A small bubble of pride causes Byerly to murmur, "Well, it was a bit more than just that..."

But then, handing the bottle back to her, he sighs in acknowledgment. "But yes. That's essentially it. But - then what?" He shrugs at her, his face twisting in a bit of honest irritation. Because buried underneath all the self-loathing is this fundamental source of frustration, this wall he can't quite batter down. "The General isn't going to give a damn about what I have to say. He hardly holds me in high regard in principle - which, I was fine enough while I was risking life and limb in the Cetagandan camp, but now that I'm back here, I'm sure he thinks I'm about as useful as a sixth toe." A vicious self-description indeed for a Barrayaran. "A spy is only as good as the ear he whispers his secrets into."