And here you say you're not a vampire. That's a vampiric-sounding threat if I've ever heard one.

[ He hesitates a moment, just a little uncertain in spite of the joking. ]

So what should I do, then? Spread stories? Tell everyone who'll listen about Barrayar? [ With the slightest little pause, he confesses - ] I am oath-bound to defend her, but I fear I don't entirely know how to fulfill my oaths in these circumstances.