Author's Note: Ok, I am SO sorry that I haven't updated in, like months. * hides in Impsec basement. * Don't hurt me, please. Thanks to everybody who reviewed, I luv you guys! (btw: I got my first flame! It was pretty piss poor, but it was a flame!)
The adventures of Isolde continue. I apologize for having this little Gregor/Miles conversation right here, but I figured screwing around with the chapter arrangement would just be excessively confusing. And I know it's short, but I promise the next update will be soon and with the while. If it's not, bug me! Then I work faster.
Disclaimer: It's not mine. I have no wish for it to be mine. (Seriously, Miles is wonderful but he's a pain in the behind.) It infested the mind of Lois McMaster Bujold long before any of ours, so she can keep it. I also have no money, and am making no money from this. Please don't sue me.
Have fun, kids!
p.s. : These symbols mean thought.
Miles breathed a short, heavy sigh as the door closed behind the girl. "Gregor...this is way too soon after Dono to try something like this. The conservatives will hate it."
Gregor pursed his lips. "Unfortunately, she is the only foreseeable possibility of a female inheritance within our lifetimes. And if it is not tried *now*, in the middle of other social changes, it may become more impossible in the future."
"Gregor, we have no idea where this will lead. Any firstborn daughter, rare as they are, might try to use this."
Gregor waved a hand. "This will be seen as a last resort measure, if she makes it. A way to keep the Vor system from collapsing. Miles, the Constitutionalists are requesting a democratic election upon the Count's death. We are not ready for that much change. Other than her appointment, the only other possibility is to appoint a new line to the Countship. That could cause civil unrest in the Vorhalas District, and they are such an economic powerhouse it could affect the entire economy of Barrayar." Gregor leaned back in his chair. "In a way, I'm relieved she is willing to try."
"I didn't know about the Constitutionalists. Why haven't I heard about it?"
"ImpSec is keeping it as quiet as they can, for now. It may get out anyway."
"Gregor, why wasn't I informed as a Lord Audi-,"
"You were busy," Gregor said blandly.
Miles frowned. He did not like being out of the loop. "Do you think she understands by herself how much is at stake? Do you think she can lead?" Ekaterin asked. "I would think a strong leader of outside the bloodline is better than a scandal causing weak one from within." "She did say she was attempting this without the knowledge of the Count. It's very possible she does." Laisa stated. She folded plump arms over her bust. "The Count may not even be appraised of the entire outside situation. He has been very ill." Miles had to admit the possibility. Gregor smiled slightly. "I believe Lady Vorhalas has a better grasp of the situation than she has let on to anyone." "You've been having ImpSec watch her?" Miles inquired. Gregor nodded. "Yes, but I also have information from other sources entirely..."
It was late the next day when Isolde finally took the time to eat. Ullya came with a tray from the kitchens, piled high with a beef stew that reeked of salt and onions, a crispy roll, steamed greens of some sort and a heavy mug of tea with milk. Isolde inhaled deeply and her stomach gurgled loudly in anticipation. Thanking Ullya, she picked up the mug and sipped carefully. She had been working all day on the comconsole, drafting letters and reviewing files. Most of what she had been looking at was the voting records of the Counts. Her prospects was beginning to look more and more grim. She set down the mug and stabbed at her stew. It was plain fare, the same as the servants ate, but it was tasty. Madame Yavenka barred no holds when it came to food.
Isolde looked back at the comconsole screen. What she needed was an ally from within, a-she hesitated to use the word-champion of sorts. Someone who could either influence invisibly, or overtly. It could not be anywhere in between, she was convinced. *Damn* it. I can't talk to Vorkosigan without letting the whole of Vorbarr Sultana know about it. I'd rather keep it under wraps for at least a little while. But I don't trust the com, and any servant I send with a letter is conspicuous as hell...not to mention how conspicuous I would look calling on Vorkosigan house...
It was right convenient that Ullya's beau was in the service of Count Dono Vorrutyer. Dono had, in fact, been the first person she had expressed her intentions to-then in the most preliminary of forms. Dono had encouraged her, and helped her to refine some of her plans. She knew him to be absolutely delighted with what he called the Conspiracy. His letters had been most helpful. Letters...Slowly she set down her fork. Could it be possible...
All of her communication with Dono had been through letters. Dono was a good friend of Vorkosigans. She almost laughed aloud at not having seen it before. I must stop seeing roadblocks and start seeing detours... Dono's Countess Olivia was a member of the illustrious Koudelka clan. They had had ties to the Vorkosigans since before the Pretendership. If Dono could not get a letter to Vorkosigan, his Countess certainly could, no questions asked. And with her mentor the Countess Vorkosigan in town for Winterfaire... Oh, my. Dono, when all of this is over, I swear I will name my eldest daughter Donna... Abandoning her dinner, she moved to her desk, and from the top drawer took a sheet of heavy cream-colored paper and a pen.
"My dear Count Dono," she wrote. "I must make a great request of you..."
The adventures of Isolde continue. I apologize for having this little Gregor/Miles conversation right here, but I figured screwing around with the chapter arrangement would just be excessively confusing. And I know it's short, but I promise the next update will be soon and with the while. If it's not, bug me! Then I work faster.
Disclaimer: It's not mine. I have no wish for it to be mine. (Seriously, Miles is wonderful but he's a pain in the behind.) It infested the mind of Lois McMaster Bujold long before any of ours, so she can keep it. I also have no money, and am making no money from this. Please don't sue me.
Have fun, kids!
p.s. : These symbols mean thought.
Miles breathed a short, heavy sigh as the door closed behind the girl. "Gregor...this is way too soon after Dono to try something like this. The conservatives will hate it."
Gregor pursed his lips. "Unfortunately, she is the only foreseeable possibility of a female inheritance within our lifetimes. And if it is not tried *now*, in the middle of other social changes, it may become more impossible in the future."
"Gregor, we have no idea where this will lead. Any firstborn daughter, rare as they are, might try to use this."
Gregor waved a hand. "This will be seen as a last resort measure, if she makes it. A way to keep the Vor system from collapsing. Miles, the Constitutionalists are requesting a democratic election upon the Count's death. We are not ready for that much change. Other than her appointment, the only other possibility is to appoint a new line to the Countship. That could cause civil unrest in the Vorhalas District, and they are such an economic powerhouse it could affect the entire economy of Barrayar." Gregor leaned back in his chair. "In a way, I'm relieved she is willing to try."
"I didn't know about the Constitutionalists. Why haven't I heard about it?"
"ImpSec is keeping it as quiet as they can, for now. It may get out anyway."
"Gregor, why wasn't I informed as a Lord Audi-,"
"You were busy," Gregor said blandly.
Miles frowned. He did not like being out of the loop. "Do you think she understands by herself how much is at stake? Do you think she can lead?" Ekaterin asked. "I would think a strong leader of outside the bloodline is better than a scandal causing weak one from within." "She did say she was attempting this without the knowledge of the Count. It's very possible she does." Laisa stated. She folded plump arms over her bust. "The Count may not even be appraised of the entire outside situation. He has been very ill." Miles had to admit the possibility. Gregor smiled slightly. "I believe Lady Vorhalas has a better grasp of the situation than she has let on to anyone." "You've been having ImpSec watch her?" Miles inquired. Gregor nodded. "Yes, but I also have information from other sources entirely..."
It was late the next day when Isolde finally took the time to eat. Ullya came with a tray from the kitchens, piled high with a beef stew that reeked of salt and onions, a crispy roll, steamed greens of some sort and a heavy mug of tea with milk. Isolde inhaled deeply and her stomach gurgled loudly in anticipation. Thanking Ullya, she picked up the mug and sipped carefully. She had been working all day on the comconsole, drafting letters and reviewing files. Most of what she had been looking at was the voting records of the Counts. Her prospects was beginning to look more and more grim. She set down the mug and stabbed at her stew. It was plain fare, the same as the servants ate, but it was tasty. Madame Yavenka barred no holds when it came to food.
Isolde looked back at the comconsole screen. What she needed was an ally from within, a-she hesitated to use the word-champion of sorts. Someone who could either influence invisibly, or overtly. It could not be anywhere in between, she was convinced. *Damn* it. I can't talk to Vorkosigan without letting the whole of Vorbarr Sultana know about it. I'd rather keep it under wraps for at least a little while. But I don't trust the com, and any servant I send with a letter is conspicuous as hell...not to mention how conspicuous I would look calling on Vorkosigan house...
It was right convenient that Ullya's beau was in the service of Count Dono Vorrutyer. Dono had, in fact, been the first person she had expressed her intentions to-then in the most preliminary of forms. Dono had encouraged her, and helped her to refine some of her plans. She knew him to be absolutely delighted with what he called the Conspiracy. His letters had been most helpful. Letters...Slowly she set down her fork. Could it be possible...
All of her communication with Dono had been through letters. Dono was a good friend of Vorkosigans. She almost laughed aloud at not having seen it before. I must stop seeing roadblocks and start seeing detours... Dono's Countess Olivia was a member of the illustrious Koudelka clan. They had had ties to the Vorkosigans since before the Pretendership. If Dono could not get a letter to Vorkosigan, his Countess certainly could, no questions asked. And with her mentor the Countess Vorkosigan in town for Winterfaire... Oh, my. Dono, when all of this is over, I swear I will name my eldest daughter Donna... Abandoning her dinner, she moved to her desk, and from the top drawer took a sheet of heavy cream-colored paper and a pen.
"My dear Count Dono," she wrote. "I must make a great request of you..."