Gregor and Laisa's kids

[james]

Do we know their names, or their ages with respect to one another? All I can find is a reference to 'Flowers of Vashnoi' where they have 2 sons and 1 daughter, but I've not read that novella and despite knowing I should I'm hoping someone can just tell me?

It's basically one throwaway line in a story, but if we have canon names I'd prefer to use them and if not does anyone have any feelings about what their names might be? I know that apparently the Vorbarra family doesn't name the sons after the grandfathers, but otherwise I got nothing.

Thanks all!

Comments

[southerncontinentskies]

There are never any names.

I was tickled when I finally got around to reading FoV and found that factoid, though, because it was definitely the headcanon I already had. Though honestly, it's just logic (sadly); they need an heir and (at least one) spare, and then they have room to have a daughter. And of course I've always though Gregor would want a bunch of kids, for a lot of reasons.

Further headcanon, which has absolutely no canon support at all: they don't stop at three. In FoV Ekaterin mentions that she saw the baby princess recently, so canon (other than GJatRQ? Unclear what the relative timeline is there) hasn't caught up to any further hypothetical Vorbarras.

[james]

I love the idea of a lot of kids, but I wonder how much is competition with Miles and his large brood, despite the fact Gregor would deny it completely.

[southerncontinentskies]

That's an interesting thought.

I also think there's a bit of Cordelia's "I come from a planet with reproductive controls and Barrayar doesn't have ANY" sort of excitement for Laisa (and also the only child thing), because you can't tell me Komarr, with its very limited resources and living space, doesn't have some sort of measures to discourage large family sizes, even if it's only social pressure.

[james]

Oh yeah, that's a good point about what Laisa might be feeling about having kids.

Though I wonder if anyone has talked to Gregor about having too MANY branches of the family tree and what it will do to the future inheritance problems, but Ivan will point out that it makes it easier for everyone else to avoid being in line for the throne if Gregor has a bunch of kids. ;-)

I do think Gregor would have as many girls as they can, just to make a subtle point about women's place in Barrayaran society - his daughters are going to be doing more than just marry well, so maybe someday his grand-daughter will become Emperor.

[southerncontinentskies]

You know, I hadn't considered that about Gregor's hypothetical daughters, but you're absolutely right.

And I think the first time one of them wants to marry a prole is the first time the conservatives get on board with the idea that a woman should be able to hold her name and title in her own right, regardless of marriage.

[desertvixen]

Oooh yes...