“Novus?” Sevran asked. Winter nodded, and the captain sighed. “I’ll speak with him. It’s nothing against you personally, sir. Some of my officers aren’t happy about being placed alongside the volunteers.”

“Not just volunteers, but girls,” Winter said. “I know that must bother some of them.”

“I’ve made it clear to them that the First Battalion is to be treated like any other body of men—of soldiers,” Sevran said.

Winter guessed that someone higher up—probably Janus himself—had expressed the importance of this point to the captain. She felt a sudden pang of sympathy for him; the situation he’d been thrust into would have been an awkward one for any officer. He had the clear-eyed look of someone determined to do his best under difficult circumstances.

I think I like him, Winter thought. At the very least, he was not Colonel de Ferre.

“What do the men think about the situation?” Winter said. “The rankers, not the lieutenants.”

Sevran hesitated. “Speaking in confidence, sir?”

“Of course.”

“There’s a fair bit of grumbling, of course. A lot of them don’t think the First Battalion will fight. I’ve told them that you were in a pretty serious scrap at Diarach, but I’m not sure they really believe it.” He paused again. “A lot of them also think that you’re favoring the First, sir. Because you’ve . . . served with them longer.”

And because I’m sleeping with the captain. No doubt that had made the rounds already. “I’ve tried to be even-handed.”

“Some details do seem to fall inordinately on my men,” Sevran said, then hastily added, “Not that it isn’t your right to assign duties as you like, of course. But it isn’t helping morale.”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Latrine duty, for example.” Sevran spoke with the air of someone inching across a crumbling bridge. Winter wondered if he thought she was testing him. “My men have been assigned to digging the latrine ditches for the last three camps. Cleaning the horse lines, too.”

“Lieutenant Cytomandiclea draws up those orders,” Winter said, frowning. “I’ll speak with her. That does seem unfair.”

“Thank you, sir,” Sevran said. “That will help a great deal.”

“I’d also like to try some joint drill between the battalions tomorrow morning,” Winter said. “I have some tactical ideas that will need some practice. Can you pick your best company and bring them out to meet me?”

“Of course, sir. I think that’s an excellent idea.”

“Good. Then I’ll see you in the morning, Captain.”

Winter accepted his salute with a nod and ducked out of the tent. That wasn’t so hard. Sevran looked as though he was willing to work with her, and he could help her keep the lieutenants in line. As long as the rankers didn’t cause trouble, a few blue-blooded officers weren’t much of a concern. This might actually work.

*   *   *