Typical Shuos -- going for a lie when a good half-truth would be perfectly adequate.

Sinjir shakes his head.

He has bargaining power, he thinks. This man came here looking for Sinjir. (It's just a guess, but: he didn't see the man look for Sinjir's shadow, or express any surprise at the lack; the man has expressed no interest in anyone else here, nor did he dally with anyone before Sinjir; and he seems quite focused. Fox nonsense, Sinjir thinks, most likely, but Sinjir has nothing better to do, as long as this involves getting himself somewhat pickled, alcohol-wise.)

"I won't take a lie," he says. "A fraction of the truth, sure. Not a lie." That is his condition.