[ That is an assurance she can easily give, waving her fingers dismissively. ] Oh no, he could not. He might help, but he would not know a good Lavani song if he heard one. Nor does he know anything about spices to prepare dishes with. I would need weeks, to start preparing, so it will be some time.

[ Her own mirth there. He might try, and she might just enjoy watching them flounder like she did trying to get used to all these buttons and magically appearing items. ]

He... seemed quite astute in picking out the holes in my tale of merely seeking political asylum from a place no one has ever heard of on Barrayar. I did not tell him anything more than I told anyone else, but that was apparently enough for him.