Читать книгу Skulduggery Pleasant: Books 10 - 12 - Derek Landy - Страница 31

Bad things happen all the time.

That’s the number-one lesson Valkyrie had learned in the last twelve years. Bad things happen, and they generally happen to good people. Innocent people. Passers-by, caught in the crossfire, consumed by the madness. Like Fletcher.

She stood by his bed in Reverie Synecdoche’s private medical practice, a three-storey building in one of the more affluent parts of town, and watched him. He didn’t move. A machine helped him breathe.

She reached out, touched his arm.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “We were stupid and you saved us. It’s our fault you’re here.” She leaned down. Spoke softer. “I don’t think I can do this. I don’t think I’m able to do this any more. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to tell him.”

Voices reached her – Reverie talking to a nurse passing in the corridor outside. Valkyrie squeezed Fletcher’s hand. “Please get better,” she said.

Reverie walked in and Valkyrie turned.

“He’s stable,” Reverie told her. “We’ve stopped the bleeding. There is some nerve damage that we’re correcting. It’s a slow process, repairing nerves always is, but he’s going to be fine. Would you like to stay? I can have a chair brought in for you.”

“Thank you,” said Valkyrie, “but no. The Supreme Mage has requested a meeting. How’s Skulduggery?”

“We’re putting him back together. Again. His jaw has been reattached, so he just has to wait for his arm to set. He’ll be out within the hour.”

“Thank you, Reverie. Sincerely.”

“It’s what we do. I’ll let you know if there’s any change to Fletcher’s condition.”

Valkyrie thanked her again and left the clinic, taking a tram to the High Sanctuary. For a fleeting moment, she entertained the idea that maybe she’d skip the meeting, get in her car and drive home. She quite liked the thought of forgetting about all of this and just living a normal life, her and her dog. The twenty-four hours she’d promised Skulduggery had ended that morning, after all. She didn’t owe it to him to do this. She didn’t owe it to anyone.

But she flashed her badge at the door to the High Sanctuary and walked in, leaving the sounds of the city behind her, along with fanciful notions of a quiet life.

The Room of Prisms had changed since she’d been here last. There were still those slivers of angled glass that dropped from the ceiling and rose from the floor like stalactites and stalagmites. Some of them met in the middle, forming thin pillars she had to slip between. The change had come at the far end of the room, where the steps rose to the ornate throne on which sat the Supreme Mage.

Another image from the vision blossomed in Valkyrie’s mind, this time of China Sorrows lying on the ground, blood staining a blouse that looked remarkably similar to the one she was wearing now, the one that went so well with the black, high-waisted trousers. Over that blouse she wore her chain of office, fitted with three glittering jewels. Her hair was black. Her face was perfect. Her eyes were closed.

Two bodyguards flanked her, standing to attention. On China’s left, a woman with a mask covering everything but her eyes. Her arms were bare and muscled, skin like dark chocolate. A weapon of some sort was strapped to her back.

To China’s right stood a man in an identical uniform – a sleeveless robe, belted at the waist. His head was uncovered, however. He was a handsome man, looked Indian. He had two metal discs hanging from his belt.

There was movement reflected in the angled glass, but Valkyrie had to look around a bit before she pinpointed the source. Tipstaff worked his way over to her.

“Detective Cain,” he said, keeping his voice low, “it’s good to see you. How are your injuries?”

Valkyrie’s shoulder throbbed dully. “Fine,” she said. “I got off lightly.”

Tipstaff nodded, looking suitably concerned, then he motioned to the throne. “You’ll have to forgive the Supreme Mage,” he said. “She will be with you in a matter of moments.”

Valkyrie looked up the steps. “What’s she doing?” she asked. “Power nap?”

The briefest of smiles on Tipstaff’s lips. “Ha. No. She is accessing the Whispering. A recent development, inspired by your travels in alternate dimensions, actually.”

She looked at him, waiting for an explanation.

“When you reported back on the city controlled by the alternate version of Mevolent,” Tipstaff said, “you mentioned the World Well. The Supreme Mage was intrigued by the idea of what is essentially a psychic Internet, and so has had her best people working on one for Roarhaven. We call it the Whispering – a way to connect people and share information. It should be ready to be released to the citizenry in less than a year. Right now, the Supreme Mage is the only one with access. It is a much more efficient way of taking the pulse of the city than endless hours of briefings.”

“All the information is downloaded directly into her mind?”

Tipstaff nodded, then shrugged. “We’re trying to find a better term for it than downloaded, though.”

“Something that sounds more magicky?”

Another smile. “I suppose. Yes.”

“Just because it’s a mortal term doesn’t mean sorcerers can’t use it,” Valkyrie said. “Isn’t it one of the purposes of the Sanctuaries to remind us that we’re not above them?”

“Indeed it is,” Tipstaff said. “Although it’s hard not to feel superior when they have people like Martin Flanery as American president.”

“Flanery’s an idiot,” Valkyrie admitted, “but, as far as I know, he hasn’t tried to take over the world or kill everyone in it. Can I ask you something, in the spirit of sharing potentially catastrophic global events? Have you guys had any encounters with, or warnings of, a woman with silver hair?”

“Not that I’m aware of,” said Tipstaff. “Do you have a name I could check for?”

It would have been so easy to tell him, to mention the Princess of the Darklands, but something stopped her. Maybe it was Skulduggery’s newfound caution with information, or maybe it was simply the fact that she didn’t work for the Sanctuary any more. Whatever the reason, she gave a weak shrug and a weaker smile. “I’m afraid not.”

“I’ll check our records,” Tipstaff said, “see if anyone with silver hair has raised a flag lately.”

“Thanks.”

“Anything to help the Arbiter Corps.” Tipstaff looked at his watch. “The Supreme Mage should be surfacing any moment now …”

Valkyrie looked up as China’s pale blue eyes fluttered open.

“I’ll leave you to it,” Tipstaff said softly, and left.

“Valkyrie,” China said, taking a moment to get orientated. “What’s Skulduggery’s condition?”

“He’s fine,” said Valkyrie. “Annoyed, but fine.”

China sat forward, focusing fully on Valkyrie. “And Fletcher?”

Valkyrie hesitated. “They don’t know. There have been complications.”

China shook her head. “He’s become invaluable to me, that boy. He’s a teacher, did you know that? Single-handedly training up the next generation of Teleporters. He’s found his vocation.”

“Reverie is hopeful.”

“I was wondering about that,” said China. “Is there any particular reason you chose to go to Doctor Synecdoche over the medical team here at the High Sanctuary?”

“I didn’t choose anything. I didn’t even know she’d opened her own clinic. That was all Fletcher. I think he just brought us to her on instinct.”

“I see,” said China. “Yes. I’m sure that was it.” She sat back, allowing herself a smile. “How are you, Valkyrie? It’s been far too long.”

“I’m good, thanks.”

“You seem hesitant. Is something wrong?”

“Your chair,” said Valkyrie. “From down here, it looks a lot like a throne.”

“Is there anything wrong with that?”

Valkyrie shrugged. “I don’t know. Sitting in a throne all day might make it easy to forget that you’re an elected official and not, you know … a queen. Or an empress.”

China observed her, then stood and came down the steps, her bodyguards accompanying her. “There. Is that better?”

“Much,” said Valkyrie.

China got to the bottom, and embraced Valkyrie. “It’s good to see you again,” she said softly.

“It’s good to be here,” Valkyrie lied.

China stepped back. “The reports I’ve been hearing on what happened … they lack certain details, such as why on earth you went to the Narrows without Cleaver support. Obviously, as Arbiters, you have the authority to go where you like. But I have to ask, in light of what happened … was that wise?”

“In hindsight,” said Valkyrie, “no.”

China hooked her arm through Valkyrie’s and started walking. The bodyguards stayed behind them. “Who was it? Who attacked you?”

“I don’t know all of them,” Valkyrie said. “A man named Lethe. Another named Richard Melior. A Teleporter named Nero.”

“And you think they’re connected to this anti-Sanctuary?” China asked. “Oh, yes, Skulduggery told me all about his suspicions. I wasn’t sold on the idea, I have to admit. An organisation working behind the scenes for centuries without us knowing about it? It seemed preposterous.” She sighed. “It doesn’t seem so preposterous any more.”

“I’m assuming the Cleavers found no trace of them when they arrived?”

“None at all,” said China. “The City Guards conducted a thorough search of the area – I’m afraid we have no idea where this Melior man may have gone.”

“Why did Skulduggery quit?”

China frowned. “I’m sorry?”

“Being City Guard Commander. Why did he quit?”

“It was always going to be temporary,” said China. “I knew that when he took the job. Skulduggery wants to be out there, in the thick of the action. Being the Commander meant he was stuck behind a desk for most of his time here. He got it up and running, though, which is what I needed him for. When he left, there were no hard feelings.”

“That’s it?”

“Yes. Why, did he say any different?”

“He didn’t say anything. Which made me wonder.”

China smiled again. “You know him well.”

She removed her arm from Valkyrie’s, and tapped the edge of her wrist. A tattoo glowed briefly, and the wall ahead of them turned transparent, revealing the city of Roarhaven below. “So what do you think of the place?” China asked. “Has it changed much since you’ve been away?”

Valkyrie nodded to their left. “The Cathedral is new.”

“Yes,” said China. “An impressive, if foreboding, structure, is it not? But it’s important to let the people have their faith. It rewards them. Keeps them happy.”

“Keeps them obedient?”

“Oh, Valkyrie … when did you become so cynical? But the Dark Cathedral is only one of our new additions.”

“I visited Corrival Academy.”

“Isn’t it wonderful?”

Valkyrie nodded. “That’s the kind of school I could have done with, growing up.”

“Which is exactly why it’s there,” China said. “Before, our children went to mortal schools and learned what they could about magic from a variety of sometimes unsuitable sources. But the Academy will give the next generation all the advantages they could possibly need. Teaching everyone the same rules, the same values …”

“Get them thinking the same way.”

An eyebrow arched. “You are cynical.”

“And so many students,” Valkyrie said.

“Yes. From all over the world. The best and brightest, all under one roof.”

“The children of the most powerful sorcerers, from every single Sanctuary on the planet … It’s some achievement. And hey, at least you know that it’ll keep their parents in line, right? No one’s going to want to go to war with Roarhaven when you have their kids under lock and key.”

China looked at her. “You make it sound like they’re prisoners.”

“Do I?”

China pointed straight ahead. “There we have the Fangs. Have you visited? Three square kilometres where the vampires have taken up residence. People told me it was a mistake to let them live among us, but do you know how many vampire attacks there have been in the last five years? Not a one. It’s been yet another great success – testament to what can be achieved when different people, different species, work together.”

“You sound like you’re angling for my vote,” said Valkyrie.

China laughed. “I’m just proud of what we’ve accomplished here, and I don’t want to see it threatened by a few angry young sorcerers. I’ve got Commander Hoc investigating the attack personally. He won’t be long finding those responsible.”

“That’s good of you,” said Valkyrie. “I doubt Skulduggery’s going to want to abandon his own investigation just yet, though.”

“Oh, absolutely. The advantage the City Guard have, however, is that they possess all the resources they could ever want – and they never go into a situation without back-up.”

“It does sound nice.”

“There’s always a spot open for you, should you decide to give it a go …”

“Without Skulduggery?”

“He’s spent five years without you. I’m sure he got used to it.”

Valkyrie shook her head. “Thanks for the offer, but I’m not even sure if I want to come back.”

“Oh? This isn’t your triumphant return?”

“It’s more of a test run, really.”

“I see. Does Skulduggery know this?”

“I told him.”

“And does he believe you?”

Valkyrie frowned. “He’d better.”

China looked out across the city. “Skulduggery is a frightfully intelligent man, but, like all frightfully intelligent people, he assumes certain things. I think your return to his side would be one of those things he would assume to be a foregone conclusion.” She glanced at Valkyrie. “You may well have to remind him that it isn’t.”

Valkyrie returned to Reverie’s clinic. She got to Skulduggery’s room and stopped in the open doorway. He stood with his back to her. He didn’t have his shirt on. She watched his bones move as he examined his reattached forearm. Those bones were nicked and scratched with scars they’d picked up over the years. He flexed his fingers. Valkyrie didn’t say anything.

Skulduggery put on his shirt. It hung off him as he did up his tie, like it was still draped over the back of the chair. Suddenly it filled out, as if the man underneath was flesh and blood. Skulduggery tucked it in and reached for his waistcoat.

Valkyrie hesitated, then walked away.