Commander Smynth knew very well he had to take advantage of the situation, but directly following the orders of the king was tantamount to suicide. Rumors told one of the sisters was an incredibly talented rune witch, capable of creative and destructive feats. If that wasn't enough, the other was the child of legend, one of the few healers left in the world, and a nature magician. He would need a whole army under his command to bring them along if they didn't want to go, and he was sure they wouldn't. Such a stupid king, thinking he was disposable. But he wasn't.
If Smynth has one specialty, only one, it was procuring information and pretending he didn't know it. He could be any type of person, be cordial, mean, menacing, or groveling. He didn't care, he always obtained what he sought. And he did know something vital: There was a secret underground passage on the Largergarten mansion. He had obtained the information on an idle conversation with a famous architect that had worked on it. He specialized in underground construction and had let it slip on a drinking spree on a pub on the capital:
"...Yesh, of course, I've built many things but I swear that passage is my besht work. Magic rune digging, beautiful Zimeric stone walls, the whole works… They spared no expense, because..."
Even through he didn't reveal where it was located, it would be simple to prove the forests near the Largengarten family territory, and find it.
He also knew how to bring the daughters to the king… or to him, without a fight. He just needed to capture their mother. He was sure that if he did, the daughters would follow, trying to save her. Yes, it was so simple. A plan that only needed time, and few steps. He would just need discrete yet capable mercenaries, and he knew exactly who to hire.
"And maybe then, when we win this stupid war, they'll call me a hero!" he said, on a loud whisper, and his ambition for once seemed achievable.