Page 128 of The Infernal Battalion

“It’s a nice sentiment,” Georg said. “I hope you don’t wind up paying dearly for it.”

“I’ve paid a great deal as it is, Your Majesty.”

He shook his head and turned to the door. “Good luck, then.”

“Your son has promised me he’ll write to you,” Raesinia said.

Georg paused, his back turned.

“You might want to try listening to him,” she said. “Just a bit of advice, from one monarch to another.”

“I’ll keep it in mind,” Georg said.

Part 4

Interlude

Janus

He felt the Beast’s primary focus sweeping toward him, a hurricane moving over the mindscape, scattering the floating wisps of thought like dandelion puffs. Janus had to work harder to hold himself together, exerting his will to keep his thoughts from being torn apart and drawn into the ravenous maw.

Winter has escaped. If Janus had still had anything like breath to hold, he would have let it out. If she’s made it to Dimiotsk, then she’ll be in good hands. That’s one piece in place.

“Vhalnich,” the Beast said, its voice a shriek of immaterial wind. “I am disappointed.”

“How so?” Janus said, holding himself at a steady distance from the dark wall that marked the Beast’s core.

“You had the opportunity to kill or capture the leader of the Vordanai army, this Marcus d’Ivoire. You didn’t make the attempt. Should I suspect you of... sentiment?”

“I judged the risk too great,” Janus said. “No sentiment was involved.”

“Risk? We are beyond such things.”

Janus’ nonexistent lips twisted into a brief smile. As you proved so handily in the north? He’d only been able to watch that chase from afar, but it was clear the Beast had botched the pursuit, at first by being overeager and then by waiting too long. It’s used to thinking of “risk” in terms of its own existence. But even the Beast can have setbacks.

“Marcus would have come to the meeting only if my body was there. If I tried to take him, it’s quite possible my body would have been killed in the attempt.”

“What of it?”

“It’s irrelevant to me, of course, except inasmuch as it affects your plans. Our supply of bodies in the south has been depleted by the battle, and it is only through my body that we retain the loyalty of the soldiers you have yet to incorporate. If that body were lost, things would become... chaotic.”

“Hmm.” Janus felt the increased stress of the Beast’s attention.

“You told me you wanted Vordan City taken as quickly as possible, and the Thousand Names seized. I am working only to achieve that end. Now that Marcus’ army has fled out of range of the Illifen passes, we can leave a small force to watch him as we take the bulk of our troops directly toward Vordan City. I don’t think what’s left of the Army of the Republic will put up much resistance.”

“Good,” the Beast growled.

“If I may be so bold, I suggest bringing your core body south, now that the north is no longer of such... interest. Having it close by will enable us to secure more bodies quickly once Vordan falls.”

“I have already begun the journey,” the Beast said. “When the city falls, I will feast. And with the strength that grants me, I will make the world tremble.”

Janus said nothing. Once the shot is fired, all you can do is wait and see if it will hit the target.

21

Winter

“Take the knife,” Jane said, as though instructing a friend in how to carve a roast. “Put the point of it about here, and press it in, upward, as hard as you can.”