If his enemies would just leave him alone, Miles Vorkosigan (alias
Admiral Naismith) decided bitterly, the Dendarii Free Mercenary Fleet
would collapse all on its own. But his enemies were plotting a more
deadly fall.
For some unexplained reason the Dendarii payroll is missing and the
orders from the Barrayaran Imperial Command are being delayed by Miles's
superior, Captain Galeni. What connects the impeccable insufferable
Captain Galeni and the Komarran rebel expatriates on Earth anyway? But
the most deadly question of all before Miles is more personal: are
Miles's two identities, Admiral Naismith of the Dendarii and Lieutenant
Lord Vorkosigan of Barrayar, splitting apart along the lines of his
divided loyalties? And who is trying to assassinate which version of
him?
When Miles unravels the answers, then the complications really begin.