"Move it jungle rat!" With a final rough shove Ritjil was forced into an open air stockade on the outskirts of a sizeable city and left to reflect on the Garlean's lack of imagination in their insults, as the gate slammed shut behind him he fearfully returned the stares of the other prisoners, clearly any Viera was a rare enough sight for them let alone one like him.
Hanging his head he started at the ground and shuffled over to a relatively clear spot to sit down with his back to the steel barricade and curled into a protective ball. Settling himself in place as comfortably as he could he felt his body throbbing in several places, along with the massive purple bruises on his chest and back from being captured by the claw a few days earlier the Garleans had taken out their anger at being ambushed on him.
Thinking on the hazy memories he had after passing out he didn't remember seeing Shura either dead or alive when the Garleans were hauling him away and he was the only Viera imprisoned there. Fleetingly he wondered if Shura might've escaped but while his mentor had been grumpy and harsh with him Ritjil didn't think the older man would have abandoned him like that, sinking deeper into his misery the only reasonable conclusion he could think of was that Shura had been left for dead alone in the jungle.
Hearing a rustle of movement beside him Ritjil's gaze snapped up to glare suspiciously at a bearded man who had come to sit next to him. "Whoa there." The stranger said raising his hands in a placating motion, with an exaggerated motion he gestured to himself and spoke in a slow voice. "I'm Haskil, you?" Clearly he was expecting to somehow overcome the expected language barrier by treating Ritjil like a halfwit.
Rolling his eyes even as he wondered just how he was able to decipher the words clear as day the Viera stared down at his feet and finally spoke. "I can understand you just fine, I'm just not interested."
This turned out to be a bad move as Haskil brightened clearly encouraged rather than deterred. "Well ain't that something! I thought you were fresh out of the woods and wouldn't speak our lingo, or do they teach boys different there? Never seen a guy Viera mind you, haven't heard of anyone else seeing one either." Heedless of Ritjil's deepening scowl Haskil continued chattering. "I hear there are some people that even think all Viera are women and they abduct men to breed with!" At that anecdote Ritjil looked up at him again with a look of bewilderment and slight disgust. "I know right? Madness! What did you say your name was again?"
Holding his head in his hands Ritjil groaned in frustration. "If I tell you will you shut up? It's Ritjil alright?" Sighing he rested his hands on his knees and mumbled more to himself than anyone else. "What are they going to do with me?"
"Ritel? Ri..Rithil? Nice to meet ya Rithil!" Haskil stumbled over the foreign name. "Well Rithil conscription is the Garleans favourite hobby so we're either joining the army or getting harsh labour, maybe doing harsh labour as part of the army after they ship us off to wherever."
Ritjil considered trying to correct the pronunciation but decided he didn't care enough to bother, he wasn't even supposed to speak with anyone that wasn't one of his own people but he needed information if he was going to make it home and this stranger seemed perfectly happy to overshare. "Where is this anyway?" He didn't think he'd been taken too far but the air had a different scent to it.
With a smirk Haskil stroked his beard. "Oh planning your exit already are we?" He laughed at the look on Ritjil's face. "Never gamble lad, never. Anyroad we're right in the lion's den, this here is Castrum Valnain." Getting a blank look in response he continued. "Ain't learned about anything past your doorstep have you? We're right up against your jungle but it's also the main base for the IV Legion. Even if you did get out of our luxury hotel here you'd have to get past some of the tightest security in Dalmasca and even if you made it out into the city you wouldn't exactly be able to blend in with those things." He gestured to the very noticeable ears atop Ritjil's head.
Scoffing derisively Ritjil looked away and remained silent, he had no intention to give up on escape but doing it right then in the light of day would be foolish.
Refusing to engage with Haskil further he sat in silence until the gate opened again to admit an armoured Garlean who surveyed the prisoners with a look of distaste that was clear even through the full helmet. "On your feet savages! Form ranks!" Thunderously loud as the command had been the blank looks and slow shuffling of feet in response led her to howl even louder. "Oh was I not clear? Do forgive me. I said get up and form orderly lines! Now!"
Amid the slight ringing in his ears Ritjil got to his feet and awkwardly jostled about with the others until he finally ended up at the end of a row of people.
Looking over the messy columns the officer gave an exaggerated sigh. "At last." Marching up and down the front line her voice rang out carrying a clear note of disdain for everyone present. "Welcome savages to the training cohort of the IV Imperial Legion. Despite your lowly origins you are being granted the honour of serving His Radiance in bearing the light of civilisation to all the lands of the world." Stopping in front of them she stood ramrod straight and demonstrated an imperial salute. "Now give thanks to the grace of your Emperor. Glory to the Empire!" Getting only a smattering of replies she blazed with fury. "I don't care how dumbstruck you are with gratitude at your new sense of purpose! Stand to attention! Now, Glory To The Empire!"
Getting a much more unified chorus she then zeroed in on Ritjil who had not moved since taking his place and was looking around cluelessly. Storming over to the Viera she grabbed one of his ears in her fist. "Are you somehow hard at hearing despite having these things?" Yelping in pain he tried to pry his ear loose leaving him open to a punch in the gut that left him doubled over on the ground. "Now that I'm sure you're paying attention let's hear what you have to say, speak up so I can hear you from down there."
Coughing and trying to stop retching Ritjil eventually spluttered out. "G-glory to the empire!" Nodding sharply she turned to walk away leaving a parting shot at him. "That's better, now get up and back in line there's no rest for you any time soon."
True to her word the next several hours were spent being drilled in the basics of running and fighting, while Ritjil had a clear advantage over many of the other conscripts who'd never swung a weapon before the drill instructor had apparently decided he was a potential troublemaker and made sure he didn't have an easier time of it.
The sun had long since set when by the time the conscripts were herded into a long room crammed with bunks and locked in with the warning that the next day would be just as crushing. With the last of his stamina Ritjil climbed onto one of the upper bunks and flopped face down, after enjoying a few moments peace Haskil's head popped over the edge of the bunk still looking upbeat. "Well Rithil you certainly look ready to make a run for it." Turning just his head to face him the Viera glared with what little energy he could muster. "It's Ritjil." He grumbled.
On the next bunk over a Roegadyn woman grunted in amusement and commented. "I bet this is the real reason your kind makes up 'city names' when they leave your forest." Sitting up stiffly Ritjil looked at her curiously. "You've seen Viera that chose exile?" He was aware that every so often a Viera would choose to abandon their home and their people with the knowledge that they could never return but of what they did after that he knew nothing, that they would go so far as to cast aside their names too filled him with scorn. "Those outcasts are no people of mine."
With a mocking laugh the woman waved a hand toward him with a mean smirk. "So what would 'your people' say if they could see you right now? Sitting here having a friendly chat with outsiders? I bet all they'd see was just another outcast."
Catching his breath Ritjil floundered. "That's not, they wouldn't-." Defensively he raised his voice. "I didn't choose to leave, I was taken prisoner!" Surely if, when he internally corrected himself, when he escaped they'd surely understand and take him back. But even if they do what then? A traitorous little voice inside said. They welcome you home only to send you away alone again?
Down below Haskil spoke up in his defence. "Aww lay off, the lad barely knows which way is up." Before there could be any further argument a thrown helmet bounced off the end of the bunk with a crash. "I don't care if he's the crown prince of Dalmasca returned from the dead just keep it down!" Amid several shouts of agreement the Roegadyn made a rude hand signal in the general direction of the yell and laid down.
"Looks like we've got a fun bunch here eh?" Haskil said with a smile earning a frosty look from Ritjil in return. "You're awfully upbeat for someone who's been newly enslaved." The Viera observed thoroughly done with the Hyur's incongruously sunny disposition. "Do you have a reason for messing with me or am I just a joke to you too?" While he kept his voice low to avoid having anything heavier thrown at him Ritjil's voice was still increasingly angry.
With a sigh Haskil folded his arms and leaned against the bunk, when he looked up his previous smile was tinged with sadness. "Aye I'm trying to make the best of it, may as well since I can't think of a way out that doesn't get me or my family killed. You see these imperials aren't stupid, they don't drag us here just to make us fight for the empire, they're taking us away from our homes so we can't fight for ourselves instead and if we try to run they'll take it out on our people." He gave a short bitter laugh. "You're a lucky one Rithil, worst they can do to you is just kill you. As for why I keep bothering you well, you just looked even more lost than most and I figured you didn't have anyone else."
Feeling overwhelmed by a mess of fear that he wouldn't be allowed to return home, shame at scorning the kindness of a stranger and his still simmering anger at his entire predicament Ritjil opened and closed his mouth a few times unable to find the words to respond. With knowing look Haskil nodded then laid down on the bunk. "Goodnight Rithil." Lying down himself Ritjil stared up at the ceiling listening to the unfamiliar sound of the other people pressed into the enclosed space. "Goodnight." He said softly then lay awake for hours until his fatigue at last dragged him down into an uneasy slumber.
