The Dying of the Light. Derek Landy

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      “When is it getting out?”

      “Not for a long time.”

      Clarabelle pursed her lips for a moment, then nodded. “That’s probably a good idea. Doctor Nye isn’t very nice. It likes experimenting on things. I heard it once combined the top half of a centaur with the bottom half of a minotaur and the creature escaped, and you can hear it sometimes, roaming the woods at night, howling at the full moon …”

      “I’m not sure any of that is true.”

      “Still, though,” Clarabelle said, walking away, “it makes you think, doesn’t it?”

      “Stephanie,” Doctor Synecdoche called, and waved her over.

      Stephanie stifled a groan, and joined them without much enthusiasm.

      “I have something for you,” said Synecdoche, rooting around in a desk. “I don’t approve of it, personally, as I’m in the habit of saving lives rather than taking them. But an item was recently discovered buried in the backrooms of the Old Sanctuary, and I was considering your situation and I thought that … let me just find it …”

      “My situation?” Stephanie asked.

      “Not having magic,” said Skulduggery. “The shock stick is useful, but limited if you can’t recharge it yourself. The Sceptre is unstoppable but, in its own way, also limited. You may not have the space to aim and fire.”

      “So I saw something,” Synecdoche said, “and thought of you. Ah, here we are. What do you think?”

      She held out a gauntlet made of black metal.

      Stephanie’s eyes widened, and even Skulduggery stiffened.

      Synecdoche couldn’t help but notice the reaction. “Is something wrong?”

      “This is the gauntlet I wear in the vision,” Stephanie said.

      “So it would seem,” murmured Skulduggery.

      “You’ve seen this in a vision?” Synecdoche asked. “But I just came across it yesterday. I thought you might want it as a last-resort weapon.”

      Stephanie frowned. “What does it do?”

      Synecdoche hesitated. “The Old Sanctuary was built by a more ruthless breed of sorcerer. This belonged to one of them. It’s called a Deathtouch Gauntlet. When it’s activated, one touch will take someone’s life. Ordinarily I’d have had it destroyed immediately, but considering what you’re going up against, I thought you could use all the help you can get. You said Mevolent pulled Darquesse’s head off and she reattached it, yes? She managed to use her last few seconds of thought to heal herself. With the Deathtouch Gauntlet, there are no last thoughts. Physical death and brain death are instantaneous, so, provided Darquesse doesn’t know what’s coming, she won’t even have the chance to survive.”

      Stephanie looked at Skulduggery. “If I don’t wear it, will the future we’ve seen be averted?”

      “Not wearing the gauntlet will more than likely have no impact whatsoever on the vision coming true,” Skulduggery said. “We’ve seen details of the vision change, but the result is always the same.”

      “Well, I’m not wearing it,” said Stephanie. “There. I’ve decided. Can we go see Cassandra? Check if the vision still ends the same way?”

      Skulduggery nodded, his voice suddenly brighter. “I’ll tell Cassandra to expect us. Doctor, thank you for your efforts, but it appears we won’t be taking the gauntlet.”

      “OK,” said Synecdoche. “But I’ll put it aside for you, Stephanie, just in case.”

      “Don’t bother,” Stephanie said, already moving away. “I’ll never wear it.”

      

      hina Sorrows was waiting for them when they entered the Room of Prisms. Thin pillars of angled glass stretched from floor to ceiling, and in the centre of the room sat the Grand Mage herself, elegant in a flowing powder-blue dress, a brooch on her breast signifying her elevated status. Stephanie had heard people say she’d chosen this room to receive visitors because it had more angles with which to reflect her unnatural beauty – her raven hair, her eyes like ice, her perfect features – but Stephanie knew better. China had chosen this room so that she could see anyone trying to sneak up behind her. China was a cut-throat, and only cut-throats know how cut-throats work.

      Behind China’s throne – for that’s what it was – the Black Cleaver stood with silent menace.

      “Here they come,” China said, smiling. “The only two people who ever bring me any good news. Do you know how depressing that can be? If I were delicate, I’d surely faint with the pressure.”

      “You wanted the job,” said Skulduggery.

      “I wanted the title, the power, and all those lovely books. The stress I could do without. I think I’m close to getting a worry line on my forehead.”

      “How dreadful,” said Skulduggery.

      “See? You understand. And so here you are, with good news. Congratulations, by the way, on taking down Ferrente Rhadaman without alerting one single member of the public. Scrutinous and Random have been working overtime to cover up some very sloppy displays. I’m amazed we’re not splashed all over the news. Did Rhadaman have any information on the remaining renegade sorcerers?”

      “He didn’t have specifics, but he did say they’re grouping together.”

      “Because there is safety in numbers?”

      Skulduggery shook his head. “He said someone has been in contact with them. Sounds like a refuge is being offered.”

      “I don’t like the sound of that. Do you mean another Sanctuary?”

      “I have no more information.”

      China sat back, and said nothing for a few moments. “If it’s another Sanctuary offering them asylum, we have to find out which one it is. Since the War of the Sanctuaries, international relations are … precarious. The last thing we need is one of them going rogue and upsetting everyone else.”

      The door opened, and Tipstaff walked in. He whispered in China’s ear, and she nodded. When he left, she glanced at Skulduggery and Stephanie.

      “Bear with me one minute,” she said.

      A man walked in. Tall and lean, unshaven, with dark hair that needed a cut and faded jeans that needed a wash. He exuded an air of menace that was as natural to him as breathing.

      “Mr Foe,” said China. “I was beginning to wonder if you would ever get here.”

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