Part of her, the part of her that's wrapped fingers around his throat and put a knife to his skin, hates seeing his tears. But, the part of her that's playing a role, pretending that this is fine and like she's here for any reason that isn't so she can tell the Barrayar exactly what he gave up to the Cetagandans.

She looks cool and all but impassive, buries everything else deep -- compartmentalization is easy. If anything, she looks almost curious as Ghem-Yulang explains about the control questions, and Natasha nods as if she doesn't have an extensive knowledge of how interrogation works. As much as she's used chemical interrogation herself, she much prefers the idea of physical torture.

It's easier to ignore. "Is that a normal effect of the fastpenta?" The drugs that she had back home could have made him scream. She wasn't entirely sure which option was kinder.