Vorkosigan lets out a breath he hadn't been aware he'd held. Attacking again would have been foolish, but zealotry did strange things to the minds of men. Another attack would have been far, far harder to wring the pardon out.

"First, am I correct in my assumption you have no personal desire to kill me?" Professional? Perhaps. Routine and ritualized? Yes, certainly. But he'd had more than ample chance to do it, and do it successfully.