The tension in the General's war room was tangible. All around the table, instructors gave reports on their readiness for war. Lia sat next to the General. Her role was not one of advisor but she was there to serve the General in whichever way he required. Thus far Lia had sat quietly at the table and tried not to draw any unnecessary attention to herself. The General's mood was ugly and it was darkening as the meeting progressed.

In the weeks since her capture and return to the compound, Lia had recovered most of her physical strength. The medical personnel in the General's compound had used a sedation to reopen and clean the badly infected wound. For a few days she had hovered between life and death but in the end Lia had survived.  She knew that the medical personnel saw that as a miracle. Lia did not share their view. Her life as the General's slave was an ongoing torture. Her daily abuse drained her of the will to live. Lia's only hope as she listened to the General's plans was that he may take her with him to the city. Perhaps in the chaos of the war she would be killed.

Suddenly a question at the table penetrated Lia's thoughts.

'What if the traitor Dimitri has reached the city and is on the side of the captains?'

Lia went cold. The room went deathly silent. The silence went on for an uncomfortably long time.  Then at last the General spoke.

'I will not have that traitor mentioned in this room,' he said coldly. 'As of this second there is a kill order on him.  If he is sighted by any member of this council or their soldiers he is to be killed without delay. There will be a reward to the soldier that provides this service to me.'

The room remained silent. Lia felt nauseous with the anxiety. Turning to her, the General made his final pronouncement for the day.

'We leave first light tomorrow.  By the end of the week the city is to be mine. As much as I will miss your personal service you will remain here Lia. I want the traitor to look for you and think you are dead because he left you behind. '

The instructors filed out of the room one at a time. Lia remained in the now empty room with the General.  There was no where else to go.

The General and his army left at first light the next morning. Lia sat in the General's bedroom as the sun rose fully in the sky. She was grateful for the time she would have without the General. But on her mind constantly was Dimitri. Lia knew that if anyone of the army spotted him they would shoot to kill. And as much as she hoped otherwise Lia had no doubt that if Dimitri had survived he would have headed for the city to warn the captains. Lia knew enough of Dimitri to know that in the defense of the city he would be in the front row. And that would make him the perfect target for the General.