If Erskine didn't know, that was probably for the best. He and Skulduggery's newfound tolerance didn't stretch all the way to trust. Cain, Skulduggery didn't know nearly as well, but at least he was a friend. Someone Skulduggery had relied on in the past. Someone Bakura would, hopefully, overlook.

"Bakura doesn't seem the type to use a favour simply because it's there," Skulduggery mused. "It's more likely he wants the option just in case something goes wrong in the future. Are you telling me this because you need as many people as possible to be aware of it, or because you're hoping I have advice on how to handle yourself in the meantime?"

If it was the latter - and it certainly sounded like that was the case - then Anton might have to be disappointed. Despite the centuries of war and conflict, Skulduggery was hardly an expert.