Django Wexler - The Shadow Throne

“He must really be something,” Jane said. Her tone was dismissive. “The whole city seems to have gone mad for him.”

“He’s. . you’ll see.”

They reached the oak-paneled door to a study. Another guard stood outside it, and he exchanged salutes with their escort, then knocked politely.

“Yes?” Janus said.

“It’s the. . young women I mentioned, sir,” said the sergeant, with a gravelly mountain accent. “You said you’d see them.”

“Of course. Let them in.”

The Mierantai opened the door. The study was neatly furnished but obviously unused. Bookshelves lined the walls, full of volumes with neatly matched bindings. A desk stood in front of a window, empty except for an inkpot. In the center of the room was a large table, and here Janus had spread out a pair of maps: a large-scale one of the city, and a smaller one showing the surrounding area. He was looking down at them as the two women entered, making notes on a scrap of paper and occasionally picking up a pair of steel dividers to measure a distance.

Winter closed the door behind them, straightened to attention, and saluted. Janus looked up.

“Lieutenant Ihernglass. It’s good to see you again.” He laid his pen carefully aside where it wouldn’t drip on the maps. “I understand I have you to thank for the recent events in the Deputies.”

Winter felt herself flush. “No, sir. At least, not only me.” She gestured Jane forward. “This is Jane Verity.” As you well know. “Sometimes known on the streets as Mad Jane. She’s been of enormous assistance throughout.”

“Of course. My thanks to you as well, Miss Verity. I understand that you have something to talk to me about?” He cocked his head toward the window, gray eyes gleaming. “Presumably something to do with the company of young women who are currently engaged in defoliating my back garden.”

Winter winced. “Sorry about that, sir.”

“Don’t trouble yourself. Making the house our headquarters ensured that we would have soldiers tramping all over the grounds, and the gardens were bound to be casualties. Better that the flowers be picked before they’re stomped into the mud. So why have you brought me these young ladies?”

“They want to volunteer, sir.” Winter took a deep breath. “They’re Jane’s people.” The group you sent me to “infiltrate.” “The Leatherbacks.”

“I see.” Janus smiled. “I’m certain we can find work for them. In the medical services, or transport-”

Jane cut in. “No, sir . We want to fight.”

Janus’ smile faded slowly. He looked from Jane to Winter, and Winter found herself shrinking before that cool gray gaze. Then, abruptly, he turned away from both of them and went to the window. He looked down, and said nothing for a long moment.

“We’ve been fighting Orlanko’s tax farmers since before you arrived,” Jane said, nervously, eager to fill the silence. “Some of my girls even know how to handle a musket. We’ve been protecting ourselves in the Docks since-”

“I have three conditions,” Janus said, turning back from the window.

“What?” said Jane.

“What?” said Winter.

“The first is that your people will be evaluated by their commander, once they’ve had some training. Anyone that commander judges as not strong enough to use a weapon properly, or not fit to stand in a firing line, will remain behind, without argument.”

“Fine,” Jane said. “Provided you promise that your commander will give us a fair chance.”

Janus nodded. “Second, you will form a unit of your own, both in camp and in the field. You will take responsibility for keeping your people apart, and keeping others away.” He paused. “I will not have a unit in my command becoming a glorified brothel, understood?”

“A brothel ?” Jane’s lip twisted. “If you knew what we’ve been through in the Docks-”

“I don’t know,” Janus said. “In fact, I know nothing about you, save for what Lieutenant Ihernglass has told me. Her recommendation counts for a great deal, which is why I’m willing to agree to this. . experiment. That, and the fact that we are going to need all the help we can get.” He shrugged. “Primarily, this condition is for your protection. Whatever the moral qualities of your young ladies, you can be certain that there will be those who will assume they intend to provide that kind of service. And some among them will be willing to take by force what is not offered freely. Keeping you together will help, but you must be prepared to set watches and guard yourselves closely.”

Jane still looked unhappy, but she nodded slowly. “I understand.”

“You will be mocked. Laughed at. Then, when it becomes clear you really mean to go through with it, you will be insulted, slandered, attacked from all sides. You understand what this means? To all of you?”

“Yes.” Jane faced Janus’ piercing stare head-on.

“And then there are the risks of the battlefield. Your ‘girls’ will be shot. Some of them will die. Others will make it back to the cutters, and have their limbs taken off with bone saws.”

“Just like all those boys you’re rounding up.”

“Some of them may be captured by the enemy,” Janus continued remorselessly. “In which case I doubt they will be accorded the usual status of prisoners under the rules of civilized war.”

“I understand,” Jane grated. “We all understand that. What’s your third condition?”

“You will be second in command of the unit, under one of my own officers.”

“Who?”

Janus smiled, just for a moment, the ghost of an expression. “Lieutenant Winter Ihernglass.”

“Wait,” Winter said. “Wait a minute.”

Jane, slowly, grinned. “I think we can accept that.”

“Sir!” Winter said. “What about the Seventh? What about my men?”

“Captain Warus has made appropriate assignments to fill the gaps in the Colonials during the voyage home,” Janus said. “First Battalion, Seventh Company has a new lieutenant. Lieutenant John Marsh, if I recall correctly.”

“You. . but. .” Winter’s throat was thick. “Sir. Those are my men. I’m. . responsible.”

Janus’ expression softened. “I understand, Lieutenant. Once the emergency is past, I will see what I can do. For the moment, however, it’s best for discipline if the Colonials go into battle under the officers they’ve had for the past three months, and in the meantime Miss Verity’s command requires your attention.”

“I. .” Winter shook her head, and her fists clenched. “Would that be my attention as Lieutenant Ihernglass, or as Winter Bailey?”

“The former. This unit must be seen to be commanded by an officer of the Colonials.” Janus paused. “I assume that most of Miss Verity’s companions are aware of your real identity?”

“Yes.” Whatever that is.

“In that case, I suggest you impress on them the need to keep it to themselves. If this experiment is a success, perhaps in time you can dispense with the charade. But until then. .”

“They can keep a secret,” Jane said. “Sir.”

“Very well.” He looked from Winter to Jane and back again. “Was that all?”

Jane glanced at Winter. “I. . think so.”

“Could I have a moment with the colonel?” Winter said. “Please.”

“Sure. I’ll be outside.”

The door opened and closed with a soft click. Janus waited patiently. Winter took a deep breath.

“I have to know,” she said. “You sent me to Jane.”

“I did,” Janus said. “I wasn’t one hundred percent certain, of course, that she was the friend you told me about, but the balance of probability seemed to indicate it.”