The only good thing about having missed the rest of last night was the fact that Dexter hadn't shut up about it. He had managed to get evidence, in the form of texted pictures, from Valkyrie, which didn't help Solomon at all given he couldn't see them. It was one of those moments where he wished he still could see, which had been growing easier to ignore over the past few days. Occasionally they still leapt up on him.
Erskine had also dobbed him in. The instant he walked into the Sanctuary that morning Corrival had told him he had to go fix the wards he'd broken. Which was fair enough, he supposed, except that he had no idea how to fix them.
Especially since China had refused to help. Not that he'd actively asked for help. He'd just tendered the suggestion that, if the opportunity arose, she could help rebuild some Sanctuary wards ... which hadn't fooled her in the least. Solomon had definitely come off second in that encounter, even over the phone as it was.
Merlin, fortunately, had been more accommodating, and Solomon now knew a great deal more about an older version of sigils than anyone used nowadays than he had last night. Which was a good thing, if he was going to continue being able to see the Sanctuary wards.
It had still taken the better part of the day to get them fixed, and his fingers were still singed.
But seeing as it had been Merlin, and Solomon had essentially received six hours of personal teaching, and now knew a good deal more about how to manipulate the Sanctuary's wards in a way not even Merlin could accomplish, he was feeling rather satisfied with himself.
A feeling which was fading the closer they got to the church. Dexter hadn't stopped talking since they'd left the Sanctuary; Solomon let him carry on, only interjecting absent-mindedly with suitably scathing remarks. There was no technical need for him to be here. None, except that he needed to talk to Paddy, and hadn't gotten the chance the night before.
The fact was that Saffron's appearance had put an extra burden on him he wasn't sure how to handle. It wasn't the sort of thing he could talk about with the others; they only tease him over it. He still wasn't used to having people he could actually rely on. Tossing sarcasm back and forth to cover up all their individual issues was one thing. Tossing sarcasm back and forth to highlight their mutual dislike was another. Talking seriously, and expect seriousness in-between the sarcasm? He wasn't sure how to do that yet. Not with things like this.
He still, he thought ruefully, wasn't quite over the irony of an ex-Necromancer needing a Christian priest's opinion on how to live.
They pulled up outside the church. Between his cane and his ever-expanding experience, Solomon managed to get out of the car before Dexter came around to open the door for him. "Hey there!" Dexter called cheerfully up to the pair resting in the church's grounds. "Long time no see. What's up?"
"Don't make me put the leash on you," Solomon said as the conjurer led him up the curb and into the church's garden. The ex-Necromancer addressed Paddy with a roll of his eyes. "He's been like this all morning. Apparently I missed out on quite the show last night, after he went back to the Sanctuary."
"Skulduggery! In a wig! I've got pictures!"
"Which I can't see."
"That's your problem. Hey, Seany-boy, wanna see a skeleton wearing a fake skin wearing a judge's wig and a detective's hat?"
no subject
Erskine had also dobbed him in. The instant he walked into the Sanctuary that morning Corrival had told him he had to go fix the wards he'd broken. Which was fair enough, he supposed, except that he had no idea how to fix them.
Especially since China had refused to help. Not that he'd actively asked for help. He'd just tendered the suggestion that, if the opportunity arose, she could help rebuild some Sanctuary wards ... which hadn't fooled her in the least. Solomon had definitely come off second in that encounter, even over the phone as it was.
Merlin, fortunately, had been more accommodating, and Solomon now knew a great deal more about an older version of sigils than anyone used nowadays than he had last night. Which was a good thing, if he was going to continue being able to see the Sanctuary wards.
It had still taken the better part of the day to get them fixed, and his fingers were still singed.
But seeing as it had been Merlin, and Solomon had essentially received six hours of personal teaching, and now knew a good deal more about how to manipulate the Sanctuary's wards in a way not even Merlin could accomplish, he was feeling rather satisfied with himself.
A feeling which was fading the closer they got to the church. Dexter hadn't stopped talking since they'd left the Sanctuary; Solomon let him carry on, only interjecting absent-mindedly with suitably scathing remarks. There was no technical need for him to be here. None, except that he needed to talk to Paddy, and hadn't gotten the chance the night before.
The fact was that Saffron's appearance had put an extra burden on him he wasn't sure how to handle. It wasn't the sort of thing he could talk about with the others; they only tease him over it. He still wasn't used to having people he could actually rely on. Tossing sarcasm back and forth to cover up all their individual issues was one thing. Tossing sarcasm back and forth to highlight their mutual dislike was another. Talking seriously, and expect seriousness in-between the sarcasm? He wasn't sure how to do that yet. Not with things like this.
He still, he thought ruefully, wasn't quite over the irony of an ex-Necromancer needing a Christian priest's opinion on how to live.
They pulled up outside the church. Between his cane and his ever-expanding experience, Solomon managed to get out of the car before Dexter came around to open the door for him. "Hey there!" Dexter called cheerfully up to the pair resting in the church's grounds. "Long time no see. What's up?"
"Don't make me put the leash on you," Solomon said as the conjurer led him up the curb and into the church's garden. The ex-Necromancer addressed Paddy with a roll of his eyes. "He's been like this all morning. Apparently I missed out on quite the show last night, after he went back to the Sanctuary."
"Skulduggery! In a wig! I've got pictures!"
"Which I can't see."
"That's your problem. Hey, Seany-boy, wanna see a skeleton wearing a fake skin wearing a judge's wig and a detective's hat?"