The Recruit

[Valdimir]

Lofton slid down in his seat and scanned the room for officers before kicking his boots up on the desk. He turned his attention back to the young farm boy seated next to him, snickering "son, you jus' don't get it."

The young man sat upright on the edge of his chair in the atrium of the Selgaunt Silver Raven garrison. He constantly adjusted pieces of his armor, obviously uncomfortable in the new gear. "What don't I get?"

Reaching for his boot knife, the older soldier picked his teeth before responding. "We chased out them Cyricists 'cause they were bribin' the Black Knights. The Merchant Council got wind o' it and had to act else it might hurt business. That's the bottom line around here."

"What of the Harpers?" the young recruit began.

"Harpers?" Lofton sneered. "We ain't like those Harpers. Them are a bunch of elf-lover spies for the Dales. Don't trust them as far as ya can kick 'em. Our mission is simple; we keep the roads safe for old 'high and mighty Selkirk' to get rich."

"That so?" The voice came from behind the two. The recruit snapped to his feet. Lofton spun in his chair, relaxing slightly when he saw the two corporals behind him.

Corporal Grady smiled. He was dressed in finer clothes than a corporal should be able to afford and looked quite dapper. Behind him towered the massive bulk of Corporal Pronk, his best friend. "Since you are covering my shift tonight, I won't let the Sergeant Major know you've been polluting the young recruit's mind, but you'd best knock it off."

"Aye, Corporal" Lofton responded replacing his feet back on the desk, grumbling.

Pronk's baritone filled the room. "Get some rest tonight, rookie. We swing steel in the training room at dawn."

"Yes, corporal!" The recruit responded enthusiastically. The two corporals made their way to the front door, Pronk baiting Lofton as he passed by playfully buffeting him on the back of the head . Lofton grumbled louder, but knew better than to get drawn into a wrestling match with the big bear of a man.

The recruit watched them go with obvious admiration. "Those two were part of the force that freed my village of Mulhessen from goblin-kin last year. They are the reason I joined the Silver Ravens."

As the two left, Lofton's voice regained some its arrogance. "Whatever, kid. Why don't you go make the rounds?" As the young recruit reached for his polearm, Lofton added, "and bring me a bowl o' that leftover stew from the galley on your way back, eh?"

"Sure thing," he replied, bouncing off and leaving a muttering Private in his wake.