( He accepts all the twigs, mentally going, they probably could have been kindling... in other circumstances. Where they weren't trying to raise funds fast, to get out of town similarly quickly. Without drawing attention.

He offers a lopsided smile, holding all these twigs. )

You weren't even lying. This is a rare tree to this world, as far as we can assume right now, it doesn't even exist. So, say, hand-carved hairpins from two foreign masters made from the wood of an impossible to find tree is all true. Does it matter what kind of masters? Why the tree is impossible to find?

( He lifts his shoulders up a touch, shaking his head and sighing. )

The best lies are true, with enough said to let people draw their own conclusions.