"Of course not," Solomon said blandly. "Where would be the fun in that?" Then he tilted his head toward China, his mouth quirking. "Tipstaff knows, but he's the only one who does, because he handled the transactions. We decided not to make what we were planning common knowledge to avoid people asking too many questions."
"You could really stop people asking questions if you told one of them to stand in a corner with its hands over its eyes," Vex said, sounding torn between glee and unease.
This was such a non sequitur that Solomon blinked, reran his words, and then looked at him. "You'll have to explain that to me."
"Doctor Who," Dexter explained delicately. "The new shows have got reality-eating time-warping angel statues which only move when you blink."
"Ah. Tell it to Ravel, I'm sure he'll come up with something."
"Is that an order? That was an order. I'm taking it as an order." The way Vex's banner snapped wildly and freely in the warm breeze spoke of glee.
Solomon chose not to answer in favour of turning sharply toward China before stopping. She was right. The visions meant something, and in amidst Solomon's personal trials he hadn't had time to stop and thing them over any further than as an acknowledgement of what was real. "You're right," he said slowly, "but there's one obvious thing. Things, rather. The Faceless Ones." He turned his head again to look at China more fully. "When I was undertaking my withdrawal, I witnessed my Necromantic memories backward, with the Sight. Including Aranmore Farm. I saw the Faceless Ones as they are. They're Fallen Angels, China. From Gabe's dimension. Fallen Angels turned insane by the journey between universes."
Which had explained why Skulduggery was so adamant about Gabe not leaving. Which explained why Gabe wasn't leaving--at the time. Which explained why he still walked with a hitch even after Rafe had healed him. And why Rafe himself was so exhausted after travelling here. "If I had to make a guess, I'd say the Faceless Ones are a good bet. Again."
no subject
"You could really stop people asking questions if you told one of them to stand in a corner with its hands over its eyes," Vex said, sounding torn between glee and unease.
This was such a non sequitur that Solomon blinked, reran his words, and then looked at him. "You'll have to explain that to me."
"Doctor Who," Dexter explained delicately. "The new shows have got reality-eating time-warping angel statues which only move when you blink."
"Ah. Tell it to Ravel, I'm sure he'll come up with something."
"Is that an order? That was an order. I'm taking it as an order." The way Vex's banner snapped wildly and freely in the warm breeze spoke of glee.
Solomon chose not to answer in favour of turning sharply toward China before stopping. She was right. The visions meant something, and in amidst Solomon's personal trials he hadn't had time to stop and thing them over any further than as an acknowledgement of what was real. "You're right," he said slowly, "but there's one obvious thing. Things, rather. The Faceless Ones." He turned his head again to look at China more fully. "When I was undertaking my withdrawal, I witnessed my Necromantic memories backward, with the Sight. Including Aranmore Farm. I saw the Faceless Ones as they are. They're Fallen Angels, China. From Gabe's dimension. Fallen Angels turned insane by the journey between universes."
Which had explained why Skulduggery was so adamant about Gabe not leaving. Which explained why Gabe wasn't leaving--at the time. Which explained why he still walked with a hitch even after Rafe had healed him. And why Rafe himself was so exhausted after travelling here. "If I had to make a guess, I'd say the Faceless Ones are a good bet. Again."