First, it wasn't because Ernie wanted to that he sat down on the edge of the bed. It was because Zacharias had told him, and while he was making his new rules, they were still in line with the ones that said he had to do what Zach said. And he had to follow those.
Second, had he just been called mate? Ernie wondered briefly if that was really how Zacharias thought of him. Maybe his dream had something to do with it? It wasn't probably, but it was a possibility. Willing himself not to turn pink, he nodded. Fine, he would eat, but only a little bit. Only enough to satisfy his stupid stomach for being... stupid.
"Why do you care if I'm skinny or not? The whole castle's full of skinny people."