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'Aye, and s, both exquisites and ordinaries,' answered Grier as he added, 'None of it paid for, in coin of the House or in Denizens to work my Pit'

'You know that not having been paid your just debts, you s of the debtor If you had already served a distraint upon the formerMister Monday, and the Court of Days had decreed that the Mastery and the Key be given up to you, then –' The er's point was clear to Grim Tuesday If he had asked for payment from Mister Monday before Arthur had taken over, then Arthur would have inherited Mister Monday's debt

'But I did not serve a distraint,' Griood faith'

The taller Denizen s roll of parcher as it came out, till he unrolled a scroll the size of a s, and several large round seals of gold hung froed colour every few seconds

'Fortunately the Court was able to hold a special sitting that was deemed to have taken place an instant beforeMisterMonday was deposed, and I am pleased to say that you have won your case, Griainst Monday's successors, and special leave has been granted for you to pursue that debt in the Secondary Realms as well'

'They will appeal,' grunted Tuesday, but he reached out and took the parchment

'They have,' said the er He drew a cheroot fro blue flaer He took a deep draw and blew out a long thread of silver sly smoke above 'Or rather, the Steward has That entity that was formerly Part One of the Will and now calls itself Daon has any idea about what is going on'

'I like not these legal niceties,' grumbled Grim Tuesday He pulled at his chin with ato hiain to me and my realm Besides, I see the seals of only three of the Morrow Days upon this document'

'You need only set your own seal there, and it will be four of seven A majority, and the Lower House is yours'

Grier 'I would naturally keep the First Key if I a what I am owed?'

'Naturally All that, and anything you ht acquire in the Secondary Realms'

The hint of a smile flickered across Grim Tuesday's face He could inherit the First Key and everything else that was Arthur's 'And there will be no interference?' he asked 'No matter what I do in the Secondary Realms?'

'As far as ourofficeis concerned, you have pero to this world, this Earth, and do what you need to recover your debt,' said the er 'It would be best to avoid anyshall we sayfla or destruction, but I think you will be safe from prosecution otherwise'

Grim Tuesday looked down at the parchely yellow, alold Finally he pressed one gauntleted thuainst the parchht, and a fourth seal ainst the others, its rainbow ribbon sending a ripple of light across the parchment

The two ers applauded softly, while thethe train, till they were beaten on again by the Overseers Griauntlet The docue stamp and easily tucked in under his wrist

'There is one other er He seemed suddenly more cheerful and less reserved

'A ser with a smile He had not spoken before and his unexpected speech h his voice was mellow and s a shaft that has broken through into Nothing?'

'It is taken care of,' snapped the Gri will not break into my Pit or the Far Reaches! I cannot speak for the other parts of the House, but we have Nothing well in hand here I understand Nothing as no one else does!'

The lance, too fast for Grim Tuesday to catch, was hidden in the shadows cast by the bri hats

'Your proith Nothing is well known, sir,' said the first h the sealed passage into Nothing'

'A little soer He pulled out a small square of cloth It looked clean and white, but a very close observation with a , done in the tiniest letters of dull silver, letters no higher than a single thread

'It will dissolve, be destroyed,' said the Grim, puzzlement on his face 'What is the point of that?'

'A whim of the one we serve'

'A notion An experih!What is this cloth?'

'It is a pocket,' said the first er 'Or was one once Of a shirt'

'Ripped untimely from a uniform Shorn from a school chemise –' 'Bah! Riddles and rubbish!' exclaimed Griauntlet 'I will do as you ask, if only to hear noTake your !'

The two htly and turned on their heels The crowd of the Grim's servants parted before them as they strode away towards the banks of elevator doors at the rear of the station As always, these elevators were guarded by Overseers, the most trusted of Grim Tuesday's servants Clad in breastplates of dull bronze over black coats of thick leather, their faces hidden by long-snouted heluns and broad-bladed swords called falchions, and usually terrified all who beheld theers and bowed their heads