He rubs at his face, giving Ivan a rather dry, withering look. "At the time, I believe it would have been more appropriate to exclaim 'wasn't she his sister?'" Ges had been there first, after all. That detail was certainly far less commonly known.

The other comment, as it came, was hardly worth countering. He'd read Byerly's mission reports, often penned by Alys' unshy hand. Ivan could probably find mercy on Barrayar, it just wasn't currently in this room. "Tell me, boy, have you actually gotten a taste for being in the midst of disaster?"