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Chapter 4: The dam inside Onyx's heart has burst. What a monster she has had to endure, not being able to mourn her own flesh and blood.

To note: Onyx and her twin brother were adopted by Lady Daggett's first husband, a Reverand. Hence the ill treatment by Lady Daggett versus Amethyst who is of her own blood.

Chapter 3 where Carla Kelly gets the ball rolling. Plenty of action as two POVs merge, Onyx is accosted by brigands on her way to the oily Rev. Littletree. To her rescue (and Alice's) is Jack on his newly acquired steed who was on his way home to Yorkshire. His injuries result in some deception by the two (and Alice) as they intrude upon a poor old farmer and his wife for some clemency.

Chapter Two: Onyx Hamilton has accepted the suit of dreary Reverend Littletree who likes the sound of his own voice more and has dandruff. She is either bored to tears, quelling the urge to laugh at his faux paus or resigned to her fate. Her mother is Lady Daggett who remarried Sir Matthew. He only adopted her little sister and treats Onyx coldly, setting the example for the rest of the household.

Prologue: We are introduced to Jack Beresford who's just returned from war on the Spanish front. He clearly exhibits PTSD from his time there as it is evident he is plagued by nightmares.

rich world, easy to get into. so funny moment 1) how blackstone does this dance, has to show toranaga the dance, they both dance and everybody is entertained. Funny moment 2) Blackstone and Mariko having a tense moment after he is so offended she's offering him some boys (I ain't no sodomite!). She's miffed at him for being rude. Funny moment 3) Toranaga in a kimono and makeup to escape the castle as his consort Kiri

Going thru what I learned in History plus some factoids conveniently left out in textbooks.

(CONTD) But is it right to prioritize short-term efficiency and balance sheets? Who’ll be the last ones standing in a world with these priorities, and will they be happy?

Jiyoung was standing in the middle of a labyrinth. Conscientiously and calmly, she was searching for a way out that didn’t exist to begin with. Baffled and ready to give up, she was told to try, try again; to walk through walls if it came to that. Revenue drives a businessman, and you can’t blame someone for wanting maximum output with minimum input.

Jiyoung felt she was a rock, small but heavy and unyielding, holding down her mother’s long skirt train. This made her sad. Her mother saw this and warmly swept back her daughter’s unkempt hair.

We did live in a zoo, but by the same token I knew, as a soldier, that turning people into animals, into non-people, is the first step in mistreating them, in destroying them. If even a celebrated intellectual could dismiss us as animals, what hope for the man or woman on the street?

A writer many Britons admired...had penned an essay about my family, in which she said we were simply pandas. Our current royal family doesn’t have the difficulties in breeding that pandas do, but pandas and royal persons alike are expensive to conserve and ill-adapted to any modern environment. But aren’t they interesting? Aren’t they nice to look at?

Bapak bodoh la, of all the things yang berlaku...they had to accidentally smash lips in public, in front of the entire community. Memang Mary B is ready for chaos, guns ablazin'

Cordelia is seen as fearless by lil Miles. Fearing no one, a Vor matron of Betan origins with no great love for Barrayaran customs

The mind was the first and final battleground, the stuff, in between was just noise.

When the Emperor is no longer the sole symbol of Barrayar in Miles' hearts of hearts....its' the people of Barrayar who Miles will serve. The people of the Vorkosigan Surleau?

The academic honors, Miles had amassed by sheer brute work. But the war games, outwitting his opponents, staying one step ahead —a necessity, true, he had no margin for error — the war games had been an unholy joy. War had been no game here once, not so long ago. It might be so again. What you did best, that was what was wanted from you. God seemed to be lined up with the Emperor on that point, at least, if no other.

What God means you to do, could be deduced from the talents He gave you.

As she murdered her future, so her future shall return only death to her spirit. She will die as the childless do, without remembrance.

The fundamental principle was clear; the spirit was to be preferred
over the letter, truth over technicalities. Precedent was held subordinate to the judgment of the man on the spot. Alas, the man on the spot was himself. There was no refuge for him in automated rules, no hiding behind the law says as if the law were some living overlord with a real Voice. The only voice here was his own.

Ordinary people need extraordinary examples. So they can
say to themselves, well, if he can do that, I can surely do this. No excuses.