By the rules of her world, neither thing should have been possible, but she still didn't know exactly how the boon had effected its change on her, and suddenly she was loath to say impossible, either. Slightly paler, Raine stared at Solomon for a moment. "I think I'll avoid experimenting, in this instance," she said. One hand rose to her collarbone, not entirely a conscious gesture. "If that's the technique your boon has the greatest effect on, though, the fact you've retained it does at least make some sense."

The elephant in the room really did need to be addressed, didn't it. Raine fell back on helping with what was left of Skulduggery to put together, handing bones to the appropriate people more than anything else. "Blood magic... Yes, I heard about that. I had been under the impression the matter was resolved, but... you think there's more to it." She could almost see where he was going. "If this effect is something more to keep us out of the way than anything else, adding to the discord caused by the taint, and if preventing the interruption of a blood ritual or rituals is the goal..."

Raine shook her head, and sat back a little. "It's a lot of ifs, none of which we're currently in a position to do anything about. If it is up to something, it's likely using the Palace. Difficult to interrupt in any case. A false sense of security would fit with the idea that we're being pointed away from interfering... hm. Why is it you're sure we're keeping the boons because of rather than in spite of our enemy?"