild will likely be held in a Gaol until trial. The trial itself should be fairly quick, and then he's looking at 200 years."
"It's not fair," said Valkyrie.
"No. It's not. But it's how Guild wants to pay for it. He might even be safer in prison. Or he will be, once word of this gets out. Are you sure you're both alright?"
"Yeah," Valkyrie nodded somberly. "We're fine. We'll be fine. It's kind of hard to care about yourself when..." she gestured towards where Guild's family had disappeared after the Grand Mage - or, Skulduggery corrected himself, the former Grand Mage.
He could understand Valkyrie's feelings. It wasn't fair for Guild to go to prison for the murder of one man, particularly when he didn't even commit the murder himself. In contrast, Skulduggery had. Nonstop for five years. Yet he walked free. Valkyrie may not have said any of it out loud, but she must have been thinking it. Which made her next words all the more confusing, right after she turned abruptly to Fletcher.
"I think we should start dating."
If Skulduggery was still wearing Gabe's skin, he'd be blinking. Fletcher didn't blink; his face didn't move at all, that little smirk frozen neatly in place. It looked like it took considerable effort for the Teleporter to form words. "You what?"
no subject
And Gabriel was right. Skulduggery did prefer it this way. It was good to see that the Archangel was finally starting to listen.
"Detainment," he answered. "Guild will likely be held in a Gaol until trial. The trial itself should be fairly quick, and then he's looking at 200 years."
"It's not fair," said Valkyrie.
"No. It's not. But it's how Guild wants to pay for it. He might even be safer in prison. Or he will be, once word of this gets out. Are you sure you're both alright?"
"Yeah," Valkyrie nodded somberly. "We're fine. We'll be fine. It's kind of hard to care about yourself when..." she gestured towards where Guild's family had disappeared after the Grand Mage - or, Skulduggery corrected himself, the former Grand Mage.
He could understand Valkyrie's feelings. It wasn't fair for Guild to go to prison for the murder of one man, particularly when he didn't even commit the murder himself. In contrast, Skulduggery had. Nonstop for five years. Yet he walked free. Valkyrie may not have said any of it out loud, but she must have been thinking it. Which made her next words all the more confusing, right after she turned abruptly to Fletcher.
"I think we should start dating."
If Skulduggery was still wearing Gabe's skin, he'd be blinking. Fletcher didn't blink; his face didn't move at all, that little smirk frozen neatly in place. It looked like it took considerable effort for the Teleporter to form words. "You what?"