Sean didn't understand the significance of Solomon's words. He hadn't seen Solomon being led anywhere, and the ex-Necromancer's ability to perceive souls was keeping his eyes fixed directly on people's faces. It was only when the observant person looked closer that they saw how blank his eyes were. Sean, understandably, wasn't observant. He'd just been given one of the best presents of his life, and he was only thirteen.

Paddy understood it. Paddy glanced questioningly towards Solomon, then remembered Solomon wouldn't actually see the expression. Then he remembered that didn't matter, of course. The conveniences of magic. With Erin there, he wouldn't get an answer, but Paddy wasn't entirely sure he wanted one. Knowing what surprises the future might hold... that was one aspect of magic he'd gladly have nothing to do with.

Dexter Vex probably hadn't 'brought' the little puppet-collection anywhere, but Paddy smiled in response nevertheless. "Thank you." He recognised a few of them - Solomon, Valkyrie, and Skulduggery were the obvious ones, followed closely by Fletcher and Ghastly and Vex himself. They were surprisingly good. Or maybe not surprisingly, given their method of origin, but still. How long would they last? Vex's lifetime? What was that, another six hundred years?

Sean shrugged. "It doesn't really matter if she's blind or not. She's not going to be the one deciding where we go."

Maybe Sean was more observant than even Sean realised. "Thank you for coming to dinner tonight, Erin," Paddy said, partly to take attention off Solomon. "Same time next week, both you and Sean?"

"Not if you're going to surprise with another 'present' again," Erin replied, but the good humour was creeping back into her voice.

"I'll do my best to restrain myself," Paddy promised her. "Was there anything else, Solomon?"