Tenebrae looked at Valkyrie. “He’s quite an angry man, isn’t he? It’s why his enemies are so scared of him, I suppose. I would even venture so far as to say it’s why you’re still alive. Don’t misunderstand me, Valkyrie – you are becoming a capable sorcerer and a formidable opponent in your own right. But there are plenty of people out there who would love to kill you, and could do so relatively easily. The idea, however, that to kill you would incur the wrath of the Skeleton Detective is, in my opinion, the only reason you still draw breath. I hope you’re not offended.”

Valkyrie looked back at him, and didn’t say anything.

“But there is a common misconception that must be addressed here and now,” Tenebrae continued. “The legend of Skulduggery Pleasant is that his wife and child were murdered and he returned, fuelled by rage and a need for vengeance. A nice legend. Romantic, intimidating, ticks all the boxes that a legend should tick. Naturally, the only ingredient missing is the truth.”

“Please,” Skulduggery said, “enlighten us.”

“You were always an angry man,” Tenebrae said. “When you were alive, you just hid it better, hid it from your loving wife and your loving child. But I saw it, on the battlefield. That’s when you allowed it to surface. That’s when you allowed the real you to appear.”

“I must tell you, Auron, that amateur psychoanalysts do not impress me.”

“I wouldn’t expect them to, but I have proof. I had a theory and I tested it, and my suspicions were confirmed. Valkyrie, Solomon Wreath told me that when you were fighting the Faceless Ones, you used his cane. Is that correct?”

“Yes,” Valkyrie said. “He told me to.”

“Of course he did. If he hadn’t given you permission, the moment you tried to use it the power inside would have killed you. You took that cane and you used that Necromancer power, instinctively and without training, and he saw in you a great potential. The same potential I saw in Skulduggery, all those years ago.”

Skulduggery tilted his head. “What are you talking about?”

“Remember Prussia? This was a few months after you were married. Mevolent’s people had raided the Necromancer Temple where I was studying. I was one of the only survivors, and we linked up with you and your team and tracked the raiding party across the mountains.”

“I remember,” Skulduggery said. “It took us three weeks to catch up with them. Morwenna Crow was with us.”

“That’s right. My dear Morwenna, the only Necromancer to serve on the Council of Elders. Yes, she was a fellow survivor.”

“I spent most of the time talking to her. I don’t think you and I exchanged more than five words.”

Tenebrae nodded. “One of the closest friendships I’ve ever had.”

“You’re a sad little man.”