The old medic nodded. ‘No.’ She looked to the other medics for confirmation. They all shook their heads. ‘Of course, she should have died,’ the old lady said, and her eyes seemed to twinkle with hope. ‘One of the Emperor’s little miracles.’

Prassan said a prayer as he approached the bed. As he saw the occupant he felt that small hope within him die. He pursed his lips and stood smartly.

‘Lieutenant,’ he said, and saluted.

Dido lay with tubes up her nose. Her eyes were bruised and swollen, her legs held up in the air, and one of her eyes was red with a blood clot.

She gave a brief nod and Prassan cleared his throat. ‘General Bendikt sends his regards,’ he started.

Dido’s eyes squeezed shut in what he guessed was a forced smile. ‘Cut the crap,’ she said.

Prassan took that as an order. He pulled out a chair and sat down next to Dido, and went through all the usual things an ­orderly would when faced with his old lieutenant. Dido was not in a chatty mood. She’d never much liked Prassan, and he knew that and spoke for both of them.

‘You’re not telling me something,’ she said at last. There was a pause as she winced. ‘Is it my injuries?’

Prassan shook his head. ‘No,’ he said briefly. He looked uncomfortable.

There was a long pause.

‘You had better tell me because I can’t get out of bed and shake you,’ Dido said. ‘And I’m too pissed off to play guessing games.’

Prassan dew in a deep breath.

‘What is it?’ she demanded.

Prassan didn’t know what to say. After a longer pause, she said, ‘It’s bad?’

He nodded.

She closed her eyes. ‘Tell me.’

Prassan coughed to clear his throat, took another deep breath and let it all come out at once. ‘We lost Minka.’

Dido stared at him. ‘What happened?’ she said at last.

Prassan sighed. ‘No one knows exactly. Minka was made acting-lieutenant. Her lot were rearguard.’

‘Why the hell were they rearguard?’ Dido snapped. ‘That damned Sparker! Always wants someone else to do the dirty work.’

Her sudden outburst drew concerned looks from the medics at the door.

‘The mine ripped the island apart. It started an eruption. It’s a mess.’

‘Throne,’ Dido said, her expression guilty. ‘If I hadn’t got wounded I’d have been in command of her platoon, and I’d have made damned sure she didn’t get left behind.’ She swallowed. ‘Not a chance they survived?’

Prassan slumped forward. He shook his head. ‘The Navy have been over the island. They say there are no signs of life.’

Dido nodded. ‘I understand,’ she said. There was a pause. ‘I hope it was clean.’ She looked at the ruin of her own body. ‘Not like this.’

Prassan nodded. That’s what troopers wanted. A glorious life and a clean death.