With the vines gone, he's free to relax entirely, shoulders slouching some. Childermass rarely shows it, but it is a tiring discussion to have, especially when it ends with him endangering a child yet again. He should just leave, abandon Steven with out telling him where the way into the gardens will be, and hope against hope he doesn't try to break back in on his own.

Only, he can't help but include to himself, resigned even in his own thoughts, that's exactly what he would do, isn't it? If it were Childermass's own mother, well, he would leave her there to rot. Greg isn't anything like her, though, Summer Court dealings aside. Losing someone who actually cares...

"Very well," he says this time, even if he doesn't sound at all enthusiastic about it. "You may want to get some practice in with your vines before, though. You're going to need all the help you can get."