Elixr nods.

He doesn't want to. Laurie, the things they'd do to her if he dared disobey... he shudders.

"The alternative is worse." He tells himself this every night. "People would starve. People would die. I've been to Germany." He looks her in the eye, holding her gaze. She really doesn't look any different. It's scary. "The Queen loaned me to the Cassidy's once. I...I hope I die before I see that again."