Sonia looks directly at Tarn, and for a moment, when she blinks, her eyes seem clear, her gaze intent, but in the next moment the glazed expression has slid back into place and she giggles inappropriately.

"No one ever asks what I think. But I think this is all a big mess of politics you don't understand. You couldn't possibly. But your threats? Absolutely wasted, yes. I told Natalia on you, you know. I think," she says, her voice going sing-song again, "that you are going to be very sorry you ever hit me. Or threatened my people. Or Miles."

And then she frowns at Byerly, more of a glassy-eyed pout. "Don't you be so mean about Miles. He's twice the man you are. He's important."

She proclaims this with some kind of note of pride, and ghem-Yulang glances at both Byerly and Tarn with a frown before he looks back at his charge. "The other Barrayaran? What makes him so important? I was given to understand that you people don't care much for your mutants."

"I care for him," Sonia says, but the indignation is conspicuously missing. She sighs, her head rolling back against the back of the chair. She stares dreamily at the ceiling. "He's my nephew. Of course I care for him."