[ Ah. By blinks just a little in surprise - less at the content of the confession than at the trust it implies. And so after a brief moment, in deference to that trust, Byerly admits - ]

Yes. I do understand that. I'm certainly not important enough to be a hand of the Emperor - I flatter myself to think that perhaps I'm a follicle on one of Barrayar's hairy knuckles - but...I do understand. And I know what it's like to be severed. [ A beat, then - ] Tell me - if Barrayar and Harmonia came into conflict, who would win?