A/N: Elaura still thinks that she's not adopted, they haven't told her yet.
The years passed and Elaura Cooper of Pirates Swoop grew into a young woman of sixteen. Her foster brother, Thom, now nineteen, was staying in the City of the Gods and George had come back that spring, bringing news of Aly's whereabouts in the Copper Isles. Alan was traveling with their adoptive uncle, Raoul, as his squire.
Which left Elaura to sulk back at the Swoop. With George on another 'mission' and Alanna in Corus, there wasn't really anything to do, except sit and stare out the window. She could've gone down to the stables and rode her mare or gone out to the practice courts, but she wanted to get her mind busy. A challenge.
Looking around the halls, she checked the halls and snuck into George's study, honey-colored eyes quickly scanning around the room. She smirked and reached for a sheathed dagger, "He did say he was going to teach me today."
Testing its weight, and pressing the tip to her finger to test sharpness, as her foster father had taught her, she took the hilt and flicked her wrist, the dagger landing knife-first in the door. Raising an eyebrow, she grinned, "I certainly have watched him do this far too many times."
Hearing a noise, and brief chatter, she quickly unstuck the knife, sheathed it, and put it back on his desk. Turning to stare out the window, she turned to the door as George came in. "You're back early." She observed, playing innocent.
George grinned, "You've begun practicing already?"
Elaura crossed her arms over her chest, "Wasn't I supposed to learn the ways of the streets?" She cocked her head, "Or are you neglecting your promises?"
"I knew you couldn't resist gettin' your hands on one of those daggers before I came back." He laughed, hazel eyes dancing.
Elaura grinned, in the years she had lived at the Swoop, she had grown close to George and loved it when he taught her his former craft: The works of a thief.
"And whys that?" she asked.
"I figured it was in your blood."
"Me? A thief?" Elaura shook her head, "It can't be 'in my blood', Father. I'm a noble through and through."
George just chuckled.
0o0
A week later, Elaura rode through Corus, and, as she came to an inn, took the slip of paper that George had given her. On it was this: "Go to the Dancing Dove. Ask for Lionhart, and tell him Baron Cooper sent you, he'll know what you mean."
Elaura looked up and nodded, the faded sign of a dove hung on a sign above her. Taking a deep breath, she composed herself, "Here goes." She knew this place was full of thieves and crooks and she'd better hide her purse. It was a relatively small purse and held only a few coins, enough for a drink at least, and she rolled her eyes as she tucked it inside her breast-band, between her breasts, yet easy to reach inconspicuously.
Walking inside, the smell of ale, and smoke was overpowering and the noise was deafening. Walking up to the bartender, she plastered on a blank expression, "I'm looking for Lionhart, have you seen him?"
The bartender peered at her his face skeptical, "Yeah, I've seen him. What's your business here, lady?"
"On a mission for the Rogue." Was all she said, it was pretty much the whole truth.
After pointing to a lone table in the corner, the bartender offered her a tankard of lemonade. When she reached for her purse and pulled it out, the bartender shook his head, "It's on the house."
Nodding, she took the drink and sat where the bartender had pointed. A man sat, staring into a tankard, tracing the rim with a finger. Elaura set the mug down and sat as the man looked up. "Are you Lionhart?" she asked.
"Yes." The man was cautious, she realized, and it would be tricky to get information from him. Her next statement was asked carefully, "I've been looking for you. Baron Cooper sent me."
The man looked up sharply, "Baron Cooper?" Elaura noticed a flash of sadness in his eyes before he took her hand, "What news does he bring about her?"
"Her?" Elaura eyebrows rose.
"Elaura." Was the thief's answer and the woman felt her knees go weak and her throat dry up.
"You must be mistaken, sir." She managed to whisper, looking up and seeing Lionhart's back tense.
"Your eyes…" he murmured, shaking his head. "A woman I once knew had those same eyes. She's dead now, but, oh, do I ever remember."
Elaura felt her stomach churn and the room spin and she gripped the table for support. Quickly standing, she mumbled apologies and hurried out.
Mounting her horse, she rode at a gallop, back to the Swoop, tears blinding her. "What in Mithros' name was the man talking about?"
Wiping her eyes, she calmed down and shook her head, slowing the horse to a canter, "He spoke as if the Elaura he was talking about was his daughter!" "I'm not a thief, I am part of Pirates Swoop!"