[ Despite himself, rage bubbles up. Hickey is rarely one to let his emotions get the best of him, but after the insanity of the past week, there's only so much he can do to tamp back his anger. ]

Bugger off. I did no such thing. The two of us made an arrangement—one that I never put to use, mind.

[ Hwylryn's head raises and Hickey squares up to match him. Foolishly, perhaps, he's not about to be intimidated. He steps forward. ]

Here's another thing I never did: I didn't ask a child to bloody his hands on my behalf.