The Taming of the Wolf Lord
Birds sang overhead as the fall wind hit the nation of Emprea in gentle gusts, rustling the leaves and stirring the dirt laid roads. A serenity had fallen over the land as it returned back victorious from the War Games in Radansath. The population of the land was in a bright and happy mood, hearing the exploits of their new heroes, five individuals who’s deeds in the games gained them a reputation that many respected in the land of Heroes. Truly those five venerated the slogan that anyone in Emprea could aspire to be a hero.
Viola Conda, chief Emprean advisor and the sixth hero of Emprea, smiled to paper she saw on her desk. A bemused expression of boredom and whimsy in equal measures covered her face as she read how her retainers continued to serve their country and live up to the title they had been given. She was most proud of them, but they were something even more to her.
Yeah, but you know you love us! The memory surfaced to the front of her mind as she was back in the assembly room, discussing with her newly appointed commanders how best to defeat the host of Reven. It was Paul Donovan who blurted that out. Though she silenced him with nothing more than a baleful eye, she had to admit that indeed, she was growing very fond of the rising soldiers.
“Commander Conda?” A timid voice spoke from her side. Viola lowered her paper to the oaken desk, feeling a bit of tension in her muscles from sitting all morning. With a bit of a yawn she reached over her desk to an ornate cup, designs of lilies and flowers over a white porcelain. Her fingers deftly snatched up the glass and she brought the drink to her lips, sipping the green tea with a satisfied sigh. When she lowered the glass she swiveled her large chair, the red padded cushions offering their support as she leaned back into it, resting her fingers on the curls of the arm rest. The one luxury Viola Conda allowed herself as a perk of her station was a comfortable office. This chair would cost a fortune to craft, but it was a gift from her king to her for all her victories she had brought home to the banner of Emprea.
Viola’s eyes scanned the secretary that aided her when she wasn’t at war. Even in peace Viola was a busy woman. A chief advisor did not just offer war advice and lead the troops, she also aided the king in matters of state affairs. The woman’s name was Natalie, and she had served Viola for the past seven years as her personal adjutant. She supposed in a way Natalie was her only coined term, friend. Viola had several of them, but as her station led her to be away from most of normal social activities she rarely had time to visit those people. Not to mention she was very careful not to mix work and personal affairs. Natalie was the only exception she allowed.
She stood at a very petite five foot five, her hair black as night that shined like a coin at the bottom of a wishing well. Her blue eyes boarded the line of a soft silver, and she had thick, full lips with a tasteful red hue to them. Natalie was usually in charge of making the decisions for Viola that would otherwise bog her down. What meetings to attend, what social military functions to participate in, and of course, when it was her turn to do some of the usual training duties. Even in the Emprean army the high king Horus demanded that every commander and advisor give up their time to train the next generation of soldiers. She figured the king had some logic to his declaration, at least she wouldn’t be cooped up in her office all day.
“Um,” Natalie said clearing her throat. Viola let out a soft chuckle as she apologized to her secretary.
“Sorry, day dreaming yet again. What do you have for me today, Natalie?” Viola lowered her head to her fingers where she rested, a bemused smile on her face. Natalie gave her a proper military bow before lifting up a folder and opening it. Promptly a few pieces of paper flew to the floor where Natalie looked to them, shrugged and continued as if nothing happened.
“I have your week prepared in depth for you, as well as the next month and a half. If it pleases you my lord, I shall begin with the furthest events.” Viola nodded her head, smiling brighter as Natalie bent over and grabbed the bothersome papers stuffing them angrily back into the folder. “As you are aware the celebration of our nations founding begins in two months time, in a month and a half the high king, Horus, would like to make sure all officers have their invitations sent out and returned. As is customary, you must attend.”
“Naturally. I shall find a date by then,” Viola felt around her desk for her tea cup. “Continue on.”
“Well, I just wanted to let you now that he has invited the lower ranking officers to this years function. I don’t particularly know why, but I got my invitation today.” Natalie smiled brightly. “As you can see, I’m happier than a new recruit who just met David King for the first time.” Viola laughed at that, a bit of tea nearly escaping her lips as she looked to Natalie who grinned to her. Natalie had confided in Viola that she had a crush on David King, one of the newly crowned Heroes. Though her crush had begun before he was a hero. It was common fact the man was desired by most women, but Viola had always teased Natalie that David seemed to love his hair more than a woman.
“I imagine the reason why the high king has decreed an open invitation to all officers is because he wishes to increase his popularity with the masses by consorting with the Heroes of Emprea. As you are aware, only three of the heroes can actually attend the normal function. Paul Donovan and Rachel Leona are no more than Line Captains, even if they are first captains.”
“Oh…” Natalie thought about it before grinning to herself like she had some evil plan. “That makes sense. Well, onto other matters.” She returned her face to a neutral setting, getting serious again. “Paul Donovan has successfully returned with David King from another recruitment drive. We have added one thousand new recruits to our army thanks to their speeches.” Viola’s eyes widened at the number.
“One thousand?” she repeated, lowering her glass. “That’s rather impressive. Not the highest by any stretch, but still, it’s impressive. Now how many of them are actually any good?”
“Well,” Natalie hesitated. “About three quarters of the ones David recruited made the cut, so about four hundred…” she looked out the window. “Oh look! A bird!” Viola cleared her throat loudly. “Um…Paul Donovan’s students had the highest drop out rate in the history of Emprea. Only two hundred of his recruits actually showed promise. Most of the soldiers they brought in will be fine on the line, but there is a rather nasty batch of soldiers that seem to only obey Paul. They most likely will get cut out.”
“I will have no such thing,” Viola interjected. “Paul Donovan brought them in, then he can lead them. If he can’t even control those men and women, then we’ll cut them.” Natalie nodded her head once. “I just fear for the person who is stuck with Paul in their officer’s training academy.” Natalie dropped another stack of papers and coughed violently. Viola made a move to get up and aid her, but the woman gestured her down. She grabbed the papers and lifted them again, sorting them out before looking to Viola with a confused look. She bit her lower lip, as if debating what to tell her commander.
“Oh look! A bird!” She repeated. Viola lowered her eyes into narrow slits. “Wow, what a pretty shade of blue on that blue jay! Don’t you think that’s a pretty blue, my lord?” Viola began to tap her fingers on her arm rest, making a soft pitter patter on the oak wood. This was Viola’s last silent warning that Natalie was getting on her nerves. The woman took a large gulp and smiled brightly.
“Oh look at the time, I must be going!” She turned on her heel and began to make for an exit.
“Captain Boros!” Viola said in her deepest commanding tone. Natalie’s spine shaped up quickly, her back strait as an arrow as she looked dead ahead. “About face!” One soft click of her heel and she turned to Viola. “Forward march!” Natalie’s feet stepped in time as she nearly hit the desk. “HALT!” Natalie did so. “Report to me what you are hiding, Captain Boros.”
Natalie opened her file and lifted the paper up and placed it gently before Viola. It was a crème color, with calligraphy written in her name as well as an official seal of Emprea. Viola scanned the paper and she looked to Natalie.
“I see nothing wrong with this. I see that it is my turn in the rotation for officer’s training academy.” Viola motioned for Natalie to be at ease. The woman slunk down and looked to her, her face pale. “There is absolutely nothing wrong with this news, Natalie Boros. Now stop acting so silly.” Natalie lifted out another paper.
“I have a list of this years students who will be attending. The last batch of officers were all trained by Lord Advisor Fulgrim, and well…most of them were given the option to volunteer to try again. Only four students flunked his course. Now I must make haste to my next appointment. I have training of my own to accomplish.”
“Dismissed Captain Boros.” Viola wavered her hand in the air as she looked over the list. “Fulgrim is an idiot. I swear to god he’s so thick that I wonder how he even snaked his way into the army. His only friend is Renald, and he’s a bigger idiot than Fulgrim. I suppose like keeps with like…” Vioal lifted her head to smile and wave goodbye to Natalie, who bowed to her and skipped off to her next appointment.
“Hmm, Rogers, Hawk, Falcon, Denmark, Jurgens, Donovan, Dawson, Marigold, Green, Hunter…” Viola looked back and scanned the names again seeing something that stuck out like a sore thumb.
”I just fear for the person who is stuck with Paul in their officer’s training academy.” The memory played in her mind and she quickly looked through the folder Natalie left behind. She pushed aside each dossier until she landed on the name that stuck out and with a mighty groan she slunk into her chair, a pout on her face as she tossed the paper back onto her desk.
Landing next to her tea cup was Paul Donovan’s confused face for his picture, as well as his dossier of performance in the Emprean Army.