"No! Because, um-" here he frowned, and then parroted in his most obedient voice as he traced the patterns in the leatherwork on his father's belt. "Because lying is wrong and dishonest and boys who lie go to bed with no dinner. But Baba, if she doesn't ask about climbing trees and you don't tell her then it's not lying, I promise!"

He did his very best to look earnest and as honourable and grown up as he knew he should be aged seven and three quarters and about to start training to be an Assassin.

"Besides even if you did lie then Mama would know. It's her special power."