"I'll do that," Valkyrie offered. "I think I'm the only one of us he actually likes."
When Corrival put it that way, she could understand it, as opposed to Skulduggery's bomb that left her unable to do anything but stare. Maybe they had all grown a little too reliant on Gabe. Part of her wanted to ask why now, with Bliss in trouble, when just a simple step in from even one of the angels could save not only his life, but his soul. She didn't ask, though. Because she already knew the answer. If they could justify every single time they asked the angels for help like that, where would the help end? There'd always be lives to save. There would always be someone worse off. And there always had been, long before any Archangels started showing up. They'd done pretty well on their own so far.
"Does that mean I'm taking you to the Hibernian?" Fletcher asked. There was a note of relief in his voice. He'd tried to hide it, but with three soul-readers in the room, that was kind of pointless. Not to mention Valkyrie knew him well enough by now to know this was the last place in the world he'd wanted to be, because he had no idea what to do with himself. And now he had a way to be helpful, to boot. Of course he was going to be relieved. Valkyrie was relieved.
"And Solomon to China's library," Skulduggery added. "As soon as he feels up to it."
"We could round up the Cleavers in the meantime," Erskine offered. "Believe me, if we're going to be changing the Sanctuary that drastically on our first day, we want to do it as quickly as possible. Before people like Tipstaff can wonder where the Cleavers are slowly disappearing to. Confusion fallout is much easier to deal with than angry fallout."
Skulduggery made a noise that could have been a laugh. It was hard to tell. "You'll be dealing with angry fallout either way, Erskine. You'd better start coming up with a plausible story. One that also neatly explains Bliss's return, if it comes to that."
Erskine groaned and his shoulders slumped. "Of course. And that would be a whole lot easier if every sorcerer in the world wasn't currently on the lookout for 'divine figures in white,' wouldn't it?"
"No one ever said being an Elder would be easy."
"Stop enjoying this."
Skulduggery shrugged. "I'm rather looking forward to the outcome, I'll admit. It's not often we have a Council of Elders so eager to leap into action. I might even enjoy my work again."
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When Corrival put it that way, she could understand it, as opposed to Skulduggery's bomb that left her unable to do anything but stare. Maybe they had all grown a little too reliant on Gabe. Part of her wanted to ask why now, with Bliss in trouble, when just a simple step in from even one of the angels could save not only his life, but his soul. She didn't ask, though. Because she already knew the answer. If they could justify every single time they asked the angels for help like that, where would the help end? There'd always be lives to save. There would always be someone worse off. And there always had been, long before any Archangels started showing up. They'd done pretty well on their own so far.
"Does that mean I'm taking you to the Hibernian?" Fletcher asked. There was a note of relief in his voice. He'd tried to hide it, but with three soul-readers in the room, that was kind of pointless. Not to mention Valkyrie knew him well enough by now to know this was the last place in the world he'd wanted to be, because he had no idea what to do with himself. And now he had a way to be helpful, to boot. Of course he was going to be relieved. Valkyrie was relieved.
"And Solomon to China's library," Skulduggery added. "As soon as he feels up to it."
"We could round up the Cleavers in the meantime," Erskine offered. "Believe me, if we're going to be changing the Sanctuary that drastically on our first day, we want to do it as quickly as possible. Before people like Tipstaff can wonder where the Cleavers are slowly disappearing to. Confusion fallout is much easier to deal with than angry fallout."
Skulduggery made a noise that could have been a laugh. It was hard to tell. "You'll be dealing with angry fallout either way, Erskine. You'd better start coming up with a plausible story. One that also neatly explains Bliss's return, if it comes to that."
Erskine groaned and his shoulders slumped. "Of course. And that would be a whole lot easier if every sorcerer in the world wasn't currently on the lookout for 'divine figures in white,' wouldn't it?"
"No one ever said being an Elder would be easy."
"Stop enjoying this."
Skulduggery shrugged. "I'm rather looking forward to the outcome, I'll admit. It's not often we have a Council of Elders so eager to leap into action. I might even enjoy my work again."