Page 11 of The Infernal Battalion

Fitz Warus hadn’t even been a captain in those days, just a staff lieutenant serving under his older brother, Colonel Ben Warus. He’d changed very little since then, outwardly. A decade younger than Marcus and Val, he was as slender as a blade, always impeccably uniformed even in the harshest conditions. Looking at him now, though, Marcus was struck by the thought that even dependable Fitz had changed in the last year. He’d not grown up exactly—​he’d always been the responsible one—​but grown out, taking responsibility on his own instead of serving as Marcus’ right hand. Something in the way he carried himself exuded competence. There was a good reason Janus had made him commander of the First Division.

“You’ve heard?” Marcus said, as he let the tent flap fall closed behind him. No need to specify what.

They both nodded.

“I think everyone knows by now,” Val said. “Or will shortly. Rumors are the damnedest thing.”

“Some of the carters have admitted they were tipped to spread the story,” Fitz said. “Someone wants all of Vordan to know about this.”

“Right. So no point trying to keep things under wraps.” Marcus eased himself into one of the camp chairs. “Have you talked to your colonels?”

Fitz nodded, but Val shook his head, staring fixedly at Marcus.

“I wanted to come here first,” he said slowly. “Just to... check on things.”

“To check...” Marcus raised his eyebrows. “Ah. To make sure I wasn’t about to declare for Janus, you mean?”

“Not that I really thought you’d do it,” Val said hastily. He gave a harrumph. “I just didn’t want you to say anything you’d regret later.”

Or else you wanted to make sure to be on my side, whatever I did, Marcus thought ruefully. Val was a good man and a respectable commander, but he had no head for politics—​witness his getting banished to Khandar in the first place. He’d negotiated the tricky waters of the revolution and subsequent wars by sticking close to Marcus, whatever happened.

There are a lot of soldiers in that position. Without a particular ideology, or at least not one they’d bet their lives on, but with a great deal of trust in their commanders. It’s like I told Raesinia. The army will obey the generals. He took a deep breath. We just need to make sure of the generals, then.

“I’m not sure of anything at this point,” Marcus said. “I’m not convinced that this really came from Janus, or that he’s acting of his own free will. But whatever happens, my loyalty is with the people of Vordan, and that means Raesinia and the Deputies. Is that clear?” I made that choice once already.

“Of course, of course,” Val said. “I just thought... heat of the moment, you understand...”

“Thank you, Val,” Marcus said. “I must admit that my first instinct was to ride north to see what was going on for myself. Thankfully, Raesinia was there to point out that it might have looked... politically dubious, under the circumstances.” He looked down at the table, with its burden of paperwork, and frowned. “What’s our first priority?”

“So far the men are under control,” Fitz said. “There’s been a lot of whispering, but no action. I’ve warned my colonels to be on the lookout for spontaneous demonstrations. We may want to institute a curfew.”

Val nodded vigorous agreement. “I told Lieutenant Fylar to make sure everyone stayed put. He’ll keep my division in line.”

“That accounts for the First and the Third,” Marcus said. “What about the rest?”

“The Fourth is temporarily under my command,” Fitz said. “Pending the trial of General Kaanos.”

Morwen Kaanos—​Mor—​had been, along with Adrecht Roston, the other half of the commanders of the original Colonials. Adrecht had led a mutiny against Janus, and nearly killed Marcus himself; he’d been left to die in the desert with his coconspirators. Mor had served in the revolutionary army until the Murnskai campaign, but he’d made no secret of his distaste for Janus and Raesinia, and it had come to a head just before Marcus’ return, when he’d tried to assume command. Raesinia had outmaneuvered him, and he’d been arrested, but his trial had been postponed until the appointment of a new Minister of War.

“Given Kaanos’ attitude toward Janus,” Fitz went on, “I doubt any of his officers are likely to be leading their men in that direction.”

“And we can be sure of the Second,” Val said. “They may still be in mourning for Ihernglass, but Abby Giforte would never turn on you.”

Not to mention, Marcus thought, that her father now works directly for the queen. That was unfair—​Abby would stay loyal, regardless of what Alek did. She’d proved that in the revolution, and again when she took command of the Second Division’s First Regiment—​widely known as the Girls’ Own, the only female regiment in the Vordanai army.

Certain as he was of Abby, though, Marcus would have felt better if Winter Ihernglass had been here. He was another Colonial, a man of extraordinary talent who’d been bumped up to sergeant by chance and climbed the ranks from there to become one of Janus’ most trusted officers. While Marcus continued to feel uncomfortable letting the women of the Second Division put themselves in danger, he couldn’t dispute that the Girls’ Own had performed wonders under Ihernglass’ command, from the campaign on the Velt through the worst of the fighting in Murnsk.

But Ihernglass was gone, in pursuit of the Penitent Damned who’d poisoned Janus with some foul magic. Since Janus had recovered, Marcus assumed that Ihernglass had successfully completed his mission, but no reports of his party had ever come back. Given the chaos in northern Murnsk, the freak blizzards and wild tribesmen roaming the country, Ihernglass was presumed dead by almost everyone. If it’s true, it’s a damn shame.

“The Eighth is de Manzet,” Marcus said. “He’ll play it safe, whatever happens.”

“That leaves the Sixth. New fellow there. Quord, isn’t it?”

Fitz nodded. “Herran Quord. Janus appointed him after General Ibsly was killed at Gilphaite. I’ve only met him briefly.”

“Likewise,” Marcus said. “All right. Fitz, do you have a few men you trust for quiet work?”

“Of course,” Fitz said.