John Kirk
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
I'm curious: what were the Imperial Auditors up to during Vordarian's pretendership? I suspect that the real answer is "Nothing, because you hadn't invented them yet", but I wonder what their role would be in a situation like that.
Lois McMaster Bujold
Well, your first speculation is not wrong, but, taking them as an undetermined box in which anything might be happening as long as it didn't impinge on Cordelia's then-frame-of-view, I would expect, with 8 or 9 men, several possibilities. Any who were known loyalists to Aral would have been put under arrest, if Vordarian could catch them before they went underground. One or more could have died resisting or defying arrest. Any he could suborn, he would have. Fence-sitters would have found plausible bolt-holes, but not have been trusted by Aral afterward, and would have been encouraged to retire.
Vordarian didn't have long enough as emperor to appoint his own stable, I'm afraid. Luckily for them.
Ta, L.
Well, your first speculation is not wrong, but, taking them as an undetermined box in which anything might be happening as long as it didn't impinge on Cordelia's then-frame-of-view, I would expect, with 8 or 9 men, several possibilities. Any who were known loyalists to Aral would have been put under arrest, if Vordarian could catch them before they went underground. One or more could have died resisting or defying arrest. Any he could suborn, he would have. Fence-sitters would have found plausible bolt-holes, but not have been trusted by Aral afterward, and would have been encouraged to retire.
Vordarian didn't have long enough as emperor to appoint his own stable, I'm afraid. Luckily for them.
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
Andrew
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
How do your family and friends relate to you and your writing? I imagine they would enjoy a special understanding of your thoughts, feelings, and values from reading your work. For instance, my wife and I have both completed the Vorkosigan saga and I've taken to quoting to her, apropos of family matters, "all true wealth is biological", which benefits from what we've both experienced in the novels.
David Samuels
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Hello again! A question occurred to me while I was looking back on my notes from The Curse of Chalion, Was dy Sanda god-touched after all? Also, is Castle Porifors from PoS based off the Alhambra? I ask because that's one of my favorite historical sites (Fun Fact: the tiles in front of the Nasrid sultan's throne were inscribed with the name of Allah, so it was impious to stand too closely. Deters assassins too!)
Margarete
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Sorry if you've answered this before but every time I read Barrayar (more than 5 times at this point) it pops into my head: are all the "I didn't vote for him" comments about Steady Freddie just a running joke for you, an inside joke among Betans or a side hint that their society isn't as democratically perfect as it seems? Or something else entirely? Thanks so much for the amazing books!
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