He recognizes the sidestep and reluctantly lets that topic fall to the wayside. Pursuing topics relentless would have him treading dangerous waters. He's playing a game that could easily get him fast penta'd interrogated knowing what he does of the period. And he thought being a historian would be a less life-threatening than his childhood.

"You must be providing a great asset to your Empire," he says calmly. What they thought they'd be gaining for their Star Crèche on Barrayar is still beyond his understanding, at least from a personal point of view. "I'm afraid my understanding of the Cetagandan Empire and its scope is limited."