A surging crowd was forming around them, and Fitz turned away and started shouting orders against a background of cheers and backslapping. Winter fought her way through the press and found Bobby and her escort of Royals waiting, all of them grinning from ear to ear. They jogged back to where they’d left the rest of the regiment, only to find that the news had outrun them. Girls’ Own and Royals had mixed into a single joyous cacophony of self-congratulation.

Cyte hurried up to her, pushing through the close-packed soldiers. “It worked?”

“It fucking worked!” Winter shook her head. “I don’t believe it. Di Pfalen was a little angry about our ‘infamy.’”

“He’s going to be even angrier when he finds out we don’t have half the men we said we did,” Cyte said.

“Fitz is already working on it. By the time they figure out they’ve been tricked, we’ll have all the guns.”

“Thank God,” Cyte said. She let out a long breath, looking up at Winter, then shook her head. “You should see Jane.”

Winter nodded, patted Cyte on the shoulder, and moved off through the crowd. Abby and Jane were together in the middle of a knot of cheering Girls’ Own soldiers, but the press melted away as the women caught sight of Winter, shoving each other aside to clear a path for her. Winter trotted past, and they closed up again behind her, cheering.

Jane’s face was drawn, and there was something odd in her eyes. She tried to say something, but even leaning close Winter couldn’t make it out above the tumult. In lieu of speech, she simply drew Jane close, wrapping her arms around her. Then, with sudden mad elation—everyone already knows, even if they’ve got the genders wrong—she tugged Jane’s head around and kissed her, prompting another wave of cheers and whistles from the women in the crowd.

Jane’s lips were soft and warm, but Winter could feel a reluctance in her that made her pull back.

Are you all right? she mouthed. Jane blinked, and shook her head.

“Colonel! Hey, Colonel!”

Winter turned to find the tall form of Jo beside her, accompanied by the diminutive Barley. The latter’s voice was louder than it had any right to be, as though to make up for her companion’s silence.

“Yes?” One did not normally address a superior as “Hey, Colonel!” but at the moment Winter was willing to forgive the lack of etiquette.

“What about Anne-Marie?” Barley shouted. “Is she back yet?”

“Not yet.” Winter felt her elation deflate a little bit. She’s okay, I’m sure she’s okay. Even if the Hamveltai discovered her now, they’d hardly dare harm her while they were at the mercy of their enemies. “I’ll tell Fitz to be on the lookout when he sends men into the fortress.”