First published in Great Britain by
HarperCollins Childrenâs Books in 2010
First published in this edition in the United States of America by HarperCollins Childrenâs Books in 2018
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Skulduggery Pleasant rests his weary bones on the web at:
www.skulduggerypleasant.com
Derek Landy blogs under duress at
www.dereklandy.blogspot.com
Text copyright © Derek Landy 2010
Illuminated letters copyright © Tom Percival 2010
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Cover illustration © Neil Swabb
Derek Landy asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of the work.
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Source ISBN: 9780008266363
Ebook Edition © 2017 ISBN: 9780008266370
Version: 2018-07-25
This book is dedicated, with great reluctance, to myeditor, Nick Lake, because he is forcing me to.
Personally, I would have liked to include Gillie Russelland Michael Stearns who, along with Nick, reallywelcomed me into the publishing world with myfirst book.
Unfortunately, because Nick is now my sole editor, he hasthreatened to edit this dedication down to anunrecognisable mess of blacked-out lines, and so as aresult this dedication is to him, and him alone.
Personally I think that this shows a staggering amount of and , which proves that Nick is nothing but a with for , but hey, thatâs justmy personal opinion.
Here, Nick. You finally get a book dedicated to you.
Hope youâre happy.
. (Editorâs Note: Nick Lake is a great guy.)
he doors swung open and High Priest Auron Tenebrae strode into the room, his robe swirling around his tall, narrow frame. To his right was Quiver, a miser with words, but overly generous with withering glares. To Tenebraeâs left, Craven, a bland sycophant, possessed of an uncanny skill to worm his way into his superiorâs good graces. Solomon Wreath had been seeing far too much of all three lately.
âCleric Wreath,â Tenebrae said, nodding imperiously at him.
âYour Eminence,â Wreath responded, bowing deeply. âTo what do I owe the honour?â
âWhy do you think weâre here?â Craven said, almost sneered. âYouâre late with your report. Did you think the High Priest would forget? Do you think him a fool?â
âI do not think him a fool, no,â Wreath answered calmly. âBut as to the intelligence of the people who accompany him, Iâm afraid I cannot say.â
âAn insult!â Craven screeched. âHow dare you! How dare you use a derogatory tone in the presence of the High Priest!â