"When they aren't lurking among us," Sonia mutters darkly, thinking of Vorhalas and Vorbataille, but Vorbataille had tried to flee too, hadn't he? She tightens her grip around Byerly subconsciously, burying her face in his shoulder. She doesn't see the sick look on his face.

"I don't know if I'm quite at 'make deserter do a moral 180' levels of morale boosting yet, but I can at least try to make things a little less miserable around here." She smiles into his coat. "Still not sure how. But I'll figure it out."