When Ghastly had first turned up at his door two days ago, the very last thing Corrival had expected was that he'd wind up not only covering up for Lord Vile (which he didn't mind nearly as much as he should have) but essentially taking over the Sanctuary in the wake of the attack and Guild's arrest (which he very, very much did). So when Ghastly's phone call came in, he found himself viciously delighted that he got someone to yell at. At this rate he might even forgive Ghastly before Christmas.
'Missing person problem' was Gabriel, of course. And the only solution to finding an Archangel caught in a magical explosion was another Archangel. Therefore ...
"Hand me over," he told Ghastly, and waited a beat for the phone to change hands. Or rather, for the speakerphone to clunk on. He heard the in-drawn breath of someone preparing to talk and cut in before they could. "Delafonte Mien. Ghastly tells me that not only are you refusing to cooperate, you're lying through your teeth. Two men appeared in the basement of your Gaol."
"Sir--"
"I'm not asking if that's right or not, Mien, I know it is. You are going to let Valkyrie and the others meet with those two men. And then you are going to let them escort those men out of that Gaol."
"But--"
"That was not a request, Mien. Did Guild know about these men?"
"I--"
"No? I figured as much. You've always been interested in shunting ever since that idiot during the war who tried to yank Mevolent into another dimension. Yes, I remember that. I'm the one who had to do the paperwork when he exploded."
"You're--"
"Right now I'm close enough to the boss of you to order you to wear a damned tea-cosy and nothing else if I wanted to, Mien. And when whoever becomes Grand Mage becomes Grand Mage, if you don't obey me this very minute, I will make very sure they know how many rules you broke to keep this secret. Have I made myself clear?"
Delafonte swallowed, aware that he was sweating and unable to help it. Corrival Deuce had always been a terrifying son of a bitch, back then. Apparently he still was. Even over the phone. "Yes sir."
"Good. Now let me get back to my God-damned work of holding the Irish Sanctuary together." The phone clicked off. For a moment there was silence in which Delafonte didn't look anyone in the eyes. Then:
no subject
'Missing person problem' was Gabriel, of course. And the only solution to finding an Archangel caught in a magical explosion was another Archangel. Therefore ...
"Hand me over," he told Ghastly, and waited a beat for the phone to change hands. Or rather, for the speakerphone to clunk on. He heard the in-drawn breath of someone preparing to talk and cut in before they could. "Delafonte Mien. Ghastly tells me that not only are you refusing to cooperate, you're lying through your teeth. Two men appeared in the basement of your Gaol."
"Sir--"
"I'm not asking if that's right or not, Mien, I know it is. You are going to let Valkyrie and the others meet with those two men. And then you are going to let them escort those men out of that Gaol."
"But--"
"That was not a request, Mien. Did Guild know about these men?"
"I--"
"No? I figured as much. You've always been interested in shunting ever since that idiot during the war who tried to yank Mevolent into another dimension. Yes, I remember that. I'm the one who had to do the paperwork when he exploded."
"You're--"
"Right now I'm close enough to the boss of you to order you to wear a damned tea-cosy and nothing else if I wanted to, Mien. And when whoever becomes Grand Mage becomes Grand Mage, if you don't obey me this very minute, I will make very sure they know how many rules you broke to keep this secret. Have I made myself clear?"
Delafonte swallowed, aware that he was sweating and unable to help it. Corrival Deuce had always been a terrifying son of a bitch, back then. Apparently he still was. Even over the phone. "Yes sir."
"Good. Now let me get back to my God-damned work of holding the Irish Sanctuary together." The phone clicked off. For a moment there was silence in which Delafonte didn't look anyone in the eyes. Then:
'Saucer of milk, table two. Mreow.'