"Different," Sonia echoes, not entirely sure how literally she should take that from Miles -- if he's from another alternate Barrayar -- but he must know about Byerly, at least. It's clear he does.

"I thought for a long time," she says slowly, "that when this was all over, I'd go back to Beta Colony. Next year when this is over, I told myself. In three years when this is over. In five. In ten..." She stares at the fire, the afterimage burning into her eyes. "But it's been so long now. What if I don't really miss the things I remember? But Barrayar...it's beautiful here, I know it is, in ways Beta Colony can't possibly be. But it always felt like such an ill fit. My sister, she falls right into place here, she's so damned Vor...but I never really fit. But when Byerly talks to me -- I feel like I could."

She looks back at Miles, her arm still around his shoulders. and breathes out a slow breath. "I want that. I'd do anything for that. I don't have any idea what I can do, but...you and Byerly seem to have such faith in me. I'd hate to let you down."