Thanx to those who alerted, favorited, and reviewed so far. Just like you, I look forward to the progress of this story. Should be fun!
And a special thanx to Harlequin99 for Betaing this chapter
Chapter 2
Janco entered the huge barren office. Just like the rest of the castle, there were no decorations or any kind of indications that this was the Commander's office. No self-portrait on the wall. No suit of arms. No maps of Ixia. Nothing.
He saw the man sitting behind the giant wooden desk, a stern look on his clean shaven face. The desk was unadorned except for a file- probably mine, Janco thought- and a black palm-sized statue of a snow cat. He wore a simple black uniform. No embellishments except for two real diamonds stitched in the collar, shimmering in the morning light.
A nice touch.
But he couldn't believe this was the man who almost singlehandedly assassinated the entire royal family. He didn't know what he expected of the Commander, but it definitely wasn't the thin man before him, with the delicate features and short dark hair.
Janco was almost disappointed until he remembered once again that the man before him killed a snow cat.
Guessing he would have expected a burly man with a rugged beard, anchored by equally intimidating guards. Instead standing to his left was a man dressed in the uniform similar to Captain Fox. The only difference was the red stitched diamonds as opposed to orange.
Tall and lean, he had gray eyes and hair to match.
"You must be my newest recruit." The Commander looked at Janco and he had the uneasy feeling that the Commander was thoroughly assessing him with his gaze.
Commander Ambrose glanced down at the open file before him. "Or should I say my newest delinquent." Janco figured he read the long list of offences against him when his golden eyes narrowed and his thin brows arched up.
"It says here you were charged for arson. I surely hope you don't plan to burn my castle to the ground." Even though there was a slight hint of humor in his words, Janco knew that he was being very serious.
Janco shook his head, biting back a sarcastic reply, "No, sir." He was a typical juvenile delinquent. Petty thievery and other provocations was his thing. He may have defaced a few walls and broken into buildings, but burning one down was way out of his league.
"It says here that you were raised in Military District 4, but your offences expand to MD-8. You are also educated which is evident since you chose this sentence." An icy smirk lifted his face. "But after my officers are through with you, you may regret that decision."
The two soldiers beside Janco snickered. He imagined the training was harsh here compared to the other districts, with protecting the Commander and all. But even strict military training must be better than five years rotting away in the dungeons, or so he thought.
The Commander motioned to the man to his left. "This is Captain Ross. He will be your training officer as of now. You are to report to his office every morning before training until the foreseeable future."
"He has a good build. Tall." Captain Ross' gray eyes assessed Janco. "Do you know how to fight?"
"Not professionally."
I doubt they want to know about the fights I got into in school.
"Weapons?"
"No."
He looked at the Commander. "It will be easier to get him started straight away. Just throw him with the others." He looked at Janco, "He seems like a fast learner. I think he'll catch up quick."
"As long as he doesn't cause any trouble, he's no concern of mine. And let's hope he doesn't attempt what others before him tried."
Janco pressed his brows together. What others? He wondered. Other criminals who chose military over prison?
"I'm sure he won't." The captain made a quick bow to the Commander. "If you excuse me, Commander, I must get back."
Walking over to Janco he said, "You start in the morning. Come to my office before dawn then you are to go straight to the training yard." He looked to the soldier on Janco's left. Shaggy, he called him.
"Sef, take him to get uniforms and supplies. Then show him around the barracks, where he will be sleeping, eating, and the such. And make sure you take him to Advisor Hatch" He added.
"Yes, sir."
As Ross was leaving a woman came in with a tray of food. Silently, she went to the desk and set the tray down. After taking a couple bites of his sweet cakes and a sip of his drink, she placed the tray in front him and left.
The Commander grabbed his drink and took a tentative sip, before noticing that they were still in the room and dismissed them.
Janco followed Shaggy, now known as Sef, out of the Commander's office. He fell into step behind him as they walked down the empty corridor and down the spiral staircase once more. At that point, Curly skirted in a different direction. They walked in silence, which was eating Janco up inside.
Jeez, are these guys not allowed to speak or something? Their two day trip to the castle was bad enough to endure because of the blistering heat, but the fact that his escorts didn't communicate to pass the time was torture.
"So…" he started, hoping for conversation. "What's your story? How did you get to serve in the Commander's army?"
For a minute Sef didn't say anything and Janco thought he wouldn't until, "I joined when I was of age."
"He speaks!"
Sef ignored that and continued. "I wanted to prove myself to my family. I started out in General Chenzo's regime, but about a year ago me, and a few others, Ryker included, were transferred to Md-6. And here I am."
"Ryker?"
"You're other escort."
Oh, Curly…with the brass knuckles. The one he was sure to stay away from. "What's his deal?"
Sef thought for a moment. "Ryker's…tough. He believes in torture first, ask questions later. He just got promoted to sergeant actually, which basically gives him command over all the privates." The look on his face said that Ryker has used that bit of power already. "He hates the fact that women are allowed to be in the military now. He's very old-fashioned in his ways. Thinking that women should only be mothers, maids, and teachers."
Shaking his head, "Just stay clear if you can, and don't piss him off."
Not a problem for Janco. He knew the moment he saw Sergeant Ryker that he would be given hell.
"So, how about you? Do you have a fancy title or position?"
Sef shook his head. "I'm just a private. No fancy title with it."
"So I would be a private too?"
Sef just looked at him. "You…aren't on payroll. At the present, you're just a cadet. If even that."
The first stop was the seamstress' where Janco received his uniforms, nightclothes, and linens for his bed. Then Sef showed him the dining hall. "We eat in shifts, depending on which unit someone is in. That way there's always guards on duty." He briefly explained.
Janco was shown the barracks, where the soldiers stayed and trained. Along the way, Sef explained what they did.
"At dawn you are expected to run. As a rookie, you should do ten circuits around. Of course, increasing the pace as you progress."
"How many do you run?" Janco asked. Running wasn't really a problem for him. He enjoyed that bit of exercise.
He shrugged. "Twenty." Moving along, he added, "You will learn basic self-defense in a one-on-one situation. Then weapons will be incorporated. When you master that, you will go into different fighting techniques."
xxxxx
"And this," He opened the door, "is where you will be staying for the next five years."
Janco walked into the square room. There was a bed against one wall and a bunk bed on the opposite wall, with three coffers lined up in between.
Janco scoffed. "Cozy." Two of the beds were made up already signifying that he would have to share the space with two others.
"I get top bunk I guess." He walked over and put his linens and clothes on his bed. "So where are my new roommates?"
"Most likely in the training yard for the next hour or so. After morning training, we come back to our rooms to recoup. But you won't be joining them just yet. You have to meet with your tutor."
Janco groaned. He never liked school. It wasn't the notion that he didn't want to learn. But the classroom environment was just so boring. He was more of a 'learn through experience' person.
Sef chuckled at Janco's groan. "Trust me, the studies is the least of your worries. Let's go. I have to report back to Captain Graye and rejoin my unit."
"We're not in the same regiment?" Janco didn't like the thought of Sef being the only person he knew in this place and wouldn't see much of him.
"No we're not. But my group and Captain Fox's men often eat together most days. So I'll see you around."
They left the barracks, going back to the castle. Just then Janco remembered something the Commander said.
"In the Commander's office, he said something about others like me attempting… something. What was he talking about exactly?"
Sef smirked. "Since the Code of Behavior came to pass, there have been many who have had this opportunity among others. People don't really give this too much thought though. They don't realize why this is a form of punishment until they start the training. While others think this is a chance to escape. The latter is what Collin thought.
"He was a roommate of mine. Two weeks in and he ran, headed for the Sitian border."
Janco noticed the 'was' in that statement. Intrigued on what happened Janco asked, "Did he make it to Sitia?"
Sef's smirked turned into a grin. "Nope. Valek found him."
Ari should make an appearance in the next chapter…unless he run away from me :)