“What he wants to say,” Braes said, “is that Maurisk has tossed us in front of a runaway cart and hopes we might slow it down a little.”

“I meant nothing of the kind,” Zarout said stiffly. “But I will admit you appear to have the advantage of forces.”

Winter suppressed a smile. Even with the garrison they’d left behind to hold Antova, the Army of the East was nearly thirty thousand strong. The two regiments in front of her mustered five or six thousand at best, with minimal artillery and no cavalry. She felt a sudden sympathy with Zarout.

“I agree that your position seems . . . difficult,” Winter said. “I’m sure I speak for the general when I say that we would like to avoid bloodshed between fellow Vordanai. Is there anything we can do in that regard?”

Zarout’s jaw clenched. “I have been informed by the Ministry that if General Vhalnich is permitted to pass, I and every man in my command will be executed for treason.”

“That’d certainly keep Dr. Sarton busy,” Braes said.

“General Vhalnich would suggest that such an order would be illegitimate,” Winter said.

“All well and good if General Vhalnich’s . . . opinion carries the day. But at the same time, those of us who have obeyed Directory orders . . .” Zarout trailed off, considering his words. Braes laughed again, and Zarout turned on him. “What do you find so amusing?”

“The way you know what you want to say, but get so tied up trying to say it,” Braes said. He looked Winter in the eye. “Look. Here’s our problem. If we fight you, a lot of people are going to get killed who don’t have to, and it’ll all be the same in the end, ’cause you’ve got six times our numbers. But if we don’t fight, and you lose, then we’re all going to be getting a little prick right here.” He thumped his chest.

“I can say from experience,” Winter said, “that General Vhalnich does not lose.”

“That’s what I hear. Trouble is, when the top seat changes hands, the new boss tends to get a bit angry with whoever knuckled under to the old boss. There’s a lot of us who’ve just been following orders, and we’re all looking over our shoulders after what happened to Hallvez.” He waggled his eyebrows. “You follow our predicament?”

“I do.” Winter took a deep breath. “I can’t speak for the general, of course, but I have served with him since Khandar, and he is not the vengeful sort.” For a moment, she thought the ghost of Adrecht Roston might raise a protest. That was different. Mutiny was one thing, but Janus wouldn’t execute a man who’d happened to be on the other side, especially if he didn’t fight. I hope. “I’m sure officers who followed their duty and their conscience would have nothing to fear.”