“It is,” Winter said. She wasn’t sure she’d understood that herself until Jane had said it out loud. “I didn’t mean for it to be. But . . .”

Jane cocked her head, emerald eyes reflecting sparks from the campfires out in the darkness. Winter uncrossed her arms.

“Do you mind if I sit down?”

Wordlessly, Jane shuffled over on her rock, and Winter took a seat next to her. They sat side by side for a moment, in silence.

“I spent two years living in fear,” Winter said. “After I ran away from Mrs. Wilmore’s, I was so sure someone would come after me. I ran all the way to Khandar, and then I was afraid of what would happen if someone found me out. I had this sergeant, Davis, who was . . . a monster.” Winter touched her cheek. Davis’ bruises had long since faded, but something in the bone remembered. “If he’d ever discovered who I really was, I don’t know . . .”

Jane put a hand on her arm, and Winter let out a long breath.

“It all changed when Janus arrived. They made me a sergeant, and then our lieutenant got himself killed, and the men in the company needed me. No one had ever needed my help before. Except for you, and that time I ran away.”

Jane squeezed Winter’s arm. “You know you can’t blame yourself for that.”

“Thanks.” Winter swallowed. “Once people start to rely on you, you can never really get free.”

“I know all about that.” Jane leaned back, kicking her feet, one bare and one booted. “I didn’t mean to start the Leatherbacks, obviously. When I went back to Mrs. Wilmore’s, I was looking for you. But I ended up with a couple of hundred girls expecting me to tell them what to do, and I couldn’t just leave them. And one thing just kept leading to another . . .” She shrugged. “The hell of it is, now they don’t need me anymore. They’ve got you. And I don’t know how to feel about it.”

“I need you,” Winter said.

“Not in what you might call a professional capacity,” Jane drawled, and Winter laughed. “So, what are you going to do with me, Colonel Ihernglass?”

“I think Abby should stay in command of the Girls’ Own,” Winter said.

Jane nodded. “She’s better at the organizational bullshit than I could ever be. Even back in Vordan it was her and Min who kept everybody fed and made sure the laundry got done.”

They were silent for a moment. Min had died at the Vendre, shot by a Concordat sniper.

“I’ll put you on my staff,” Winter said. “I can’t imagine Janus will object.”

“Just don’t expect me to write out marching orders and file reports.”

“Cyte can handle that. I’ll keep you around for when some idiot officer needs to be beaten into submission.”