Bracken reads Seth

  "I can tell more than that," Bracken said, moving the stool closer to the cot. "Mind if I conduct a little test?"

  "Depends on the test. "

  "Nothing painful," Bracken assured him. He tossed the glowing rock onto the cot. "Just take my hands. " He held them out, palms up.

  "This is weird," Seth said, keeping his hands in his lap.

  "I just want to ask you a couple of questions. If I ask something you don't like, go ahead and punch me in the face. "

  Seth set his meat brick aside and took Bracken's hands. Bracken gazed into his eyes. "Tell me your name. "

  "Seth Sorenson. "

  "Tell me a lie. "

  "The food here is terrific. " Bracken grinned.

  "Tell me something true."

  "Centaurs are jerks. "

  The grin broadened. "Are you a friend of the Society of the Evening Star?"

  "Nope. I'm the opposite. A Knight of the Dawn. "

  Bracken released his hands and scooted the stool back. "I believe you. In fact, I know some things about you. You have friends here. "

  "My parents?" Seth said hopefully.

  "Your parents might be here, but not in a cell we can access. "

  "So what are you, a human lie detector?"

  "I'm good at reading people. I wanted a close look at you. They've sent down stingbulbs before. Now I know you're not a stingbulb, or a changeling. More important, your friends might have been mistaken about your allegiances. Hard to believe a shadow charmer could be on our side. But now I'm convinced. "

Chapter 8