"I don't care if they're lying," Alistair says--looking back at the girl, and enough of a sucker for eye contact and apparent sincerity that he briefly crooks one corner of his mouth up for her. Calling it a smile would be incredibly charitable, with how far it falls from reaching his eyes, but the intent is there. "We'll sort it out later."

And figure out who's doing the babysitting when they're out of here.