Skulduggery Pleasant: Raising Cain

Chapter 86 - Fustrations

Skulduggery – Crow

Anton – Bear

Ghastly – Panda

Dexter – Wolf

Saracen – Weasel

Erskine – Snake

Solomon – Raven

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Chapter 86

Their orders came from the Elders hours later after they'd all gotten a nap and some food. Search and destroy all except Craven who they wanted preferably alive. They didn't say it was necessary though, so they armed themselves to the T, this time letting Valkyrie in on their big boy weapons.

She'd chosen modestly, so to speak. She had her usual handy flip knife and had a pair of combat trousers concealed harnesses of both of her legs, both of which had massive blades in, but only for emergencies. Under her shirt was a holster around her ribs that concealed a small gun under one arm and another at her back. Her pockets were filled with ammunition.

Still, she looked under-armed compared to her brothers.

Tanith was having another conflict of emotion, and this time it was some sort of protective nesting where she'd help them and bring them more and more weapons to arm themselves with and all sorts of protective gear and magic that might keep them safe – and then she'd sour and go sit on her chair in the corner sharpening her sword moodily.

In one way it was funny to watch, but Valkyrie could see how conflicted and upset she was, and how sick she was of her own mood changes, so she made such she, and everyone else, just let her do her thing and didn't so much as smile or comment. Tanith didn't seem to notice Valkyrie silently threatening the others to be quiet.

But no matter what Tanith wanted, it was time to go and Tanith was pregnant, so she had to stay behind. She promised to get some snacks out for when they got back but also threatened them to be quiet because she'd be sleeping, so they all hugged her goodnight and then let Ghastly have his moment with Tanith alone. Hopefully he didn't fuck it up again or Valkyrie might let him get hurt.

She'd have to think of that later though. They were going back to the Temple.

.*****.

Craven's POV

The cellar they were in was cramped, badly lit and smelled of damp. The rest of the Temple was dry, clean and although dark, it was always light enough to see everything they needed to. But spiders needed moisture to shed, and The Torment had put him in charge of finding a place that could happen. And now he was stuck in there with at least thirty Children of the Spider as they enjoyed the damp room and spoke about plans.

He didn't speak whatever language they were using. He knew some words because they were similar to other languages, but it didn't really help. Craven needed the Spider's to achieve his goals and would use them to get there. But he wasn't so stupid as to think they wouldn't turn on the other Necromancer's for fun, which would really ruin his plans.

After all, what sort of King of Necromancers would he be without disciples?

His phone buzzed and he pulled it out in hopes of news. After reading the messages, he cleared his throat to the group of Spiders and after a few more words between themselves, they looked at him like dirt on their weird, fluffy nubs that acted as spider feet.