"I think I should take offense about compensation issues," Ghastly murmured as they approached the iron door in the alleyway. "Earth saved my life. I'm feeling rather grateful for it at the moment."
Skulduggery nodded. "We've never mastered Earth because most Elementals don't bother to learn. When you have months of nothing to do and nothing to look forward to, you start experimenting."
"Experimenting?" Valkyrie glanced over. "Experimenting with what?"
"Earth."
He didn't say anything else while they took the steps slowly down underground, but he didn't have to. Valkyrie knew what he meant. Skulduggery was talking about his year with the Faceless Ones. He'd tried to use the earth power to turn himself to stone. It made sense - pass the torture in the blink of an eye without any pain whatsoever. Only it wouldn't have worked, because the Faceless Ones were probably more than capable of speeding up that time. Or ceasing the ability altogether. Or even making him aware of the time and hurting him regardless.
Skulduggery probably tried multiple times before giving up.
But since no other Elemental had the luxury of time or ability to practice, Skulduggery currently had way more experience than any other Elemental alive. Which implied that he'd taught himself a new trick.
Valkyrie waited until they were all at the bottom of the stairs, and Solomon wasn't in any more danger of falling, before she turned back to Skulduggery. "You mean you can manipulate Earth now?"
"To an extent. Nothing grand. If I'd had a little more time," he added with what sounded remarkably like wistfulness but couldn't be, "I might have learned how to fly. Alas, I don't get vacation time without a torture package."
Valkyrie stared. "You want Gabe to have waited a month?"
"Good God, no. I'm just saying extra time would have been useful." Skulduggery's head tilted. "Are you alright, Solomon?"
For the first time since they stopped at the beginning of the hallway carvings, Valkyrie realised Solomon hadn't moved. His head was down, hand still on the wall for balance, and she nervously stepped closer to him.
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Skulduggery nodded. "We've never mastered Earth because most Elementals don't bother to learn. When you have months of nothing to do and nothing to look forward to, you start experimenting."
"Experimenting?" Valkyrie glanced over. "Experimenting with what?"
"Earth."
He didn't say anything else while they took the steps slowly down underground, but he didn't have to. Valkyrie knew what he meant. Skulduggery was talking about his year with the Faceless Ones. He'd tried to use the earth power to turn himself to stone. It made sense - pass the torture in the blink of an eye without any pain whatsoever. Only it wouldn't have worked, because the Faceless Ones were probably more than capable of speeding up that time. Or ceasing the ability altogether. Or even making him aware of the time and hurting him regardless.
Skulduggery probably tried multiple times before giving up.
But since no other Elemental had the luxury of time or ability to practice, Skulduggery currently had way more experience than any other Elemental alive. Which implied that he'd taught himself a new trick.
Valkyrie waited until they were all at the bottom of the stairs, and Solomon wasn't in any more danger of falling, before she turned back to Skulduggery. "You mean you can manipulate Earth now?"
"To an extent. Nothing grand. If I'd had a little more time," he added with what sounded remarkably like wistfulness but couldn't be, "I might have learned how to fly. Alas, I don't get vacation time without a torture package."
Valkyrie stared. "You want Gabe to have waited a month?"
"Good God, no. I'm just saying extra time would have been useful." Skulduggery's head tilted. "Are you alright, Solomon?"
For the first time since they stopped at the beginning of the hallway carvings, Valkyrie realised Solomon hadn't moved. His head was down, hand still on the wall for balance, and she nervously stepped closer to him.