The fact that Raine didn't immediately recoil in horror allowed some of the tension to roll out of Solomon's back, though it was with some surprise that he realised it. Somehow, he wasn't quite sure how, Raine's opinion had become important to him--enough that he was actually worried about her reaction.

It was ridiculous. It was ... familiar. Now that he thought about it, in fact, she was similar to Morwenna Crow in many ways.

Such as that. He couldn't help but laugh slightly. Morwenna had wanted him to cultivate the death-aura too--if only to have someone powerful enough to contest Lord Vile. "No," he agreed. "Not often at all. In fact, the last time anyone used it, the user murdered thousands, if not millions, of people. Necromancy ... is addictive."

The last was said both grimly and with an air of resignation. He looked around at the mushroom, and even knowing what she said was logical, he still hesitated. "It ... might be dangerous for you if I did."

It was logical. He might not get a better chance. And yet he wasn't sure whether he wanted to.