The Vorkosigan Companion (55 page)

Vorbretten House:

The Vorbretten ancestral manor was so badly damaged during the fighting over Vordarian's Pretendership that the family demolished the remains and built anew. Protected by force screens, the new mansion is modern, light, and airy, perched on a bluff overlooking the river, nearly opposite Castle Vorhartung, and with excellent views of the Vorbarr Sultana cityscape both up and down river. (CC)

Vorbretten, René:

A count on Barrayar, he is the epitome of the modern Vor class; tall, athletic, and handsome. He speaks four languages, plays three musical instruments, and has perfect singing pitch. His house colors are dark green and bittersweet orange. He is the son of Commodore Lord Vorbretten, who had been a star protégé of Aral Vorkosigan until he was killed at the Hegen Hub during the Cetagandan takeover attempt a decade ago. When his grandfather died, René gave up his military career and assumed the count's duties. He married Tatya, the eighteen-year-old daughter of Lord Vorkeres, in a love match. While the couple was preparing for starting their first child in a uterine replicator, the gene scan revealed that Rene is one-eighth Cetaganda ghem-lord by an alliance of his great-grandmother during the Occupation. This means the seventh Vorbretten count was not the true son of the sixth, which could cut René out of the succession in favor of the true lineage by a descendant of the sixth count's younger brother, Sigur Vorbretten, the son-in-law of Count Boriz Vormoncrief, who has filed claim on Sigur's behalf to the Vorbretten district. With help from Miles and Lord Dono Vorrutyer, René fends off the claim to his district, and is confirmed as the true count by a majority of the Council. (CC)

Vorbretten, Sigur:

A descendant of the sixth Count Vorbretten's younger brother, he has had a claim filed on his behalf by Count Vormoncrief on the Vorbretten District due to René Vorbretten's Cetagandan heritage. René wins the vote, and a gracious Sigur accepts defeat with what appears to be relief. (CC)

Vorbretten, Tatya Vorkeres:

Countess, and the wife of René, she has bright hazel eyes, wide set in a heart-shaped face with a foxy chin and ringlets of ebony hair. She and Olivia Koudelka went to school together, and Olivia and Martya visit the Vorbrettens during the Cetagandan bloodline scandal to cheer her up. Her cousin Stannis is a directing officer in the fife and drum corps of the City Guard. Withdrawn and depressed about the scandal, she attends the Council of Counts meeting that will decide her husband's fate, unwilling to wait for the news. (CC)

Vordarian, Vidal:

A commodore and count of Barrayar, he is a staunch conservative who disapproves of Aral's progressive ideas. About forty years old, he is neither handsome nor ugly, with dark hair and a dished-in face, a prominent forehead and jaw, and a mustache. He told Cordelia during the Emperor's Birthday celebration that Aral was bisexual, making her realize Vordarian was not to be trusted, and resulting in her telling Simon Illyan to watch him. His district has four major manufacturing cities and some military ports, with one being the largest shuttleport and supply depot. After Ezar's death, he attempts to overthrow the current government and install himself as Emperor, holding Kareen hostage in the Imperial Residence and declaring himself Prime Minster and acting Regent of Barrayar. He is killed by Bothari at Cordelia's command. His house colors are maroon and gold. (B)

Vordarian's Pretendership:

What Barrayarans call the attempted coup that occurred when Aral first became Regent. (B, WA)

Vordrozda:

A Barrayaran count who arrives at Vorkosigan House with Admiral Hessman during Piotr's funeral. Cordelia distrusts him. When he learns of Miles's formation of a mercenary army at Tau Verde IV, he tries to bring charges of treason against Miles to discredit Aral, in hopes of eliminating a potential rival to the Emperor's throne. He is uncovered by Miles, who accuses him at the Council of Counts, and forces him into revealing his sedition. (WA)

Vorfemme knife:

A small knife, often decorated, that is traditionally carried by all woman of the Vor class on Barrayar, ostensibly to defend themselves if necessary. Helen Vorthys remembers that she had been carrying an enameled one in her boot, which she had unfortunately thrown at one of the engineers. Ekaterin wasn't wearing hers, in an attempt to appear more modern. Vorthys mentions her grandmother and Ekaterin mentions her great-aunt in reference to the knives, implying that Vor women have used them for more than decoration in the past. (K)

Vorfolse:

No first name given. A count on the south coast of Barrayar who started his own political party. He is a man with very few assets, as his family consistently sided with the wrong people at the wrong time throughout the previous century, including the Cetagandans and Vordarian. He currently rents out his family mansion to a prole with ambition, and has only one servant. Lord Dono, Olivia, Ivan, and Szabo all showed up at his flat to gain his vote regarding Dono's suit at the Council when they are attacked by Richars' men, who attempt to castrate Dono. Count Vorfolse is so incensed by the assault happening on his property that he verbally admonishes Richars in the Council chamber before voting in favor of Lord Dono. (CC)

Vorgarin:

No first name given. One of the undecided counts that Miles thought he brought to René Vorbretten's side, although not to Lord Dono's. (CC)

Vorgier:

No first name given. A captain in Imperial Security, he is in charge of the Komarr jump station security. He wants to make an aggressive raid to end the hostage standoff with the Komarran engineers, but Miles overrides him in favor of negotiation. (K)

Vorgorov, Cassia:

A slim girl, eighteen years old, with dark brown hair, a slightly long face, and pretty eyes. She runs into Ivan, whom she's had a long-standing crush on, and Mark at the Emperor's Birthday celebration. Ivan knows her, as his mother wishes him to consider her as a possible match, but he does not appreciate her as Mark does. She seems unsettled by Mark, however, and when left alone with him, excuses herself and leaves him as quickly as possible. She later marries Lord William Vortashpula, Count Vortashpula's heir, and discreetly rubs it in Ivan's face. (CC, MD)

Vorgustafson, Vann:

A Barrayaran Imperial Auditor, he was recently appointed by Emperor Gregor. A retired industrialist and noted philanthropist who doesn't dress according to his lofty social status; in fact, his wardrobe lacks color coordination. Shorter and stouter than Vorthys, he has a bristling gray beard and a pink, choleric face that can alarm those who first meet him, since he appears to be on the verge of stroke or heart attack. Along with the other Auditors in attendance, he approves Miles for the eighth Imperial Auditor position. (M)

Vorhalas:

No first name given. A count on Barrayar, he is a staunch Conservative, and a linchpin in the party, due to his reputation for integrity. He did not rebel against Aral's Regency government when one of his sons was put to death for participating in an illegal duel. When word of Richars's bungled assault on Lord Dono gets back to him, he leads Counts Vorkalloner, Vorpatril, and Vorfolse in switching their vote against Richars. (CC)

Vorhalas, Carl:

Son of Count Vorhalas, Carl is a Barrayaran lord and Evon Vorhalas's younger brother. Early in Aral Vorkosigan's Regency government, he is publicly executed by beheading after he kills someone in a duel. Afterward, Evon Vorhalas attempts to kill Aral because he wouldn't stop the execution. (B)

Vorhalas, Evon:

Carl Vorhalas's brother, he attempts to assassinate Aral using the soltoxin in revenge for Carl's execution. During the coup, he escapes to Vordarian's side and is put in charge of commanding ground troops in Vorbarr Sultana. He is shot by his own men when he won't surrender after Vordarian's death. (B)

Vorhalas, Rulf:

Admiral in the Barrayaran fleet, he is a friend of Aral's, and brother to Count Vorhalas. Roughly fifty years old, he is subordinate to Prince Serg during the war with Escobar, and is killed when the prince's ship is destroyed. (SH)

Vorharopulous:

No first name given. One of the counts involved in voting on the René Vorbretten and Lord Dono Vorrutyer cases. His house colors are chartreuse and scarlet. (CC)

Vorhartung Castle:

An old, rambling castle located on a bluff above the river rapids that divide the city of Vorbarr Sultana. It is where the Council of Counts convenes to handle the governmental business of Barrayar. It is also the site of Gregor's Imperial offices. It incorporates a museum open to the public when the counts are not in session, containing such exhibits as the preserved scalp of Mad Emperor Yuri Vorbarra. (All except FF, SH)

Vorhovis:

No first name given. A Barrayaran Imperial Auditor, he is the youngest of the seven Imperial Auditors before Miles joins, and one of the best. A cool, lean, sophisticated man, he is the model of the modern Vor lord. He has been a soldier, diplomat, planetary ambassador, and one time assistant to the Minister of Finance. Miles had requested to work with him before Gregor makes him an acting Imperial Auditor. Along with the other Auditors in attendance, Vorhovis approves Miles for the eighth Imperial Auditor position. (M)

Vorinnis:

No first name given. A Barrayaran count whose district has remained neutral during the War of the Vordarian Pretendership, and who was heavily courted by both sides. Piotr thinks he is playing both ends against the middle, and wants Aral to hang him if he doesn't choose soon. Cordelia plans to travel through his district during her rescue mission to save Miles. (B)

Vorinnis:

No first name given. A Barrayaran count who would be backed by the military right if he ever attempted to claim the throne. Despite his conservative bent, he votes for both René Vorbretten and Lord Dono Vorrutyer at the Council of Counts meeting, thanks to some back-door politicking by Alys Vorpatril. (CC)

Vorkalloner:

No first name given. An Imperial Auditor in the more traditional mold, having been appointed straight out of the military, where he was an admiral. Tall and thick, he seems to take up a lot of space. He had a long, distinguished military career, is socially bland, and does not affiliate himself with any political party. Along with the other Auditors in attendance, he approves Miles for the eighth Imperial Auditor position. (M)

Vorkalloner:

No first name given. A Barrayaran count, he is one of the Conservative members who changes his vote from Richars Vorrutyer to Lord Dono Vorrutyer. (CC)

Vorkalloner, Aristede:

A lieutenant commander in the Barrayaran military, he is Aral's second officer on the
General Vorkraft
. Promoted to commander, he is killed during the Escobar conflict. His body is later retrieved by an Escobaran Personnel Retrieval Team. (SH)

Vorkosigan, Aral:

The second son of General Piotr Vorkosigan, Aral is a lifelong soldier in the Barrayaran military. In his early forties, he is slightly taller than Cordelia Naismith, but stocky and powerful. He has untidy, dark hair tinged with gray and intent gray eyes, with a heavy jaw, a straight, broad nose, and a faded, L-shaped scar on left side of his chin. His house colors are brown and silver.

When Cordelia meets him on the planet later named Sergyar, he is the captain of the Imperial war cruiser
General Vorkraft
. He is known as "the Butcher/Hero of Komarr," depending on who is referring to him. He had an older brother who was killed by Mad Emperor Yuri when Aral was just eleven. His mother was half Betan, and was killed in front of him during Yuri Vorbarra's Massacre. His maternal grandfather is Prince Xav Vorbarra, who served as ambassador to Beta Colony, and his grandmother, the prince's wife, was in the Bureau for Interstellar Trade.

Aral has faithfully served the Imperium for most of his life. He has had an amazing military career, and is a superb strategist responsible for pushing back multiple expansion attempts by the Cetagandans. He oversaw the conquest of Komarr, which would have been bloodless except for the Solstice Massacre, where he earned his nickname. He was involved in the plot to eliminate Prince Serg during the war with Escobar, and organized the Imperial Fleet's withdrawal afterward. He served as Regent of Barrayar during Emperor Gregor's youth, and was forced into a brief civil war with Vidal Vordarian when he attempted to overthrow the Regency. When Gregor took his throne, Aral served him as Prime Minister, and eventually accepted the position of Viceroy of Sergyar.

Aral married twice. His first wife died young, committing suicide by plasma arc. His second wife, Betan Commander Cordelia Naismith, is the love of his life. He has two sons, Miles and Mark. (All except FF)

Vorkosigan (Naismith), Cordelia:

At the beginning of the Vorkosigan saga, she is the commander of a Betan Astronomical Survey team, an astrocartographer, and the captain of the Betan scientific vessel
Rene Magritte
. Thirty-three years old, she has copper hair and gray eyes. Her immediate family includes a brother who just purchased a second child permit and a mother who specializes in medical engineering. Her father, also a Betan Survey officer, died in a transport accident when she was a child. Her first true adult romance was with a man who emotionally manipulated her to the point of abuse, and then maneuvered her out of a captaincy. She has had no lovers since that emotional and career disaster.

She is captured by Aral Vorkosigan while surveying the planet later known as Sergyar. As his prisoner, she discovers that there is much to admire in her putative enemy. Before they have reached his ship, the two have fallen in love. Back at Aral's ship, she is instrumental in stopping a mutiny before being rescued by her crew. Afterward, she serves in the Betan Expeditionary Force, commanding a bulk freighter used as a decoy to lure Barrayaran warships away from a wormhole to Escobar. After being captured by the Barrayarans again, she is interrogated/tortured by Admiral Ges Vorrutyer before he is killed by Sergeant Bothari. Aral comes to her rescue, only to discover that she has already rescued herself. He hides her in his cabin while Vorrutyer's death is investigated. Cordelia is then sent to a prison camp, where she is repatriated back to her home planet of Beta Colony and treated as a hero. But her government suspects her of having been suborned by the Barrayarans. Their attempts to cure her almost cause her to have a nervous breakdown. When she discovers that she is suspected of being a deep-cover spy, she escapes, travels to Barrayar, and marries Aral.