Now, now, don't let your romanticism cloud your judgment, my dearest Prior. [ His voice remains light, even as a little pull of pain yanks at his heart. Bloody hell, how wretchedly has Prior been treated, if this basic matter of decency seems exceptional? Even brutal Barrayar would never leave a sick man to languish alone. Granted, yes, the traditional Barrayaran way of dealing with illness often involved mercy-killings, but better that than to let a man suffer with no comfort or kindness. Compassion in life or a compassionate end. Never indifference. Why haven't Prior's people offered him the same attention? ]

I am a scoundrel. Forget that to your peril. It's simply that where I'm from, even scoundrels know that illness does not make a man unworthy.