“We had so many arguments about it. I was focusing so much on keeping all of this away from your dad. I was terrified that Gordon would do or say something that’d make Des realise that it was all true. And then what would he do? Would he change his life, now that he knew magic was out there? Would he take Melissa with him? Would he take you with him? Would he ruin your lives as well as his own?” Fergus shook his head. “I saw some of Gordon’s friends, over the years. I met this beautiful woman. My God, she was beautiful. The first time I saw her, I actually fell in love with her. Can you imagine that? I actually fell in love. I was ready to leave Beryl for her, for this woman who barely even noticed me. That’s magic for you, isn’t it? It can ruin your life with one little glance. I saw others, too. That tall man, the one who was at the reading of Gordon’s will, you remember him?”

“Skulduggery Pleasant,” Valkyrie said softly.

“Oh,” said Fergus. “So you do remember him.”

“Yeah.”

“Magic ruined our family. My grandfather and my father argued about it constantly. Gordon and my father barely spoke because of it. And Gordon and me… When he died, we hadn’t spoken in four years. Four whole years, I didn’t speak to my own brother. I cry about that at night, you know. Some nights, I just can’t help it. Don’t let this ruin your family, Stephanie. Your parents love you. Your dad loves you. Do you know what he’d do if anything bad ever happened to you?”

“Nothing bad is going to happen.”

“Don’t insult my intelligence,” he said, glaring. “I was never as smart as either of my brothers, but I’m not stupid, either. If you’re involved in that world, your life is in danger.”

Valkyrie said nothing.

“I don’t want you teaching my daughters anything,” he said.

“I don’t want to either, I swear I don’t. They saw me do something last year, and they’ve been at me ever since. I think I can convince them that they don’t have any magic, and then hopefully they’ll stop trying.”

“Do I have your word on that?”

“Yes. Of course.”

“I’m holding you responsible if anything… magical ever happens to them.”

“OK,” she said.

He nodded, looked out to sea, and then back to her. “I’m sorry I shouted at you.”

“It’s fine. Really.”

“Are you going to be teaching Alice any of this? When she’s old enough?”

“I… don’t know. I’d prefer not to.”

“Then you understand why I don’t want my girls taught?”

“Yes.”

He nodded again, then looked down at his feet. “Give our best to your mother,” he said.

“Sure.”

He turned, started to walk away.