The city was unusually silent. The patrols that Dimitri had suggested to monitor the progress of the General had reported movement from the General's compound two days ago. Since that news, all women and children had been moved to the heart of the city. The combined armies of the captains were assembled in strategic parts of the city. Now the captains and their armies waited. The arrival of the General was inevitable. It was the waiting that was hard. Tensions grew and tempers were short.

Dimitri and Vladimir were in Vlad's house.  The evening patrols were out and there was not much they could do besides wait. It was a beautiful summer evening Dimtri thought.  It was hard to believe that war was imminent. But the heaviness in the air and the tension was real. Sighing he turned to Vladimir.

'Have we received updates yet from the morning patrols?' he asked.

Vladimir shook his head. His expression showed his irritation.

'Igor insisted on all intel being directed straight to him.'

Dimitri shared Vladimir's irritation but he was not surprised. Igor had taken an instant dislike to Dimitri. During the preparations for the war, the dislike between the men had grown into a full blown hatred. Dimitri suspected that part of Igor's hatred was because of the support that Dimitri had received from the other captains. Branislav had leaned heavily on Dimitri for advice. And Dimitri had realised early on in his dealings with the captains that Branislav's opinion carried much weight. What surprised Dimitri however was that Vladimir was not a captain. He had not felt comfortable asking Vlad before but the eve of battle seemed like a prudent time. In the War that lay ahead each one of their lives may depend on the other. And it was always good to know the man who could save your life.

Turning to Vlad, Dimitri asked him the question that had been on his mind for a while.

'Why are you not a captain Vlad? I mean you are skilled enough in warfare and arms to have made an outstanding leader. It surprises me that others haven't recognised your ability before now. '

Vlad hesitated and Dimitri could sense that he had touched a nerve. He hoped he hadn't offended Vladimir.

Eventually Vladimir spoke.

'I was a captain,' he said softly. 'In the years after the Great War. Those were good years to be a captain. The people needed guidance. There was much that needed to be rebuilt. It was a process that took all of my attention and I enjoyed the challenge. In those years I had a woman too. Her name was Eugenie. We completed each other. '

Vladimir paused for a moment. Dimitri felt the mood change and half wished he hadn't asked the question.

'One day there was an ambush. It was not long after the War, while we were still gaining control over the people. There were groups of rebels that continued their raids and we suspect it was one of these groups that ambushed some of my people. Eugenie was part of the group that was ambushed. They held her captive for three days before they killed her. That loss changed me forever. Once I had exacted revenge for her death I stepped down from my position as captain. Now I can serve anyone who needs me instead of only the people I am captain of.'

Dimitri reeled with the shock of Vladimir's disclosure. He had recognised the skills that Vladimir had both as a leader and military man but he had never guessed of the pain behind the man.

In the gathering darkness Dimitri realised that although fate had brought him to this place, he shared with those in the city a desire for peace. There had been so much killing already. He hoped beyond hope that once this war against the General was over there might be a respite.

Vlad broke the silence.

'Once this is over I shall recommend you to become the sixth captain,' he said to Dimitri. 'We are going to need someone with a military mind. Unless we kill the General we will never be free from the threat he poses.'

Dimitri was startled into silence. That was unexpected. Vlad was right about the threat the General posed. But Dimitri had never considered life beyond this war. It would be a life without Lia he knew. And that thought hurt him in a near physical way still.  But for the first time since he had lost Lia, Dimitri felt the stirrings of hope.