Once the hugging was done, Valkyrie stepped back and composed herself. She smoothed the front of her outfit (how lovely was it to have her magical clothes again?) and straightened her hair.

Then, she punched Skulduggery in the arm. Hard.

"You were supposed to come get me," she said. "I spent several months in another dimension, and I bet you didn't even know I was gone. I'm very cross."