The Shadow General

Chapter 3: The Capital

Darkness consumed the streets as a caravan of wagons and people arrived at a villa high on a mountain that looked over the capital city of the Caspian Empire, and the ocean.

They didn't use this villa much. Their family only used it for short stays, but by tomorrow Fulvia had no doubt whispers would travel through the capital about their large group arriving.

The only light that shone was the torches that had been lit for travelers to barely make out the streets.

Gunnarr couldn't have been anymore happy then when the coach he was in stopped in front of his family's capital home.

I didn't think I would live to see it again! His sister had pushed the caravan to an unbearable speed.

He moved slowly, trying to get out. All he wanted was a comfy and soft bed to rest.

"Eldest! Sister! You made it in record time," called out a young man, waving as he, and a small group that surrounded him, approached them.

"Bard," Fulvia called out to her brother, "Come and help the eldest."

Bard made a gesture with his hand and the group of men that had surrounded him moved to help his brother out of the coach and into the villa.

Watching this all take place Fulvia turned her attention to Bard, "How did it go?"

He gave his sister a smile, "All the documents and information on all of the single noblewomen are on your desk in the study."

"Good, the emperor's banquet will be held in no time and it would be good to have a target before then."

"Is the eldest on board with all of this? He isn't really the type to pursue a female," Bard commented a bit worried about how to get his brother to actively go after a woman that they have chosen.

"He will if she's interesting enough," Fulvia insisted as they made their way into the villa, "It's not going to be easy, that I will admit, but this is for his own good."

Bard smiled, "Some of our siblings talked about throwing him in one of the castle prison's if this doesn't work."

Fulvia winced, "Haraldur was really pissed off this time. If I didn't suggest marriage, the eldest really might have ended up caged somewhere."

"He isn't the only one, Dutche was stating that he would remain here instead of returning to his island if the eldest insisted on blindsiding us every chance he gets with his adventures."

"Unfortunately, it is his adventures that got our family into it's current position. If not for that, we would all be dead in some ditch on the side of the road who knows where," Fulvia commented more to herself than to her brother, "Because of his sacrifices we can live a lavish lifestyle."

They both let out a heavy sigh before entering the villa. Bard headed to the room his eldest brother was staying in to check on him while Fulvia headed to her office.

A pile of papers were stacked on her desk. She sat down and began going through them. She was only a few papers in when a young woman's information made her come to a halt.

"Elin Styrmir," she whispered into the darkness of the room, "maybe? A girl that needs a hero and a hero that needs a wife."

A small smile started to play on her face as a plan formulated quickly in her head, " No better yet if the girl seeked out a hero for help and one answered it could become a great romance story. The public would love it."

Her brother might never want to be known, but she knew he couldn't hide forever. Not even with all of their siblings help. He was becoming more popular and many were trying to find out his identity.

The niece of an emperor isn't a bad choice, she nodded to herself, but I recall there is a little bit of turmoil in that family.

"I'll look into it," she talked out loud to herself only to be answered by a voice from the shadows. She turned to see her brother, Bard, had returned to her, "Look more into the emperor's niece."

Bard laughed while taking a seat in front of her desk, "I knew you would pick her."

"And?"

"Sister," Bard smiled, "With very little effort on our part we could take one of two paths."

Bard explained Elin Styrmir's situation in great detail. Proving why he was the information collector in the family.

"So," she surmised, "We can either support her young cousin like she wants or take the throne and give it to our brother."

It would be easy enough and her brother deserved to reign over all, however, she knew her brother never really thought of himself as a leader. He more than likely wouldn't like the throne.

After long minutes of thought she shook her head, "Let us take the path of a wife and not a throne."

"You sure?" Bard asked surprised.

"Yes, if later he decides that he wants it we'll make it happen but for now we'll leave it be," she replied turning back to the paperwork in front of her, "When can we arrange for them to meet?"

"Sister you arrived at a perfect time," Bard stood up and handed her a list of upcoming events, "She will most likely attend as many parties as she can to find a husband, but she will definitely attend the emperor's banquet."

She looked at the date and information about the party, "Good. It's in two weeks hardly enough time to get ready but everyone will be there. It's the perfect stage for the eldest to enter on."

"But can you really get him ready for it?" Bard asked, "There's not much time."

"I've pretty much prepared everything before leaving the estate for here," she answered going back to her paperwork, "And with two weeks for him to rest his injuries he'll be able to attend."

Bard could only nod his head, our sister will see to it that everything is done correctly.

And with that thought he turned on his heel and left his sister to plan out the details.