“Three hundred years’ worth, apparently. Lieutenant Novus wrote about it in some detail. It seems that one of his ancestors was killed leading it to a glorious defeat during the reign of Farus the Fifth.”

“So because some idiots got themselves slaughtered a hundred years ago, we should eat their dust on the road all day?” Jane snorted. “That sounds like Royal Army thinking, all right. Janus should have sent the lot of them to the rear and let the volunteers do all the fighting.”

“Janus needs every bayonet he can get his hands on,” Winter said.

“Assuming they’ll fight, which I doubt.” Jane shook her head, rubbing her cheek against Winter’s shoulder. “Did I tell you we caught another couple of Royals trying to sneak into our camp last night?”

“Oh God. Again?”

“They don’t seem to learn.”

“You didn’t hurt them too badly, I hope.”

“We may have pushed them around a bit. But we just sent them back where they’d come from.” Jane grinned slyly. “Kept their pants and breeches, though. Only seemed fair.”

“You really ought to file a report with their company commanders,” Winter said, though she couldn’t keep a broad grin off her own face.

“I think my way works better.”

“Well. A good regimental commander leaves minor matters up to her subordinates.” Winter put on her best pompous officer voice. “I’ll leave things to your best judgment, Captain Verity.”

“Is that out of that manual you borrowed from Janus?”

“Indeed. A Comprehensive Guide to Regimental Command. I hear it’s a standard text at the War College.”

“What does it have to say about kissing your captains?”

“Surprisingly little.”

Their lips came together. Winter felt Jane’s fingers running delicately up the inside of her thigh.

“Perhaps,” Winter said when Jane pulled away for a moment, “I should submit a monograph to the College. To make sure their text is truly comprehensive.”

“Sounds like an excellent plan to me.”

Winter grinned wider. “Then, Captain Verity, I officially request that you assist me with my research.”

“I don’t know,” Jane said, with mock seriousness. “I may have to run that up the chain of command.”

She smothered Winter’s mad giggles with another kiss, and for a while, rank was forgotten.

*   *   *