Skulduggery Pleasant: Books 1 - 12

“I meant the risk you took with being seen.”

“It had to be done. This troll has killed many innocent people.”

“But that’s what trolls do. You can’t blame him for doing what nature intended.” She didn’t know how to respond. Mr Bliss smiled.

“I’m not berating you,” he said. “You’ve done a noble and selfless thing. That is to be admired.”

“Thank you.”

“You puzzle me, however. I have been keeping an eye on your progress over the last few years. It is unusual to find a mage, even an Adept like you, focusing as heavily on physical conflict as you have done. Yet you don’t seek power.”

“I just want to help people.”

“And that is what puzzles me.”

“My mother used to tell me stories about the war,” she said. “I think you may be forgetting some selfless acts of your own.”

Mr Bliss smiled softly. “There is no heroism in war – there are simply things that need to be done. The heroes come later. But I am not here to discuss philosophies.”

He looked at her with his startling blue eyes. “A storm is brewing, Miss Low. Coming events will threaten to turn the tide of power in this world, and so I have left my place of solitude and come here, searching for you. I have a need for someone of your ability and your outlook.”

“I’m not sure I understand.”

“The sorcerer Serpine is about to break the Truce. If I fail in my endeavours, we will once again slip into war. I need you on our side.”

“It would be an honour,” Tanith said.

“We have much to learn from each other,” Mr Bliss responded, bowing. “Make your way to Ireland,” he said, “and I will be in touch with you soon.”

She nodded and he walked away. Tanith threw the troll’s head into the Thames and, hiding her sword under her coat, walked off in the other direction.