Well, Skulduggery had no reason to lie, but Solomon still had to hesitate. If not that, then what? What could be so terrible that the great Skulduggery Pleasant would lower himself to tactility at all, let alone someone with whom he was only just beginning to repair a relationship?

Did Solomon want to know?

That thought was an odd one, but Solomon let it grow and studied Skulduggery, the way he hadn't moved, his posture. He didn't slouch, exactly, but there wasn't as much precision in the way he carried himself, either. As if he was too tired to care. And, to his surprise, Solomon found he didn't want to know. For whatever reason Solomon was here now, with no intention of going back without the memories he'd made here--or at all, if he didn't have to. What did he have that was worth going back to? And since there wasn't anything at all, what good was it to know things he wouldn't have to experience?

In the end Solomon shrugged and tossed the stone into the wheelbarrow, and turned back to the half demolished arch. "As you please. When has anyone been able to stop you, anyway?"