"Spill, then. I promise no decapitation will ensue."

...Miles snorts.

"It is! Haut-ladies look like they ought to be standing very still on top of shrines watching people lay gifts at their feet and occasionally striking people with lightning, and she keeps - coming with you to the cafeteria and eating more than I do and having facial expressions. Is that why they kicked her out?"

"She's unusual but not that unusual. Hell, their empress laughed like a normal person right in front of you, don't you remember?"

"I was pretty distracted by vividly imagining Uncle Aral taking me to task for letting you go on excessive adventures when Aunt Cordelia expressly told me to keep you out of trouble."

Snort. "I'm sure it won't be that bad."

"Oh, I agree, I think I will probably get off a lot easier than you will for this one."

"I averted one or more wars, isn't that going to count for something?"

"It counts for the Order of Merit and a haut-wife. I don't know what to expect from Barrayaran people-who-determine-what-things-count-for-how-much."

"It had better at least count for letting me keep the haut-wife."

"Hell of a thing."

"Yeah. But I'm going to hope it doesn't come to that. It shouldn't come to that."

"And if it looks like it's going to you'll improvise, I imagine."

"Naturally."

"Am I likely to be dragged into it?" sighs Ivan.

"I have no idea."

"You could warn a fellow, you know, it'd make me a little less resentful about it."

"I will give you all the warning I possess to give, Ivan."

"That's more or less the problem."

He sighs.

"Right, well, I'm off to try to find something decent to read, maybe work on my report."

"Have fun."