“I know the story you told me. The one where you went back into that temple and risked your life to summon a fucking demon to save him.”

“I didn’t know—”

“The one where he sent you to me, because he knew he needed the Leatherbacks on his side. And who comes charging to his defense, right when he needs us?”

“But you—”

“We marched ourselves half to death because you couldn’t stand the thought of letting him down. Some of my girls are buried under a few feet of mud, somewhere on the road, because you didn’t dare disappoint Janus bet Vhalnich.”

Jane paused, gasping for breath. Winter felt her pulse throbbing in her skull.

“How long have you been thinking about this?” she said.

“Since Desland.” Jane’s voice was suddenly small. “Since you finally told me the truth. He’s using you, Winter, and he’s got you so wrapped up you’d hang for him and smile while you put your own head through the noose.”

“That’s . . .” Winter shook her head. “It’s not like that.”

“As soon as de Ferre arrived, I knew. The Directory can’t leave Janus to win any more victories, so now he has to turn on them. But it wouldn’t look good, too much like making a grab for power. So he’ll get you to do it, like he always does.”

“It’s not like that!” Winter said, more angrily than she would have liked. “I . . . respect Janus. I believe he wants what’s best for the country, and for everyone under his command.”

“More fool you,” Jane said. “Is that what he wanted when he led the Colonials into the desert?”

“He needed the Thousand Names.”

“For what?”

“. . . If the historians knew what I know, I think they’d be appalled. So much blood, for such a small thing. One raindrop in the river of history.”

Winter shook her head again, throat tight.

Jane gave a hollow laugh. “Now he needs you to save him again. All for the good of Vordan, of course.”

“I’d do it for you,” Winter said. “Or Bobby, or Cyte, or . . . or any of my friends. I wouldn’t let de Ferre haul any of them away.”

“Those are your friends. They would help you in return. Janus will use you until you’re of no more value, then throw you away.”

“How can you say that? He gave you back to me.”

Jane rocked backward, gritting her teeth. “And how do you think I felt about that, when I found out? He brought us together, like he was a fucking playwright and we were the actors, because it was what the script needed. He couldn’t have just told you where I was? Of course not.”

Winter felt tears in her eyes, and blinked them angrily away. “What do you want me to do, then? Stay here with de Ferre?”