"Shut up, Vorrutyer," Piotr barks, barely even looking back at him. His focus is entirely on Duv now, eyes narrowed and intent as he steps forward, within arm's reach of Duv. There's a long moment when Piotr just looks at him, as though trying to see right through him, then he lifts his chin and nods at the officer standing by. The officer carefully pulls the blade of grass out from under Duv's thumbnail, closing his other hand around Duv's thumb to staunch the bleeding while he reaches for a cloth.

"Cut him loose," Piotr says to the other officer, and holds his hand out to Duv for when his hand is free. "If you're ready to throw your life on the line for Barrayar, then at the end of the day I don't give a fuck what planet you stepped off of."