Valkyrie couldn't help being startled when Gabriel spoke directly to her and Fletcher. She'd been listening, but her head was still reeling from... well, everything. Skulduggery was wearing a rosary made by an Archangel. They were driving an Archangel to Kenspeckle Grouse, who had sounded pleased enough to hear Valkyrie's voice over the phone, but instantly grew sour when she said she was coming over with someone who was hurt. An Archangel had just not only basically called them all Protectors of the World, but actually praised the way they were doing it. And then he had turned right around to the two youngest people in the van and asked for their life stories.

He couldn't be an Archangel. He couldn't be. He was just too nice.

"I'm..." Quickly self-censoring your life was no mean feat, Valkyrie soon realized. She instinctively had her hands in her pockets, hiding the ring. "I'm an official detective. Skulduggery's partner. Well, back before Guild kicked us out, anyway." She was normally proud to introduce herself that way, but now, it almost felt awkward. "I met him when I was twelve."

Actually, compared to how she reacted when she was twelve, this was positively healthy. She'd had to sit down, sure, but she hadn't fainted yet.

"I was the most important person in the world last year," Fletcher announced with his usual modesty. The whole Archangel thing, Valkyrie noticed enviously, didn't even seem to faze him. "Still am, technically. I'm the world's last Teleporter."