[ Byerly's smile broadens, but grows little more convincing. ]

How I would define family... [ He makes a show of thinking. ] I'd define family as - the people, where when they die, you get their money. [ Then, with a laugh - ] The Vorrutyer clan has never been one that people would call affectionate.

[ Never mind that the children before them give the lie to that. The two of them, By and his sister, are incredibly warm with one another, incredibly sweet. But it's typically Byerly's way to lie, constantly, even when the truth is obvious, just to sow confusion. It's a rather effective strategy, at times. ]