““Coco looked at him and decided to try weeping. She could summon tears at will, and though Mother could tell the genuine from the false, she knew Kerrick couldn’t. “But I’m so hungry!” Her voice rose pitifully high and her lashes moistened with tears. The struggle in Kerrick’s face pleased her. Joc laughed again and pushed a small pear into her hand. “Eat that if you’re hungry, little pretender.””
