"I reserve small talk for friends and people I accuse of murder," Skulduggery replied, his voice just as even as his gaze. He didn't try to explain that there had been more than one alternate dimension, that both had been unpleasant, and that he didn't particularly consider himself lucky for having visited both. What Wreath hadn't already guessed, Skulduggery wouldn't give him the satisfaction of discovering now. It wasn't what this conversation was about.

A natural aptitude for Necromancy. Why did those words sound so familiar? With the habitual deep breath and mental steadying, Skulduggery slowly nodded. "I see. Still noble, then. So you've told her all about the Necromancer beliefs? The Death Bringer? The Passage? Valkyrie, do you know what the Death Bringer is?"

She shook her head. "Some kind of powerful Necromancer?"

"Why don't you ask your mentor here?" Skulduggery's tone had taken on an almost sarcastic edge. "I wouldn't want to deprive him of the chance not to leave anything out."