Then it's Promise's turn. Beth turns back toward the horse, stroking his neck fondly.

"We lived in America. But our family came over from Ireland." She falls quiet as Sonia keeps talking, her expression drawing closed. What's left unspoken sits awkwardly between them, obvious to Beth in the silence. The war's been on for a decade, and Barrayar isn't winning. Sonia has every reason to wonder if she'll get out of this alive.

"When this is over," Beth says, careful not to put false cheer in her voice, "you can show me the music you like. I probably don't know any of it."