She and Abby had arranged passage for Anne-Marie through the section of the lines held by the Royals. They met there soon after full dark, and Winter studied the Deslandai girl’s disguise in the light of the sentry’s lantern. It looked, she had to admit, convincing. In addition to getting filth on the dress itself, Anne-Marie had coated her hair and skin liberally in the stuff.

She’d made some changes to the dress as well—one shoulder was ripped, so she had to clutch it at her collar and looked constantly at risk of baring her breast, and tears in the long skirt gave glimpses of dirty but shapely legs. The general effect was something out of a melodrama, the beautiful, bedraggled girl just waiting for someone to sweep her up and place himself between her and danger.

Looking at her, Winter felt obscurely out of her depth, as though she were catching a glimpse into some alien world. It was clear that, while she might need work on the manual of arms, in the areas her training had prepared her for—which obviously included securing male attention—Anne-Marie had long since mastered the essential skills.

“Good,” Winter managed. “You’re clear on what you have to tell them?”

Anne-Marie nodded. “We have a new general with plenty of new troops. Marshal Jindenau’s army is defeated and retreating, and there’s to be no quarter unless they surrender. And I have my heartbreaking adventure and escape ready.”

“Remember, try and talk to di Pfalen personally if you can,” Winter said. “Janus has whipped him twice already. He’ll be ready to believe that we can do it again.”

“Yes, sir.” Anne-Marie’s eyes twinkled. “You can count on me.”

“Okay.” Winter looked at Sevran, who was waiting nearby. “Your people are ready?”

He nodded, taking his eyes away from Anne-Marie with some difficulty. “They know not to fire.”

“Right.” Winter felt there should be something more to say, but she couldn’t think of any grand sentiments. “Good luck.”

Anne-Marie grinned. Janus’ ring of fortifications was barely begun, so there were no trenches here yet, just a line of sentries out of cannon range of the nearest bastion. Once Anne-Marie took a few steps beyond them, she was lost to the lantern light, appearing only as a slender shadow flitting across the invisible barrier between the opposing armies.

Winter held her breath until the girl was out of sight completely, and then a little longer. For all that she worried about Anne-Marie being discovered as an imposter, this was the most obviously dangerous moment. If some trigger-happy sentry on the other side saw someone moving and decided to fire . . .

But no muzzle flashes lit the night. Winter let out her breath, feeling something clench tight in her chest.

“Well,” she said to Abby and Sevran, “now we wait until morning.”