- "Across from where they sat in Vorbretten House, Vorhartung Castle's crenellations loomed up through the spring-green treetops, gray and archaic. The traditional meeting-place of the Council of Counts had overlooked—in both senses of the word, Miles thought dryly—all these transformations."
- ―Vorhartung Castle resists modern rebuilding[src]
Vorhartung Castle (vohr-HAHR-tuhng) was the meeting place of the Barrayaran Council of Counts. In addition to the Council Chamber itself, there were galleries that overlooked the chamber, side rooms for private meetings, archives[1], offices, and a military museum. The castle straddled high bluffs overlooking the great river that flowed through Vorbarr Sultana[2]. When the Council was not in sessions, guided visits were allowed[3].
The museum included such delightful items as a tanned scalp of Mad Emperor Yuri and front-loaded large-bore guns previously owned by Vlad Vorbarra that came with misshapen gold blobs that had been fired as bullets - one was taken from the brain of whoever had been killed[4].
Some of the building's offices were crammed into unsuitably tight spaces; for example, Count Henri Vorvolk's office was down in the old dungeons and lacked head-room[4].
The Council Chamber had a good deal of rich wood paneling, stained glass windows high on the east wall, a heavy oak floor, and rows of plain wood benches and desks in a ring[2][5].
Other features of the castle included: a main entry hall, the grand staircase from the entry hall to the Council Chamber, and the great salon.[6] The Emperor kept a private room behind the Council Chamber.[3]
Notes and references[]
- ↑ A Civil Campaign chapters 18,19
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Warrior's Apprentice chapter 21
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 A Civil Campaign chapter 19
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Mirror Dance chapter 13
- ↑ Barrayar chapter 3
- ↑ A Civil Campaign chapter 17