“I’m going to try and avoid her. Bobby, are you in for this? We could certainly use your help.”

Bobby nodded, looking down at her hands. Winter frowned, then turned to Cyte.

“You’re staying behind.” Cyte opened her mouth to object, but Winter cut her off. “Please don’t argue. I’m leaving you in command here.”

“In command?” Cyte’s eyes went wide. “That’s ridiculous. What about Abby and Sevran?”

“They’ve got their own problems to deal with. All you need to do is keep sending troops across as they come up and start digging in. Janus will be here in an hour or so, and he’ll take over. I want you here to fill him in.”

Cyte hesitated, but she could see the logic. “Be careful. We need you.”

“I’ll do my best.” Winter smiled, but it took an effort. “Can you go and ask Abby to put together maybe half a dozen people she’d want in a street fight? Make sure they’re well armed, too.”

“Yes, sir!” Cyte saluted and hurried out, shutting the door behind her. Winter turned to Bobby, and there was a long pause.

“Are you all right?” she said. “You were pretty quiet in there.”

“Sorry,” Bobby said. “I was just . . . thinking. I’d got it into my head that this would be over soon. Once we got rid of Maurisk, maybe. But when you started talking about the Penitent Damned, I thought, this is never going to be over, is it? Not for us.”

She was staring down at her hand, the one she’d used to stop a sword that would have cut Winter in two. She wore a tight black glove now, but underneath it Winter knew the flesh was white and glittering, like polished marble.

On impulse, Winter stepped forward and wrapped her arms around the girl. It was the first time they’d been so close since that night at the fire in Khandar, and she half expected Bobby to pull away, but she only rested her head gently on Winter’s shoulder.

“It won’t,” Winter said. “You’re right. But whatever happens, I promise I’ll be there with you.”

“I . . .” Bobby’s voice was thick. “John talks about what he wants to do, when the war is over.”

“Go see him,” Winter said. “We’ve got a little time.”

Bobby pulled away, wiping her eyes, and nodded. She caught something in Winter’s expression and said, “We’ll find Jane when this is over. I know we will. And she’ll—”

Winter forced another smile. “I know. Go on.”

Chapter Twenty-seven

WINTER