“Define the risk,” she invites him, since it seems likely that she has at least enough time for this conversation, and because she wishes to know if he's as willing as seems to speak upon it.

Isaac would be less burdensome upon her thoughts if he had less potential use; if he were easily dismissed, then she easily might dismiss him. And yet.

“What does she ask to defect?”

More to the point: who is shouldering the burden of making it possible for her to do so?