“Thank you, Colonel, for your confidence,” Janus said. “For the moment, shovel-work is what is required. Colonel Warus is working to distribute the necessary orders. I need you to impress upon your men that this is just as important to our final victory as courage on the battlefield.”

“Yes, sir!” the big colonel said, followed by the others in ragged chorus. They saluted, and Winter joined in.

“Very good,” Janus said. “See to your men. Colonel Ihernglass, if you would remain a moment?”

“Sir?” Winter said, frowning.

Janus smiled at her again, but said nothing while the others walked away, down the slope of the hill to where their aides waited with the horses. His eyes never left hers, and she wondered if her dark thoughts had been visible in her expression. Janus sometimes seemed as though he could read minds, although she was reasonably sure this was only his remarkable insight and not an actual supernatural ability. Infernivore never so much as twitched in his presence.

When they were alone, he said, “I must say, Colonel, you look worn out.”

Winter looked down at herself. She’d changed from her mud-spattered uniform into a fresh one, but there hadn’t yet been time to do much else. Her hair was getting shaggy, and her face had to show the effects of several nights of poor sleep and days of exertion and fear.

“I am worn out, sir,” she said.

“And how fares the Third?”

“Worn out as well. We lost half our strength on the march. They’re still trickling in, and we’re hoping to recover the rest when our wagon train finally catches up.” She thought of Molly, sweating and pale. “Most of them, anyway.”

“I must apologize for the exertion I asked of you. In spite of what Colonel Gordace would have you believe, I am not infallible, and Baron di Pfalen is a canny soldier, if somewhat lacking in imagination. He behaved more aggressively than I had expected, and my timetable had to adapt accordingly.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Your men and women did a fine job under extremely difficult circumstances. Please convey to them my thanks, and tell them the entire army is in their debt.”

“Thank you, sir. I will.”

“As for you, Ihernglass, I see that I was not wrong in considering you an extremely promising officer, regardless of your other qualities.” He cocked his head. “May I ask you a question?”

“Of course, sir.”

“Why do you continue your . . . charade? Your current position would seem to be a good one for revealing the truth.”

“A few people know, sir. Bobby, Jane, some of the Leatherbacks. For the rest . . . it just seems easier to keep things as they are.” Winter thought of Novus and his tirade. “It would be one thing if I had just joined up, but it’s been so long. People might be upset that they’d been fooled. And . . .”

Janus raised an eyebrow. Winter hesitated.