In the end, only three people other than Ezra himself passed Georg’s tests. Ezra and Leah, then a pair of brothers named Boyd and Cord. Boyd was a bit taller than Cord, who was himself a bit taller than Ezra, and Boyd’s hair was a dirty blonde to Cord’s dark hair, just like Ezra’s. The brothers introduced themselves, Cord as the elder, quieter one, and Boyd the more outgoing, brash brother.
The rest were turned aside, though they were told that another would be coming to conduct tests in a few hours and they could give it another try then. Then, Amy and the other man at that same table, who was introduced as Petr, joined with Georg and Yoran. In the end, there stood a group of eight all together, Georg the Lieutenant with Amy and Petr the experienced soldiers and Yoran the apprentice to the quartermaster along with the four new enlistees, Ezra, Leah, Boyd, and Cord.
By the time lunch came around, Georg had finalized his decision, gathered the other seven together with him, and guided them towards the inner city while leaving behind the clerks and most of the other soldiers. He mentioned something about most of the people left behind being part of different squads, but he didn’t elaborate. At that point, Yoran had already given each of the newest soldiers a uniform to wear.
Ezra felt it was pretty nice, as it was made of wool and warm, but Yoran apologized, “I’m sorry for these being as makeshift as they are. They won’t fully match with the rest, but these are partially retired uniforms from a while ago, so they aren’t actually the same style as what the Count’s soldiers actually wear. They’re similar enough, and when we return from the campaign, you’ll get newer ones, but until then, the Count’s decided to use that funding to ensure that you’re all fed on the march instead of in perfectly matching coats.”
Despite his dislike of the Count, Ezra agreed with the choice and put the coat on over his three tunics. It buttoned across his chest without issue, even over so much clothing, being loose in his chest, shoulders, arms, and waist.
“These’re all bigger than your bodies are right now,” Georg explained as he led them forward. “Now that you’ll all be getting fed three square meals a day, you’d better be putting weight on quick enough for these to fit by the time we get to the battlefield. Now, just walk with purpose with me as we get to the gates. You’ll come right through, just don’t open your mouths.”
Ezra started to open his mouth to complain or argue, but decided against it. After all, he was supposed to be following orders now, and it wasn’t a good look to be arguing with the first thing that he was ever told to do.
Under Georg’s direction, the party made their way through the gate pretty easily, but there were definitely some weird looks on the face of the guards as they ushered the soldiers through, a strange mix of anger and happiness, he thought? Once they were all well and truly through, Georg explained, “The guards and the soldiers don’t have a great relationship. They feel like we don’t do enough in peacetime and we don’t like that they’re a bunch of lazy valor-stealers that act like standing at a gate and robbing the citizens of the town is some act of heroism.”
“I don’t like the guards anyways,” Boyd laughed. “Always bustin my balls.”
Ezra narrowed his eyes at the other man, wondering if he was about to admit to breaking the law in front of his new superior. Before Boyd could continue, though, Cord reached out and grabbed his brother by the ear and dragged him towards him, where the shorter man wrapped his hand around the younger brother’s mouth.
Before an uncomfortable silence could settle over the group of near strangers, Petr spoke for the first time that Ezra’d heard since he’d threatened Ezra and demanded that he tell the reason why he’d come. “Most people who sign on as soldiers are from the slums. We had no love for the guards before we signed on, and it’s no better now. Don’t start a fight, but if they start it, finish it.”
The man’s ruddy cheeks seemed to permanently look that way, and he didn’t look quite so angry now. Ezra realized he might have just been thinking that Petr was angrier than he really was before, and his own nerves had made him think worse of the other soldier.
“Alright,” Georg said as they continued walking through the streets. Unlike the last time that Ezra was here, he walked proudly on the sidewalk, and behind Georg’s armor and helmet came the authority of the Count of Villy. Citizens nodded their heads and got out of the way instead of looking at him like he was going to steal something. There was respect in their eyes, something foreign to Ezra. He felt himself roll his shoulders back as he carried himself with more pride while walking through the inner city’s streets without being afraid for the first time.
Their journey took them nearly to the center of the city, a place that Ezra’d never attempted to go before. Here, patrols of guards were common, and each one had the same look of aggression and almost relief that they were getting sent to battle. Ezra already felt some measure of pride at being associated with the army, and felt himself bristle at every slight they received. When finally there was another patrol that came by, this pair of guards were wearing fancy armor, shining breastplates and helmets with plumed feathers in the cap.
“You wastes of space’re finally going to earn some of your pay, huh?” one asked, his mustachioed face looking particularly punchable as he sneered at the soldiers. His right hand was on his club hanging on his waist while his left hand carried a small shield.
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“Get out of the way, Detective Dipshit,” Georg replied, his tone bored. “You know why we’re coming through, and if you stand in our way, you’re not going to enjoy what happens.”
“Show some respect you—”
Whatever insult the guard was about to spout was cut off as Georg snapped a fist forward and straight into his throat. The guard tried to react, but was too slow, and as soon as his Adam's apple was crushed, he went down in a wheezing heap.
“If you try something too,” the Lieutenant warned, “you’ll end up just like him. Like I said, we’re here on the Count’s business, and he’s not going to stand for some of his soldiers getting locked up or beaten when he’s two weeks away from shipping us all out to deal with real problems. If the idiot on the ground knows what’s good for him, he won’t say anything to anyone. If he doesn’t, my name is Lieutenant Georg Standage, and you can come search for me within the barracks. Now get the fuck off my street.”
Georg said nothing more and strode forward without looking at the man hacking on the ground. Ezra was silenced himself, hearing that Georg had a last name. Sure, he’d expected that a Lieutenant was from the inner city, but with a last name that wasn’t from an occupation, then he had some trace of noble blood in him, however distant that relation was.
Amy, Petr, and even Yoran strode past the suffering guard and the four new recruits did the same. Ezra didn’t look, but he heard Cord muttering something to his brother about not getting into a fight with a guard as they continued on their path.
“Sorry about that,” Georg apologized, though it didn’t at all sound like one while he continued to walk forward. “Honestly, I expected it to happen, but the detectives’re usually smart enough not to start shit in the streets. Think that’s one of the newer recruits. Anyways.”
He didn’t say anything more about it after that, and though Amy and Petr continued to stride with an almost painful purpose, nobody said anything else about their Lieutenant sucker punching a guard, apparently a detective, in the throat in the street in broad daylight.
Only a few more minutes of quiet walking passed before they arrived at the barracks, where Georg nodded to the soldiers that’d followed him here.
“I’ll be in the barracks. I’ve got plenty of things to set up for you and the rest of our squad for when we march. Technically, we’re somewhat of an elite squad, which’s why I was testing people the way I was, but you four aren’t worth the title yet. You have the rest of the day off to buy anything you need, to get your bunks set up, and to get in contact with the quartermaster. From tomorrow on, you’re mine, and that means you don’t have any rights I don’t decide to give you.”
He said nothing more, but Amy, Petr, and Yoran saluted as he walked away. Ezra tried to copy the salute, while Leah made a pretty good showing of it. The brothers were much slower, and once Georg was gone, Petr spoke.
“I’m his second in command. There’s two parts to the squad, and if you don’t prove yourselves in the next two days, you’ll be demoted to the regular rank and file. Listen and obey whenever you get a command, and you’ve got a good chance of sticking around. Follow me to where you’ll be bunking.”
Then, he turned, and expected the others to follow.
***
The next hour passed quickly, showing each of the new soldiers where their bunkhouse was (they all shared the same room), the mess hall (they each were fed a large serving of boiled barley soup, bread, and cured ham), the quartermaster’s office (each was given a spear and shield), and the captain’s rooms (which they were told not to enter unless the Beast herself was ravaging the town). Then, Petr nodded to them.
“Glad to have you. Don’t betray the Lieutenant’s trust and you’ll do just fine. Ask me or Amy any questions you’ve got, and get some rest. You’ll regret it if you don’t tomorrow.”
Then, without anything else, Petr and Amy walked off to some other place and left the four new recruits with Yoran.
“I told Ezra I’d show him to a nearby cobbler,” the nervous man said. “If you’d like, I can bring any of you along with.”
Boyd and Cord looked at each other and shrugged.
“We’ve got no money,” Boyd said. “It’d probably be better if we stick around here and stay outta trouble.”
“I’ll come,” Leah said. “I think I can afford some good boots.”
With that, the group was decided, and the three walked off towards the cobbler. Ezra, by habit, brought his cane along with, though he didn’t pretend to need it, instead holding it in a comfortable grip he could easily transition to a fighting hold.
“I saw the flash of light,” Leah said, interrupting the silence they walked in. “You ever done that before?”
“No,” Ezra shook his head. “I wish I hadn’t. My head still hurts.”
“Can you teach me?” She asked.
“Maybe a little,” he shrugged, noting Yoran’s interest. “I bet there’s other people who’d be better teachers than me, though. Georg said that he can do it too, and I’m sure he’s done it longer than me.”
“Thanks,” Leah answered before resuming walking in silence. In the cobbler’s, Yoran gave his introduction and it wasn’t long before Ezra was getting a well-fitted pair of boots for the first time. All sorts of words about how it was supposed to be comfortable went in one ear and out of the next, but the explanation of how to wax and care for them was something he took special note of.
Just in time for dinner, Leah, Yoran, and he made their way out and back to the barracks, where they ate their fill and retired for the night. Ezra’d worried that he would struggle to sleep because of his excitement, but he’d almost forgotten about making himself pass out with a single aura-infused attack. He stretched his awareness as far out as he could to pull the essence of ice and fire into his inner world, but it wasn’t long before unconsciousness made it’s demands known and he fell asleep.
He didn’t dream, but his morning came quickly to the sound of crashing metal.