George Cooper had given his grandson the grand tour of the Swoop, as promised. From the highest tower to the lowest dungeon, George had insisted that his grandson see it all. Every last inch of the enormous structure. Eleni was awed at first, but after three floors and seven different types of masonry, Eleni didn't care much for the old castle.

The Lioness had been lucky enough to be able to disappear at the beginning of the tour, mumbling something under her breath as a feeble excuse.

Which meant, of course, that Eleni, said grandson in disguise, had walked more in those few hours than she had in the last week she had spent at sea, all alone with her smitten Grandfather. her feet ached, and more than once, she wondered why anyone would design a castle this large. I think the man hates me. He's still the Rogue under his title. Only a King of Thieves can trick a poor child into coming along for this torture. Why? Why couldn't I have normal relatives who owned a small fief? Mithros, I swear I'm about to collapse in the next room.

"And this is your room." With all the grace of a professional player, George waved his grandchild into her new bedroom. The room was plain, but welcoming, housing a comfortable bed, clothes-press, bureau, and writing desk. "I hope you like it, we tried to model it off of Alan's room when he was younger. If you need something else, you can just-"

Eleni ignored everything except the bed. Without listening to what her grandfather was saying, she threw herself on the soft bed, drowning in the wonderful feather mattress. After a few seconds, she realized how rude she had been and turned around on the bed, only to see what was outside her window.

The ocean. As far as the eye could see, and hers could see very far, there was nothing but water. She had to get closer, as close as she could.

It didn't bother the old Rogue that he was being ignored, because, in the end, the room had had the desired effect on Eleni. "The Isles are that way." George knew that this room would be the best for his grandson, and had spent days relocating his office and making it a room fir for a young lad. Now he was content to forget the trouble it had to do so, and admire the joy on Eleni's face as she inched closer to the window sill. "Do you like it?"

"Yes, Gra-," Eleni's voice broke. This is wrong. I shouldn't be lying to them, the only family I have here. Grandfather is so kind, I know this room must have been special to him. And the Lioness, all my fears were for nothing. She's so gentle, nothing at all like I had imagined. Ma made her sound like a Stormwing. Eleni gazed longingly out the window.I wish Da could tell me what to do.She was glad that she could look of at her home, even if she couldn't see it. The knowledge that her Ma, Da, and brothers were all just an ocean away, gave her comfort. Clearing her throat she tried again, calmly this time, "Yes, Grandfather. I love this room, more than I can say."

George could detect a lie. If he hadn't been able to, he never would have managed to stay alive as the Rogue for more than a decade. He didn't know what the little one was lying about, but he was Tortall's Spymaster. If he couldn't get information out of a ten-year-old, then why bother continuing? Worth a try.

"You want to tell me the truth?" The fact that Eleni paled considerably, was all the proof he needed. No reason to hold back now. "I won't be mad, you know. Your Grandma and I used to get in trouble all the time, even Jon got in trouble. Come on, lad, the truth, now."

Eleni was frozen. Had Mithros and the Goddess descended upon them now wearing pink taffeta ball gowns she wouldn't have blinked. How? How did he figure it out? Gods curse it, I don't want to be sent back! I want to win my shield. They'd never let me stay once they find out the truth. I was careful, wasn't I? I'm still young enough that they can't tell I'm not Myles. What went wrong?

All the while George watch Eleni go from deathly white to darkening shades of green. "Myles, lad, calm down." Eleni swallowed the mouthful of bile that threatened to pass her lips. Sure that the Myles wouldn't be sick in his new room, George tried again, "I didn't mean anything by it, Myles, my lad. Just thought you might have you wanted off your chest, Myles. Maybe a fight with Aly made you leave? Myles, you know those aren't the right motivations to gain a shield. If there's something you want to share, Myles, I'll always-"

"Stop it!" Eleni couldn't take it anymore. The guilt kept forcing the bile back up her throat. I'm horrible. Grandpa's trying to make me feel so welcome and safe and sure, and I'm lying to his face. "Grandfather, the truth is-"

George knew. Well, not knew, but he was willing to hazard a guess. The lad was afraid of his own name, every mention made his face turning his face a darker and sicklier shade of green. He knew how to read people, and he was glad to discover that he hadn't lost his touch. He knew. And that raised more questions.

"Eleni Crow, stop." For the second time in the span of five minutes, Eleni froze. "No," George said, raising a hand to silence her. "You're making the same mistake your Grandma made. No, no talking just yet." George walked back to the door, never once looking away from his grandchild. Bolting it with one hand, he signaled to Eleni to stand with the other.

Like a falcon circling a scared rabbit began his second assessment of his grandchild. Seconds passed by, and then minutes, and then Eleni could of sworn that years had passed since her grandfather had guessed the truth. But it had only been five minutes.

Five minutes under the watch of a man who could destroy her plans.