It's easier to be good when there's no one around to do you harm. Two people alone in the woods can argue, but they only make life miserable for each other. One person in charge of dozens more can do more for people--but they can also do less, so much less that anarchy would be a better fate. She's happier here, she thinks, than she ever would be with the Cetagandans. Rani clearly is.

"Yeah," she says, giving Rani a little smile. I'm going to have to learn how to sew, if I keep sitting here--really sew, not awkwardly stitch something together in home ec. She feels a little useless when her companion's working so hard. "I've been okay here. And the countess is a nice woman."

Everything she can think of to tell Rani probably wouldn't actually bring the woman much comfort. We caught a traitor. I almost poisoned Barrayar--but I didn't. Sonia and I drank and played games at a party. She tries a broader smile. "They've been teaching me to use a sword."

That, she's sure Rani will approve of.