[as someone from whom certain aspects of their lives were officially kept hidden for years, Bel might be a little too used to the secret-keeping.]

Glad to hear it. -- My assistance? [uncertain for a moment whether that was the royal we; did all Vor nobility use it? but quickly figures it out and grins.] Oh, to Lord Vorkosigan's wit.~ My fleet first crossed paths with him on almost the same day as the pirate ship we were pursuing; he was leading a spirited resistance from his courier vessel when we arrived. I've followed his career ever since. He's a good man in a pinch. I met Ivan and... Greg later on -- [a tiny hesitation on the nickname. security reasons, but Bel does know whom they're dealing with.] But that was several years ago, for us. It was a relief to find someone familiar here, though we all could have wished not to have come.