Skulduggery Pleasant_ Death Bringer - Derek Landy [26]
“Agreed,” said Ghastly.
“Detective Pleasant,” Madame Mist said, “it is a well-known fact that you don’t like the Necromancer Order. That you take particular exception to their activities – especially since Solomon Wreath began training your protégée.”
“That would be an accurate summation, yes.”
“You don’t feel that your attitude could be tainting your objectivity?”
“When it comes to the Necromancers,” Skulduggery said, “I’m not objective in the slightest. That doesn’t mean I’m wrong. Our next move should be a visit to the Temple, where we can ask Solomon Wreath about this unknown agent who keeps killing the people we want to talk to.”
“So you’re requesting that more Sanctuary resources be made available to you, should you need them?” Ravel asked.
Skulduggery shrugged. “Yes I am, Your Almighty Holiness. What’s the point of having friends in high places if you can’t use them to settle old grudges?”
Ghastly looked at Ravel. “We need to find out what they’re up to.”
“This is a waste of our time,” said Mist.
Ravel shook his head. “I’m willing to go along with Skulduggery on this one. It might turn out to be nothing, but we need to find out what this Passage is, and we need to stop people dying.” He sat back in his throne, raising an eyebrow. “Hear that, Skulduggery? The Elders have spoken. That is the sound of the system working for you.”
Skulduggery tipped his hat to them. “I’m not going to lie to you, I could get used to this.”
Chapter 9
Friends in Low Places
alkyrie’s boots crunched on old graveyard gravel on their way to the crypt. Skulduggery didn’t even have his façade up – there was no one around on this bright evening to see them anyway. By this stage, Valkyrie knew the cemetery well, which was an odd boast for a sixteen-year-old to make, she was aware.
Skulduggery knocked heavily on the crypt door. Thirty seconds later, it opened, and a pale face regarded them with casual indifference. Valkyrie recognised him. His name was Oblivion, or Obliviate, or something. Or maybe Oblivious. No, she doubted it was Oblivious. Although…
“Yes?” said Oblivious. “What?”
“This is why I like Necromancers,” Skulduggery said. “You’re all so cheerful all the time. We’d like to speak with Cleric Wreath, please.”
“Cleric Wreath is busy,” Oblivious said lazily, and started to close the door.
Skulduggery jammed it with his foot. “I’m sure he’d love to see us, though. Look, she’s his favourite student.”
Oblivious observed Valkyrie then sighed. “We already have a Death Bringer, thank you. We don’t need another one.”
“He’s expecting us,” Valkyrie said. “He said to come right over, he’s got exciting news. He said we could walk right in, actually.”
“Your name isn’t on the list,” Oblivious responded.
“Well, maybe not on your list,” Valkyrie laughed.
“Are you implying that there is more than one list?”
“I don’t know,” Valkyrie said mysteriously. “Am I?”
Oblivious frowned. “I’m not sure what you’re—”
“Super!” Skulduggery exclaimed, and Oblivious yelped as Skulduggery shoved the door open and barged through. Valkyrie hurried down the narrow steps after him.
“I didn’t give you permission!” Oblivious raged. “Guards! Guards! We have intruders!”
Two Necromancers appeared at the bottom of the stairs. Skulduggery waved to them. “We’re not really intruding,” he called down. “This is all a big misunderstanding.”
“Stop right there!” shouted one of them.
Skulduggery held his hand to an ear he didn’t have. “What’s that?”
“Stop!”
“Keep going?”
“Stop!”
“OK, we’ll keep going.”
The Necromancer guards backed off as Skulduggery and Valkyrie reached the bottom of the stairs.
“Is Solomon in?” Skulduggery asked. “We’d like to give him a present that Valkyrie got for the Death Bringer. It’s a small gift, just to say congratulations, the best woman won, et cetera et cetera. Valkyrie, show them the gift.”
Valkyrie smiled at them, searched through the pockets of her jacket and came out with a half-empty packet of Skittles.
Oblivious came charging down the stairs. “You do not have permission to be here! You are