[He's silent another moment before speaking quietly, looking off to one side somewhere.  Seems the thought pushed itself to the forefront after all.  And if he sounds even just /half/ as old as he's feeling right now…]

  Listen, youngling . . . just because you've made an oath to someone doesn't mean you have to stick to it if things turn out to not be the way you think they are now.  If the deal rusts on you, get out.   The earlier, the better, before you let yourself get to a point that you can't.  Don’t try to stick it out thinking maybe you're just reading things wrong.  Chances are, you're not.

  [Voice of experience?  You bet.]