It could even be that magical ability is what catapulted the Vor to the top during the Time of Isolation-- it's hard to beat Transfiguration as a terraforming tool, I would think. Though given Barrayar's approach to mutation I wonder if Squibs wouldn't quite often be killed off. But I really like the idea of Ivan as a Squib. No doubt the people around him would do a lot of speculating that he's ~suppressed his talents because, that close to the top, it doesn't pay to be a powerful wizard.

Yeah, there's no other house for Gregor. Laisa too: no wonder their children are so frighteningly incisive. Though I suspect he's the first Ravenclaw to pop up in the Vorbarra line for a long time.