Shards of Honour (Vorkosigan Saga, #1)

by Lois McMaster Bujold

“Your funeral was splendid,” said Koudelka. “You should have been there.” “Next time, perhaps.” Vorkosigan grinned. “Oh. You know I didn’t mean it that way, sir. Lieutenant Radnov made the best speech.” “I’m sure. He’d probably been working on it for months.”

“Sorry, Bill. I just have this awful vision of being p-peeled like an onion, looking for the seeds.” He grinned. “Onions don’t have seeds, Cordelia.” “I stand corrected,” she said dryly.

Yes, he thought, the good face pain. But the great—they embrace it.