The Dying of the Light. Derek Landy

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      ood morning,” the Administrator said when Stephanie and Skulduggery walked by. Tipstaff fell into step beside them. “Finbar Wrong is here to see you. I asked him to wait in the lobby.”

      “Did he say why he was here?” Skulduggery asked.

      “He did not. I pressed him, but he seems to believe he has information best delivered personally. I told him you were scheduled to brief Grand Mage Sorrows on your investigation, and when you were finished, if you were so inclined, you would perhaps speak with him.”

      “That’s fine,” Skulduggery said.

      “Mr Wrong is a most unusual man,” Tipstaff continued, frowning slightly. “He tried to convince me to allow him to give me a tattoo.”

      Stephanie grinned at the idea. “And you said no?”

      “I did,” said Tipstaff. “I simply don’t have room for another one. Miss Sorrows will be joining you in the Room of Prisms shortly. Have a good day.” He gave them a nod and veered into another corridor, leaving them to continue on on their own.

      “What do you think he wants?” Stephanie asked.

      “I don’t know,” Skulduggery said.

      End of conversation.

      Stephanie came to an abrupt halt. “I’m sick of this.”

      Skulduggery stopped and looked back. “This?”

      “This,” she said, pointing between them. “You and me. The awkwardness. The silences. That uncomfortable feeling.”

      He tilted his head.

      “I’m not her,” Stephanie said. “But you seem to think that I’m trying to be. Even though I’ve told you a hundred times that I have no interest whatsoever in replacing Valkyrie. I’m helping you because you asked for my help. You came to me and you asked. For my help. Not the other way around. I’m not the annoying little girl tagging along.”

      “I know that.”

      Anger flashed. “So stop treating me like I am.”

      Skulduggery went quiet for a moment. “I see.”

      “Do you? Because I don’t think you do. You’re caught up in our mission and that’s fine. You’re in mourning for Valkyrie, and that’s fine, too. That’s understandable. But don’t punish me for everything that’s happened.”

      “I don’t want to punish you, Stephanie.”

      “Then stop making me feel like this.”

      “I’ll … try.”

      All at once, her anger vanished. She felt bad. His best friend had, essentially, died, and she was berating him for not being his usual cheerful self.

      “I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean that.”

      “Yes you did. And there’s nothing wrong with that. There’s nothing wrong with you, either. You’re a good person, Stephanie. Or you’ve become one, anyway. You’ve proven yourself. And I appreciate how difficult it must have been to say that just now. Thank you.”

      “You’re welcome,” she mumbled.

      He swept his hand before him. “Shall we continue on? We don’t want to keep the Grand Mage waiting.”

      Stephanie smiled, and they resumed walking. She opened her mouth to speak, but Skulduggery held up a finger to silence her. He tilted his head at the look on her face, took her arm gently and led her down an adjoining corridor. She began to hear a raised voice. Female.

      They got to the corner, saw Eliza Scorn standing toe to toe with China. It looked like Scorn would have thrown a punch if the Black Cleaver hadn’t been standing at China’s shoulder.

      “Why don’t you just admit it?” Scorn snarled. “You sent Vincent Foe and his gang of degenerates over to the Church to join us. I want a Sensitive down here right now to pick the truth from the filthy recesses of your mind.”

      “That’s hardly necessary,” China said, the epitome of calm. “Even if I did do that, which I did, the fact is your weasel-faced little man didn’t know any better, and he allowed it to happen. So the raid you’re here to lodge a complaint against was entirely justified.”

      “You set us up!”

      “And your man fell for it and, in doing so, broke the terms of your Church’s agreement with this Sanctuary. This is all very regrettable, though it isn’t really, and I wish to assure you that I, in no way, derive any personal satisfaction from any of this, even though I so obviously do. If you feel the need to vent any more of your frustration, please feel free to do so, as I intend to build a collage of this moment and I’d like some more amusing anecdotes to go along with it.”

      Scorn jabbed a finger at her. “This isn’t over.”

      “I dare say you’re right,” China said, and smiled as Scorn stormed away. She waited a moment, then turned her blue eyes on Stephanie and Skulduggery. “Good morning. I take it you heard all that?”

      “We did,” Skulduggery said.

      “Was I as marvellous as I thought I was?”

      “You were supremely aggravating and terrifically smug.”

      “Oh!” said China. “The perfect combination! Come walk with me. Tell me good news.”

      They took up positions on either side of her and moved down the corridor, the Black Cleaver a silent shadow behind them.

      “I’m afraid good news is in short supply,” Skulduggery said. “Darquesse has freed the Remnants.”

      “She did what?”

      “We sent people to the Receptacle to check. Most of the guards there are dead or injured. Two are missing, probably possessed.”

      For a heartbeat, it looked like China might narrow her eyes in anger, but she took a deep breath, exhaled, and calm was restored. “Where have they struck first?”

      “That’s just it,” Skulduggery said. “They haven’t struck anywhere.”

      China frowned. “So where are they?”

      “We don’t know,” said Stephanie. “There’s been nothing on the police scanners or news reports, either.”

      “This is just what we need,” China said. “Darquesse, the renegades, and now the Remnants. Do you think they’d be nice enough to stay out of trouble while we deal with the first two?”

      “It’s СКАЧАТЬ