Skulduggery – Crow
Anton – Bear
Ghastly – Panda
Dexter – Wolf
Saracen – Weasel
Erskine – Snake
Solomon – Raven
....................................................................
Chapter 55
It must have taken six hours before anyone heard from Guild or Kenspeckle again – everyone had been ordered to leave along with the residents who had evacuated due to a 'potential natural gas leak' that could have 'affected up to five miles in radius with its blast.' It didn't even get international news, just national and only to complain an entire nine miles was evacuated to be safe rather than just five. What if there had been a potential gas leak that could have blown up? What if it had gone off and it went further than estimated? Why were people so ridiculous?
In the end, there had been no problem and a tired Kenspeckle had reported the bomb not only deactivated but completely broken down and ready for destruction just like the other one had been. He had also reported great annoyance at Guild.
"That man is more concerned with looking powerful than doing any work," he had complained directly to the Grand Mage and Elder Crow who had sat down with Crow, Valkyrie, Guild's wife Emery Meek and their daughter whom Mrs Meek did not give a name for since she was only eleven or so. It was what people in the mage community. "I suggest you find someone that is prepared to replace him at a moment's notice, Grand Mage, because I know the moment something better comes up he will leave this country and take it. Even if it puts the rest of us in danger."
Meritorious didn't acknowledge the insults – likely due to Mrs Meek's company. "Thank you, Doctor Grouse. You have been a massive help and done us all an honour in assisting us. We will be in touch to destroy the Engine pieces."
Kenspeckle hung up without further comment and Meritorious gave the group a smile. "Well, I hope we will be seeing Elder Guild in the next half an hour. Administrator, perhaps you could show Mrs Meek and this young lady our staff room and get them some refreshments?" They left and soon it was just the Grand Mage, Elder Crow, skeleton Crow and Valkyrie sitting in the office. Meritorious immediately began scowling. "If I have to deal with one more problem because of that man, I'm going to kill him myself."
Valkyrie snorted. "I don't know why you haven't fired him yet. He's a nuisance, hypocritical, hires maniacs and we all believe he has a corrupted history. Why not just get him to resign?"
Meritorious shook his head. "It is not that easy. We always have prepared replacement Elders, and a replacement Grand Mage in the instance all three current Elders are killed at once, but three years ago when Serpine bombed the Sanctuary, those replacements were killed. We have yet to find replacements and we don't need the instability of an Elder resigning at this moment. There have been a lot of major attacks, as well as this being the new Sanctuary building for a mere six months. For all his idiocy and backchat, he is competent at what he does."
"So long as he isn't trying to get the Dead Men fired."
"So long as he isn't trying to get the Dead Men fired, yes," he said with a wry smile.
She frowned suddenly. "What about Mr Bliss?"
Elder Crow spoke up then. "I voted against Bliss being named an Elder as I believe he is interested in his own future and benefits more so than that of the country."
YOU ARE READING
Skulduggery Pleasant: Raising Cain
Fanfiction(This story is written as a fanfiction, but can be read as a story without having read any of the books.) Valkyrie Cain, the adoptive daughter of the Dead Men, has had a life full of love and magic. But as she gets older, times become scarier and sh...
