He offers a shrug in return. "You asked me what I would do," he says. With a thin smile, he says, "I am not you, Sonia, and I cannot do what you do. No one would follow me into battle, nor have their heart turned by my words. The only thing I'm generally able to move people to do is leave the room when I walk in. You, on the other hand..."

Another shrug. "Because if you stay in this room, the only thing you can do to contribute to the war effort is eat as much food as humanly possible so that they have to spend a little more money to keep you prisoner. And then if you do that, you'll get so fat that when the Barrayarans try to rescue you they won't be able to haul you out of the room. Do you want to break poor Armsman Galavas' back with your corpulence?"