The next morning Valkyrie went back to her own room. It was freezing. There was glass all over the floor and the desk was in pieces. She called China Sorrows and told her what she needed. For the past six months China had been instructing young sorcerers in the language of magic, and she said she would send her students to construct a warning system around the town.

Valkyrie thanked her and hung up, then opened the wardrobe and touched the mirror. Her reflection stepped out then crawled under the bed to hide while Valkyrie dressed in her school uniform and went downstairs. It had been over a week since she’d joined her parents for breakfast and she was anxious to enjoy their company. She was also determined that today was the day she’d get Skulduggery back.

Her parents talked about the broken window—her father was confident he could replace the glass himself, but her mother wasn’t so sure—and then her dad announced his plans.

“I’m taking a half-day,” he said. “I’m off to meet a few clients, take them out for a quick nine.”

Her mother looked at him. “A quick nine what?”

“I’m not sure,” he admitted. “It’s a golf term. Men my age say it all the time. I wanted to take them to the football final on Sunday, but golf this afternoon will have to do.”

“You don’t play golf,” his wife pointed out.

“But I’ve seen it on television and it looks pretty straightforward. Hit the ball with the thing.”

“Club.”

“What could be easier?”

“Your hand-eye co-ordination isn’t the best though, and you hate long walks and carrying things. And you also regularly say that you think golf is stupid.”

“Golf is stupid,” he agreed.

“Then why would you want to take your clients golfing?”

“Primarily, it’s the outfit. The V-neck jumpers with the diamond patterns and the trousers with the socks pulled up.”

“I don’t think people wear those any more.”

“Oh.”

Valkyrie often thought her parents were ideally suited to one another. She doubted that anyone else would be capable of appreciating just how odd they really were.

She finished her breakfast and went back to her room to change into her black clothes. The reflection took each item of school uniform as it was removed and put it on.