Skulduggery had forgotten how insistent Fletcher could be. In fact, he'd forgotten just how silly the boy's hair looked, as well. Still, there was something oddly satisfying about watching Gabe answer his questions so patiently - as if that, more than anything, would finally convince Fletcher to not only believe that Gabe was an Archangel, but to be much more quiet about his process of acceptance. So far, it seemed to be working.
But just like Gabe had turned his attention to more important matters, Skulduggery did as well; the detective cocked his head at the reply. "Really? That... I'll be honest, that makes things a mite bit more complicated."
Even Gabe had never encountered anything quite like a Faceless One before, much less one that had latched onto him as they left the Faceless Ones' reality. After a bit of thought, Skulduggery decided to revise his estimated time of recovery. To what, he wasn't sure, but they should probably give it at least a few weeks, just to be safe.
"I assume there isn't anywhere in England Guild wouldn't be able to reach?" Skulduggery asked Tanith, who had been standing quietly in the back for far too long. She jumped at the sound of her name, but recovered quickly with a sheepish grin.
"Probably not. The British Sanctuary certainly wouldn't try to stop Guild, and..." She let out a long, slow breath. "They would... ask too many questions."
Skulduggery nodded. That would be the case no matter where they went, unfortunately. "Are we still in contact with China?"
"She hasn't been much help," said Ghastly, "but technically, yes."
Skulduggery had been half expecting his friend to object, so the straight answer surprised him. Ghastly had never been too fond of going to China for help, no matter how desperate the circumstances; not that Skulduggery could blame him. But while Ghastly was a noble idealist, Skulduggery was much more of a pragmatist, and he used every resource at his disposal, regardless of how trustworthy they were. At any rate, it seemed as if her unexpected help at Aranmore Farm had mellowed Ghastly's opinion of her somewhat.
If anyone knew where to hide from the Sanctuary for long periods of time, it would be China Sorrows. Skulduggery sighed. "She doesn't know about me yet, does she?"
"None of us have told her." Ghastly smiled wryly. "Of course, that doesn't mean she doesn't already know."
Good point. Skulduggery had never asked China where or how she got half of her information, and he was still of the opinion that the less he knew in that regard, the better. The detective filed her as an option away for now, and focused on the immediate problem of getting to Kenspeckle's lab while attracting the least amount of attention possible.
"Valkyrie, call ahead," he ordered. "Tell Kenspeckle to expect us. It's probably for the best if you don't mention myself or Gabe right away." Skulduggery's lack of a cell phone was really starting to bother him, but that wasn't an immediate priority. What was an immediate priority was the location of his car, but with a great deal of reluctance, Skulduggery managed to push that thought to the back of his mind.
"Can you walk?" he asked Gabriel. "Do you need help?"
no subject
But just like Gabe had turned his attention to more important matters, Skulduggery did as well; the detective cocked his head at the reply. "Really? That... I'll be honest, that makes things a mite bit more complicated."
Even Gabe had never encountered anything quite like a Faceless One before, much less one that had latched onto him as they left the Faceless Ones' reality. After a bit of thought, Skulduggery decided to revise his estimated time of recovery. To what, he wasn't sure, but they should probably give it at least a few weeks, just to be safe.
"I assume there isn't anywhere in England Guild wouldn't be able to reach?" Skulduggery asked Tanith, who had been standing quietly in the back for far too long. She jumped at the sound of her name, but recovered quickly with a sheepish grin.
"Probably not. The British Sanctuary certainly wouldn't try to stop Guild, and..." She let out a long, slow breath. "They would... ask too many questions."
Skulduggery nodded. That would be the case no matter where they went, unfortunately. "Are we still in contact with China?"
"She hasn't been much help," said Ghastly, "but technically, yes."
Skulduggery had been half expecting his friend to object, so the straight answer surprised him. Ghastly had never been too fond of going to China for help, no matter how desperate the circumstances; not that Skulduggery could blame him. But while Ghastly was a noble idealist, Skulduggery was much more of a pragmatist, and he used every resource at his disposal, regardless of how trustworthy they were. At any rate, it seemed as if her unexpected help at Aranmore Farm had mellowed Ghastly's opinion of her somewhat.
If anyone knew where to hide from the Sanctuary for long periods of time, it would be China Sorrows. Skulduggery sighed. "She doesn't know about me yet, does she?"
"None of us have told her." Ghastly smiled wryly. "Of course, that doesn't mean she doesn't already know."
Good point. Skulduggery had never asked China where or how she got half of her information, and he was still of the opinion that the less he knew in that regard, the better. The detective filed her as an option away for now, and focused on the immediate problem of getting to Kenspeckle's lab while attracting the least amount of attention possible.
"Valkyrie, call ahead," he ordered. "Tell Kenspeckle to expect us. It's probably for the best if you don't mention myself or Gabe right away." Skulduggery's lack of a cell phone was really starting to bother him, but that wasn't an immediate priority. What was an immediate priority was the location of his car, but with a great deal of reluctance, Skulduggery managed to push that thought to the back of his mind.
"Can you walk?" he asked Gabriel. "Do you need help?"