“I do,” Winter said quietly. “I saw what happened when we overran a camp full of Khandarai civilians. I know what happens when soldiers get . . . out of hand. But that’s not going to happen here, understand? Because we’re on the same side.” And, she added privately, because I’m not going to let it. No soldiers under her command were going to engage in that kind of pillage and destruction, of allies or enemies. “Everyone will be safe. We’ve still got the Girls’ Own in companies, a hundred altogether. They can take care of themselves.”

“It’s too dangerous,” Jane said. “I won’t do it.”

And there it was, the line Winter had been dreading. She took another long breath and blew it out.

“I’m not asking you to do it,” she said slowly. “I’m giving orders.”

Jane stared at her for a long, silent moment, her green eyes hooded.

“And what are you going to do if I refuse?” she said after a moment. “Shoot me?”

In theory, Winter knew, she could. Balking at a direct order, in the field, could be declared summary treason. But that was out of the question, and they both knew it. Fortunately, Winter had thought this through ahead of time.

“Of course not,” she said. “I love you, Jane. You know that. But . . .” She swallowed. “If you can’t take orders you don’t like, you can’t be in command. It’s as simple as that.”

“So you’ll bust me down to ranker?” Jane sneered. “Fine. Go ahead—”

“I’ll send you home.”

“You wouldn’t,” Jane said. “Half the battalion would come with me.”

“I doubt it,” Winter said. “As I said before, they’re not here for you, or for me. They’re here because they think this is the right thing to do.”

Jane stared, her face rigid. A muscle twitched in her cheek.

“Please don’t make me do that,” Winter said, throat clenching. “I need you for the Girls’ Own. I need you. But everyone in this regiment is my responsibility now, and I need to do what will keep as many of them alive as possible.”

Another, longer silence. Then, finally, Jane saluted, without changing her expression.

“Yes, sir,” she said through gritted teeth. “I had better go and find where your new orders have placed my tent, sir.”

She pulled her horse around, sawing viciously on the reins, and kicked him into motion. Winter stifled an urge to call after her, and closed her eyes until her heart slowed down. Then, suddenly weary, she turned in search of her own tent.

Chapter Four

MARCUS

The blindfold was heavy black linen, scratchy and awkward. Marcus resisted the urge to tug it into a more comfortable position, for fear one of the guards in the carriage would take it as an attempt to peek. Janus’ Mierantai had been ordered to preserve absolute secrecy, and they took their orders very seriously.