"So?" Beth said. "What's the difference? Just because I can't stop everyone from mistreating their cattle doesn't mean I need to beat my cattle and torture them."
"Ridiculous," Nolan said dismissively. "There's no strategic value in beating your cattle in your contrived example. However, there is strategic value in letting our men have their way with some of these women, or even beating down the rest of the slaves when necessary. It keeps our men's morale stable, and it keeps the spirit of the slavers crushed."
"I…" Beth looked at him, gobsmacked, unable to understand that kind of cold hard logic. Eventually, she must have decided against arguing further, for she merely spat at his feet and walked away.
"Strange," Nolan noted. "I do not believe I said anything wrong. Besides, this works out better for all of us, does it not?"
"You'll ruin the women," Vol pointed out. "In that, she has a point."
