"I see," murmurs Miles. He thinks back to his conversation with the haut Linyabel, and decides that under the circumstances, the rules were probably waived. "Thank you for the warning."
Vorob'yev proceeds to introduce Miles to the haut Este Rond, during which exchange Miles divines that the Rond must have been Vorob'yev's ticket into this extremely exclusive event, and also that even haut-lords seem to take note when Vorob'yev makes a recommendation. Miles actually receives a minute or so of Este Rond's undivided attention, for no obvious reason except that Vorob'yev introduced him personally.
Of course, the haut Rond might have other, less obvious reasons to be interested in Miles.
But over the course of their short conversation, nothing of substance is openly discussed, and Miles learns nothing either positive or negative about this governor's potential as a suspect. Finally, sensing waning interest, Miles ventures to ask, "Would you be so kind, haut Rond, as to introduce me to Governor haut Ilsum Kety?"
"Why, certainly, Lord Vorkosigan," says the haut Rond, with a thin smile that suggests he welcomes the opportunity to foist the offworlder on a fellow governor. He leads Miles over to Kety, who receives their visit with diplomatic displeasure. After formal greetings, Kety is impolite enough to let the conversation hang dead in the air; Miles tries Kety's ghem-general next, but General Chilian is an equally unpromising conversationalist, disgorging nothing more than a reluctant, "Lord Vorkosigan," before returning to silence. The general's haut-wife stands next to him like a very pretty, faintly contemptuous statue. Miles gives up, and tries the introduction gambit a second time.
"I wonder, haut Kety, if you would introduce me to Governor haut Slyke Giaja. As an Imperial relation of sorts myself, I can't help feeling he is something of my opposite number." Miles can't recall at the moment just how close an Imperial relation the haut Slyke in fact is, but they share a constellation - the Emperor's name is Fletchir Giaja - which implies some degree of genetic congruence.
This actually manages to startle a substantial response out of poor haut Kety. "I doubt Slyke would think so," he opines, but after weighing the request for a few moments he dispatches General Chilian to make inquiries on Miles's behalf. Miles watches the ghem-general pick his way across the room through the sparse crowd, attempts without success to lip-read their exchange, and observes that the haut Slyke has no unusual reactions to the request, although - unsurprisingly - he sends Chilian back with a polite refusal.
Miles concludes that the avenue of conversation with haut governors has been thoroughly explored, none of the three have proven distinguishable from innocent by their responses and reactions, and there is no further benefit to be had from hanging around annoying them further. He drifts off in no particular direction.
no subject
Vorob'yev proceeds to introduce Miles to the haut Este Rond, during which exchange Miles divines that the Rond must have been Vorob'yev's ticket into this extremely exclusive event, and also that even haut-lords seem to take note when Vorob'yev makes a recommendation. Miles actually receives a minute or so of Este Rond's undivided attention, for no obvious reason except that Vorob'yev introduced him personally.
Of course, the haut Rond might have other, less obvious reasons to be interested in Miles.
But over the course of their short conversation, nothing of substance is openly discussed, and Miles learns nothing either positive or negative about this governor's potential as a suspect. Finally, sensing waning interest, Miles ventures to ask, "Would you be so kind, haut Rond, as to introduce me to Governor haut Ilsum Kety?"
"Why, certainly, Lord Vorkosigan," says the haut Rond, with a thin smile that suggests he welcomes the opportunity to foist the offworlder on a fellow governor. He leads Miles over to Kety, who receives their visit with diplomatic displeasure. After formal greetings, Kety is impolite enough to let the conversation hang dead in the air; Miles tries Kety's ghem-general next, but General Chilian is an equally unpromising conversationalist, disgorging nothing more than a reluctant, "Lord Vorkosigan," before returning to silence. The general's haut-wife stands next to him like a very pretty, faintly contemptuous statue. Miles gives up, and tries the introduction gambit a second time.
"I wonder, haut Kety, if you would introduce me to Governor haut Slyke Giaja. As an Imperial relation of sorts myself, I can't help feeling he is something of my opposite number." Miles can't recall at the moment just how close an Imperial relation the haut Slyke in fact is, but they share a constellation - the Emperor's name is Fletchir Giaja - which implies some degree of genetic congruence.
This actually manages to startle a substantial response out of poor haut Kety. "I doubt Slyke would think so," he opines, but after weighing the request for a few moments he dispatches General Chilian to make inquiries on Miles's behalf. Miles watches the ghem-general pick his way across the room through the sparse crowd, attempts without success to lip-read their exchange, and observes that the haut Slyke has no unusual reactions to the request, although - unsurprisingly - he sends Chilian back with a polite refusal.
Miles concludes that the avenue of conversation with haut governors has been thoroughly explored, none of the three have proven distinguishable from innocent by their responses and reactions, and there is no further benefit to be had from hanging around annoying them further. He drifts off in no particular direction.