Gavin laughed. “Steady on, Blanche. I’ve never heard him say that to anyone.” He grinned. “Master Smythe, this is Lady Mary, once known as ‘Heart Heart,’ and now my betrothed.”

Master Smythe managed a wriggle that might have been taken as a bow.

The women sat. Master Smythe thought that they both had remarkable dignity, and made a note to court them. Perhaps one at a time.

He smiled.

Gabriel sat up. “I think won is too strong a word,” he said, ignoring his brother. “We are still standing.”

Master Smythe took a deep breath and savoured the experience of being alive. “The first alliance of the Wild and men,” he said. “That is a victory, is it not?” He paused. “Where is Ash?”

There was a tiny shudder in the fabric of the aether.

“Harmodius says he’s to the west.” Gabriel frowned. “That is what I mean. Nothing’s finished. The north of this kingdom is wrecked. Ten thousand are dead—and what of the Wild’s losses? Twice that.”

Blanche put a hand over his mouth. “Stop saying such things,” she said. “We won.”

“I can’t take any joy in it,” Gabriel said. “I thought it would be over.”

Master Smythe sighed at the ways of men. “Nothing is ever over.” He smiled at the beautiful women, who ignored him. “We can do so much together,” Master Smythe said. He meant it to sound portentous.

The other man raised the stump of his left arm. “We could buy gloves together,” he said.

Master Smythe lay back, and laughed. “Humans are terrifying,” he said quietly.

The next day, the Red Knight—the Duke of Thrake, and the Queen’s Captain—was dressed, carefully, by his leman and his squire, and then put—somewhat ceremoniously—into those parts of his armour that were still presentable and were light enough for him to wear.

Armed, and armoured, he left the hospital tent raised by the Order of Saint Thomas, to where Ataelus, his war horse, untouched and unused through the great battle, waited for him with fondness and was rewarded with an apple.

Then, with some help from Bad Tom, Toby and Ser Michael, he managed to mount.

Tom rode by his side. He wore the full harness and surcoat of the primus pilus of the company.

Out there, on the ground in front of the tents, waited the army.