The men at the table might not have been well educated, but they weren’t fools. They’d all been through the rioting and the skirmishes around the Vendre during the revolution, and she could see they were all only too aware of what it would mean to have a real army going up against a dug-in defender in the streets around their homes. Everyone was silent for a moment.

“I thought the Patriots had been busier than usual,” John said. “They’ve been bringing wagons over the Span and down the Green Road the last couple of days.”

“Doing what?” George said.

Jack shrugged.

“Defensive positions,” Raesinia said. “Ammunition stores. Cannon.”

“Saints and martyrs,” Walnut muttered.

“Fucking bastards,” John said.

“Marcus wants to do something about it.” This wasn’t quite the truth, Raesinia was aware, but Marcus was too focused on keeping her safe and not worried enough about the city that was in her charge. It’s what he would want, if he were thinking straight. “But we need help. We need whatever Leatherbacks are left, and anyone else you can gather.”

Walnut looked at Andy, who nodded encouragingly, then at his two companions. His brow furrowed.

“If—if, mind you—we were of a mind to help, what would you want us to do?”

“Help us keep the seedies from hurting people.” Raesinia leaned forward. “Mrs. Felda’s is full of people who’ve run away from the militia and the Patriots. We need safe places for them, food, extra hands. And . . .” She hesitated. “Maybe a bit of poking around. Nothing dangerous. But if we can send Janus information, maps of where the Patriots are and what they’re up to, it will make the fighting shorter.”

George was frowning. John said, “Listen. You mean well, but you have to understand what you’re asking. It’s all well and good if Janus wins, but what if he loses? The Patriots will ask who helped him, and people will talk. Every one of us could be on the Spike by the end of the year. I’ve got a wife and kids to think about.”

“What makes you think they’ll leave you alone if Janus loses?” Andy said. “We fought the tax farmers, we fought the fucking black-coats, and we took the Vendre. If the goddamned Directory thinks they can push us around, they’ve got another think coming.”

“You all know what the Patriot Guard are like,” Raesinia said. “A bunch of bullies and cowards. If it comes down to them against Janus bet Vhalnich and Mad Jane, which side are you going to bet on?”

Walnut looked at John, then back at Raesinia. Slowly, he nodded, and his huge hands tightened into fists.

*   *   *

“I am supposed to keep you safe,” Marcus said. “That is what Janus ordered me to do. And I can’t do it if you keep running off every time a thought pops into your head!”