“I know,” Winter said. “I realized I’ve got some notes I should collect. I’ll be back in a moment.”

She strode confidently down the corridor, around the corner, and then sprinted to the main stairs. The second floor was mostly deserted, but a pair of rankers were coming down the steps, talking to each other and laughing. Winter grabbed one of them by the arm.

“Hey—uh, sir?” The startled woman froze, and her companion awkwardly saluted. “What’s wrong?”

“Go and find Abby,” Winter hissed. “Tell her to bring a half dozen people up to Janus’ office. Now. And quietly, no shouting.”

“Sir—”

“Just go!” Winter let go and turned around, heading back up the corridor. She forced herself to slow down as she turned the corner, walking back toward Coin at a nonchalant pace.

“Sir,” the young woman said at her approach, “perhaps you’d rather wait downstairs, and I’ll send for you—”

Winter kept coming, and Coin’s eyes went wide a moment too late as she realized her commander wasn’t going to stop. She moved to lower her musket, but Winter was too close, stepping beside her and driving a low, fast punch into her gut. All the air went out of the sentry with a grunt, and she dropped writhing to the floor when Winter slipped past her.

She tested the latch on the door and found it unlocked. Very slowly, Winter eased it open a fraction and applied her eye to the gap.

Janus was standing behind a big desk at the far end of the room, hands spread on top of its leather blotter. Jane was in the corner, the pistol in her hand trained on his chest, hammer cocked. Her red hair was matted, and her uniform soiled by several days’ worth of sweat, but the sight of her made Winter want to break down and cry.

Jane, Jane, what the fuck are you doing?

“You’ll write the order,” Jane said. “Then you’ll stay here until I’ve shown it to Winter and we’re well away. Then you’re welcome to do whatever the fuck you want, as long as you stay away from us.”

Coin was stirring, fumbling for her musket. Winter kicked her in the side of the head, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open. Jane’s pistol swung around, reflexively, as she entered, and Winter braced herself for the shot. It didn’t come.

“Fuck!” Jane said, rapidly moving to cover Janus again. “Saints and martyrs, I nearly fucking shot you. How did you get in? I told Coin—”

“Jane, what the hell are you doing?” Winter said.

“Rescuing you,” Jane said. “Again.”

“Colonel—” Janus began, but Jane interrupted him with a snarl.

“One more word out of you and I’ll shoot,” she said. “I’m tired of you manipulating her.”