For a terrifying moment, Valkyrie thought her dad might actually respond. But the silence stretched on, and eventually he backed off, not exactly chagrined but definitely regretting what he'd just been told. "I'm sorry."

"I told you," said Skulduggery. "He was brainwashed. He isn't anymore. Just leave it at that."

Des nodded slowly, distractedly, before turning his full attention very suddenly onto Valkyrie. "Yes, I have other questions. What did you change your name to?"

That, for some reason, was easy. "Valkyrie. Valkyrie Cain."

Her dad blinked. "Cain?"

"Yeah. You know, like that old expression? Raising Cain? To make trouble."

"You changed your last name?"

Valkyrie froze. She hadn't even thought about the implications of that. "Everyone does. Last names aren't really last names. They're just... names. They don't sever family connections or anything like that. Besides, it would have been kind of obvious if I went around calling myself Valkyrie Edgley."

"You changed your last name," Des repeated, "without telling us?"

"It's not legal. It just keeps people from being able to control me."