“Seth,” Trelaine said, stopping us just before the doors as we were leaving, nervous again. “May I ask a question of you, as Lord Daybreak?” “Certainly, Trelaine,” I answered, curious. “You did not take the Rat Bastard’s debts when you assumed your position, did you?” “No, not at all,” I said. “It was never my intent to steal anything from him, just to remove his blight from the universe. I feel absolutely no responsibility to incur his debts or accept payments from those indebted to him. Why? Please don’t tell me you had a bargain with him.” He hesitated, looking at me worriedly, and said, “Not a bargain, but an arrangement that came after I paid my family’s bargain off. They don’t like losing their toys.” I stared at him for a moment, desperately wanting to pry into that story. “I believe you can consider that arrangement nullified, regardless of whether you benefited from it or not. And I would strongly advise you to not enter into other arrangements with the Fae. However, if anyone decides to try and call you on that arrangement, feel free to call me to arbitrate the matter. I’m fairly certain whoever tries it with you will turn and run the moment you mention my name.”
