The next time anyone from Skulduggery's little group tried to come to China for anything, she was going to turn them away before they could say a word. Like it or not, she was much more fragile than she was used to being. Minor bombshells like this could very well be what eventually broke her.
Then again, she might not turn them away. She shouldn't, that was for sure. Skulduggery's little group might very quickly become the wealthiest source of information China had ever had. She'd known Solomon was elected an Elder, but no one at the meeting had known he was blind - or even suspected. It implied that he hadn't been led around, even though he clearly needed to be. And as good as Skulduggery was, someone should have questioned Solomon being led around by the hand. Someone should have leaped to the obvious conclusion.
Not so obvious, granted, when it came to sorcery. Even now, China should have guessed the moment she caught sight of Solomon's eyes; but she hadn't, because blindness just wasn't a problem for sorcerers. It was easily healed. Easily taken care of. Oh, it was possible even magic couldn't solve this particular problem, because even magic could only be stretched so far. But even then, Solomon had two different angels to help.
Likely to remain so. A personal choice. Something blinded him - Tenebrae, no doubt - and Solomon was choosing to remain blind. The only possible reason China could think of for that was a new form of magic he didn't want to lose.
It neatly explained her strange feeling of being examined when Solomon looked directly at her. Directly at her. He hadn't needed any help there.
Without a word, and with only the barest of hesitations, China took Solomon's hand and led him gently around the corner to where an armchair and a small table sat next to one of the bookcases. She laid his hand down on the arm of the chair, then stepped back to let him sit down, arms lightly crossed and her face - for once - free of any expression. She used expressions to manipulate. When that was no longer an option, she wasn't quite sure what to do with herself.
"Are you going to try and appeal to my better nature?" she asked wryly.
As a short confirmation test, she accompanied the spoken sentence with a thought. It won't work. Go and ask Skulduggery about the great number of times he's tried.
no subject
Then again, she might not turn them away. She shouldn't, that was for sure. Skulduggery's little group might very quickly become the wealthiest source of information China had ever had. She'd known Solomon was elected an Elder, but no one at the meeting had known he was blind - or even suspected. It implied that he hadn't been led around, even though he clearly needed to be. And as good as Skulduggery was, someone should have questioned Solomon being led around by the hand. Someone should have leaped to the obvious conclusion.
Not so obvious, granted, when it came to sorcery. Even now, China should have guessed the moment she caught sight of Solomon's eyes; but she hadn't, because blindness just wasn't a problem for sorcerers. It was easily healed. Easily taken care of. Oh, it was possible even magic couldn't solve this particular problem, because even magic could only be stretched so far. But even then, Solomon had two different angels to help.
Likely to remain so. A personal choice. Something blinded him - Tenebrae, no doubt - and Solomon was choosing to remain blind. The only possible reason China could think of for that was a new form of magic he didn't want to lose.
It neatly explained her strange feeling of being examined when Solomon looked directly at her. Directly at her. He hadn't needed any help there.
Without a word, and with only the barest of hesitations, China took Solomon's hand and led him gently around the corner to where an armchair and a small table sat next to one of the bookcases. She laid his hand down on the arm of the chair, then stepped back to let him sit down, arms lightly crossed and her face - for once - free of any expression. She used expressions to manipulate. When that was no longer an option, she wasn't quite sure what to do with herself.
"Are you going to try and appeal to my better nature?" she asked wryly.
As a short confirmation test, she accompanied the spoken sentence with a thought. It won't work. Go and ask Skulduggery about the great number of times he's tried.