"No," Sonia says bitterly, "you aren't." But she is. She and everyone else on Barrayar, they have to live here after -- after whatever it is Lapis plans to do.

"Then you have no reason to help us, do you?" Sonia, looking wounded and angry, gets to her feet, away from Lapis. Lapis's consolation is no consolation at all, just empty words. "Just think very carefully about who you're helping, and how they'd react if you really tried to play both sides. Not that any Barrayaran would want your help, knowing you'd help the Cetagandans crush us."