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sent me to find Miles, sir.
I did. Somehow, I don t think that was what he really had in mind.
Vordrozda turned in the circle to glare furiously at Hessman, who was goggling at Ivan. You
Vordrozda hissed at the Admiral, voice venomous with rage. He caught himself up almost instantly,
straightening his crouch, relaxing his hands from clawed rakes to elegant curves once again.
Miles swept a bow to the encircling assemblage, ending it on one knee in the direction of the dais. My
leige and my lords. I would have been here sooner, but my invitation was lost in the mail. To attest this I
wish to call Lord Ivan Vorpatril as my witness.
Gregor s young face stared down at him, stiff, dark eyes troubled and distant. The Emperor s gaze
turned in bewilderment to his new advisor, standing in the speaker s circle. His old advisor, Count
Vorkosigan, looked wonderfully enlightened; his lips drew back in a tigerish smile.
Miles too glanced at Vordrozda from the corner of his eye. Now, he thought, instantly, is the time to
push. By the time the Lord Guardian of the Circle admits Ivan with all due ceremony, they will have
recovered. Give them sixty seconds to confer on the bench, and they will concoct new lies of utmost
reasonableness, leaving it their word against ours in the hideous gamble of a stacked Council vote.
Hessman, yes, it was Hessman he must put the wind up. Vordrozda was too supple to stampede. Strike
now, and cleave the conspiracy in half.
He swallowed, cleared his locked throat, and swung to his feet. I challenge Admiral Hessman, here
before you, lords, on charges of sabotage, murder, and attempted murder. I can prove he ordered the
sabotage of Captain Dimir s Imperial fast courier, resulting in the horrible deaths of all aboard her; I can
prove his intent that my cousin Ivan have been among them.
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You are out of order, cried Vordrozda. These insane charges do not belong in the Council of Counts.
You must make them in a military court, if you make them at all, traitor.
Where Admiral Hessman, most conveniently, must stand them alone, since you, Count Vordrozda,
cannot be tried there, said Miles immediately.
Count Vorkosigan was tapping his fist softly on his desk, leaning forward urgently toward Miles; his lips
formed a silent litany, yes, go, go...
Miles, encouraged, raised his voice. He will stand alone, and he will die alone, since he has only his
own unwitnessed word that his crimes were by your order. They were unwitnessed, were they not,
Admiral? Do you really think that Count Vordrozda will be so overcome by emotions of loyalty to a
comrade as to endorse that word?
Hessman was dead white, breathing heavily, stare flicking back and forth between Vordrozda ana Ivan.
Miles could see the panic blossoming in his eyes.
Vordrozda, straddling the circle, gestured jerkily at Miles. My lords, this is not a defense. He merely
hopes to camouflage his guilt by these wild counter-accusations, and totally out of order at that! My Lord
Guardian, I appeal to you to restore order!
The Lord Guardian of the Circle began to rise, stopped, speared by a penetrating stare from Count
Vorkosigan. He sank back weakly to his bench. This is certainly very irregular... he managed, then ran
down. Count Vorkosigan smiled approvingly.
You haven t answered my question, Vordrozda, called Miles. Will you speak for Admiral Hessman?
Subordinates have committed unauthorized excesses throughout history, began Vordrozda.
He twists, he turns, he s going to torque away no! I can twist too. Oh, you admit he is your
subordinate, do you now?
He is nothing of a sort, snapped Vordrozda. We have no connection but common interest in the good
of the Imperium.
No connection, Admiral Hessman; do you hear that? How does it feel to be stabbed in the back with
such surpassing smoothness? I wager you can scarcely feel the knife going in. It will be like that right up
to the end, you know.
Hessman s eyes bulged. He sprang to his feet. No, it won t, he snarled. You started this, Vordrozda.
If I m going down I ll take you with me! He pointed at Vordrozda. He came to me at Winterfair,
wanting me to pass him the latest Imperial Security intelligence about Vorkosigan s son
Shut up! ground out Vordrozda desperately, fury firing his eyes at being so needlessly taken from
behind, Shut up His hand snaked under his scarlet robe, emerged with a glitter. Locked the
needler s aim on the babbling Admiral. Stopped. Vordrozda stared down at the weapon in his hand as
though it were a scorpion.
Who now is out of order? mocked Miles softly.
Barrayar s aristocracy still maintained its military tone. Drawing a deadly weapon in the presence of the
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Emperor struck a deep reflex. Twenty or thirty men started up from their benches.
Only on Barrayar, Miles reflected, would pulling a loaded needier start a stampede toward one. Others
ran between Vordrozda and the dais. Vordrozda abandoned Hessman and whirled to face his real
tormentor, raising the weapon. Miles stood stock still, transfixed by the needier s tiny dark eye.
Fascinating, that the pit of hell should have so narrow an entrance...
Vordrozda was buried in an avalanche of tackling bodies, their scarlet robes flapping. Ivan had the
honor of the first hit, taking him in the knees.
Miles stood before his Emperor. The chamber had quieted, his late accusers hustled out under arrest.
Now he faced his true tribunal.
Gregor sighed uneasily, and motioned the Lord Guardian of the Circle to his side. They conferred
briefly.
The Emperor requests and requires a recess of one hour, to examine the new testimony. For witness,
Count Vorvolk, Count Vorhalas.
They all filed into the private chamber behind the dais, Gregor, Count Vorkosigan, Miles and Ivan, and
Gregor s curious choice of witnesses. Henri Vorvolk was one of Gregor s few age-mates among the
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