Oh, that conviction -- that's encouraging. The only time anyone around here has that kind of conviction is about death. He really does seem like a nice man, this one. Sonia likes him, anyhow. She gives him a polite but still tongue-in-cheek curtsy, holding her skirt with one hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miles," she chirps, "and you just call me Sonia." She hesitates before following him, though, pursing her lips. "Have the soldiers been giving you a lot of trouble?"

She knows it's not no trouble, because come on, this is Barrayar.