They drank and Minka felt the heat of the white liquid settle in her stomach. It filled her with a sense of ease.

Prassan fidgeted with his pen. ‘Listen, Minka,’ he started hesitantly. ‘I don’t think you will have heard.’

‘What?’

‘Dido survived.’

Minka leapt up. ‘She did? Where is she? I have to see her.’

Minka took Prassan’s staff dirtcycle. ‘I only need an hour,’ she told him. ‘Promise.’

She swung out of the gates and accelerated along the access bahn. It took her twenty minutes to get to the right medicae facility. She slowed as she turned through the gates. Some Rakallion troops were on duty. They were sitting in the guard house, hats lying on the table next to them, a pot of recaff on the table.

They saw her lieutenant badge and waved her through.

Sloppy bastards, she thought.

She found the ward and hurried inside. Minka gave the nurse on duty Dido’s name. The nurse consulted her papers. ‘This way,’ she said.

She led Minka into a long ward lined with beds. The bedding was all stiff and starched. There were bandages everywhere, low voices and the constant sound of moaning. ‘Don’t mind them. That is the song of the dying trooper,’ the nurse said, and smiled. ‘They know that they will meet the Emperor very soon.’

The nurse left her at the end of Dido’s bed. All Minka could see were bandages. She felt a strange reluctance as she stepped forward. ‘Dido?’ she called out.

Dido’s face peered out over the sheets. Her arms were out on the bed. She lay on her back, but one of her legs was held up in the air.

Minka sat down. ‘Hey,’ she said quietly. The starched white sheets suddenly reminded her of how dirty she was.

Dido lifted a hand. Her whole manner and attitude seemed despondent. ‘Hey,’ she said. ‘So. I hear you covered yourself in glory.’

Minka shrugged. ‘I did what was necessary.’

Dido’s eyes fell on the lieutenant pins on Minka’s collar. ‘And they’ve given you my job as well.’

‘Acting-lieutenant,’ Minka lied.

Dido gestured to her body. ‘If they’re waiting for me to come back it could be a long time.’

Minka nodded. She hadn’t expected this. ‘Is it serious?’

‘Shrapnel. Big as my hand. Went through my spine,’ Dido explained. ‘I can’t feel a thing down there.’

Minka took in a deep breath. She wanted to sound reassuring. ‘They’ll do something.’

Dido cursed. She seemed in a foul mood, but after a long pause she apologised. ‘Listen. I’m sorry. You’re the first person I’ve seen from the regiment. Apart from Prassan and Father Keremm. He’s here every damned day praying for me. I could throttle him.’ Dido sighed. ‘How did my lot do?’