Skulduggery Pleasant: Last Stand of Dead Men Read Online Free

his friend suffer.
    Beside Ravel sat Madame Mist, her face covered by that black veil she always wore. He’d often wondered if her features were as unsightly as his own, but decided that no, the veil was probably some piece of tradition that the Children of the Spider had chosen to keep alive.
    Across from Ravel and Mist, Illori Reticent sat patiently. A pretty woman with a beautiful mind, Illori’s smile grew warm when she saw him.
    “Elder Bespoke,” she said, rising to meet him, “so good to see you again.”
    “Elder Reticent,” said Ghastly, shaking her hand. “Sorry I’m late.”
    “You’re not late, we’re early, which in some circumstances can be twice as rude as being late.”
    Ghastly glanced at the man and woman standing behind her, their backs to the wall and their expressions vacant. “You only came with two bodyguards, I see.”
    “Of course,” Illori said, smiling innocently. “I’m not in any danger, am I? I am among friends, yes?”
    “Indeed you are,” said Ghastly, smiling back at her. “It’s nice that you remember. So many of your fellow mages seem to have forgotten that fact.”
    “Well, they’re not here, and I am, so I have been granted the honour of speaking for the whole of the Supreme Council. And I have some things I’d like to discuss with you.”
    “Then let’s get started,” Ghastly said, and took up his place at Ravel’s side.
    Illori looked at them all before speaking again. “The Irish Sanctuary has been at the forefront of the battle against oppression and tyranny for the last six hundred years, ever since Mevolent’s rise to power. We recognise that, and we appreciate that. Until recently, your Council of Elders was the most respected Council of any territory in living memory.”
    Ravel nodded. “Until recently.”
    “That’s no secret, surely. The death of Eachan Meritorious was a great loss to us all, but for Ireland it signalled the beginning of a rapid slide into uncertainty, aided no doubt when Thurid Guild’s brief time as Grand Mage ended with his imprisonment. Again and again, the Irish Sanctuary has been battered by enemies from without and within.”
    “And again and again we have triumphed,” said Ghastly.
    “Indeed you have,” said Illori, “thanks to some exemplary work by your operatives. But your Sanctuary has been weakened. When the next attack comes, you may not be strong enough to prevail. So I have come to you with a solution, should you be agreeable.”
    “This’ll be interesting,” Ravel muttered.
    “Before the Sanctuaries, there were communities. Each of these communities was ruled by twelve village Elders. Each of these twelve would oversee a different aspect of village life, but, when the time came to make important decisions, all twelve votes were counted equally.”
    “We know our own history,” said Ravel. “We also know that when the Sanctuaries were established, the unwieldy twelve was cut down to a more practical three. Even the communities that are around today haven’t kept up with the old ways.”
    “Even so,” Illori said, “lessons can be learned. We propose the establishment of a supporting Council of nine – five mages of our choosing, four of yours – to help you in the running of your affairs. This would leave you with a majority of seven to five, and it would mean you had more sorcerers, more Cleavers, and more resources. Your Sanctuary would remain under your full control and it would be returned to its former strength.”
    Ravel looked at her. “I’m curious as to why you think we would possibly say yes to this.”
    “Because it’s a fair proposal. You retain full control—”
    “We retain full control now,” said Mist. “Why would we change?”
    “Because the current situation is not acceptable.”
    “To you,” said Ravel.
    “To us, yes,” said Illori. “There are members of the Supreme Council who view you as dangerous and reckless and they continually call for action against you.