Five - Registration Part one

Today

Raidon's family is among the poorest in the city. His father died a few years ago and his mother barely makes enough money by sewing clothes to feed herself and her three children.

A few months ago Raidon finally turned eighteen. Since then the boy with dark blond hair can finally take on jobs himself. With this he can help his mother earn the money they desperately need. Before he turned eighteen, he could only try to help with mother's sewing, something which he turned out to be not really good at.

Now Raidon spends most of his time at the Formsquare. This is a square near the warehouses and offices of the merchants. Here the day workers gather to look for jobs. Many merchants get the people here that are needed to load and unload their carts. This way they can save themselves the costs of permanent employees. Since Raidon still looks very young, he often spends whole days waiting for someone to hire him. Luckily, the fact that he isn’t hired a lot is the reason that he is there on that memorable day.

Raidon has been waiting all day for someone to offer him work. Unfortunately, today is one of those long days when there is not much to do. I might as well go home to help mom, he thinks.

But then a wave of unrest ripples across the square. Immediately Raidon and the other day workers get up to see what's going on. They see a group warriors approaching the middle of the square. The warriors are on their way to the eastern part of the square, where Raidon and the other men and women are waiting for employers. In the wake of the warriors walks an officer.

When the warriors arrive at the spot where Raidon and the others are standing, the officer steps forward:

“As ordered by our Empress, anyone who is willing to, will be able to join the army. Those who do not qualify for the regular army can apply for a specially established unit. This unit will be called 'The New Legion'. Members of this unit will become legionaries.”

Most day workers look at each other in confusion.

“What's that man doing?” There is a bit of murmuring among themselves.

The officer realizes that his message has not been understood and lets out a deep sigh.

“What I said is that even the poor can join the army, as a legionnaire!”

Raidon doesn't know what a legion or a legionary is, but he does know that this is his chance to become a warrior. That would be great! Doing what he always dreamed about and earning enough money to be able to help his mother.

The officer looks at the men in front of Raidon and shouts:

“This is an offer that is only open for today. If you want to join, talk to the clerk there.”

Raidon sees that while they were listening to the officer, an older looking clerk has set up a table in the middle of the square. Next to the table are two warriors with spears.

While he still takes all this in, a number of men have already made their way to the clerk. Due to the lack of work there will be many who will take this opportunity. Fortunately, there are only five, Raidon thinks.

The officer doesn't look happy.

“Is that all? This way it’ll take forever to get those fifty legionaries together. Let alone the fifty that we have to find after that.” Then he raises his voice. “Maybe I wasn't clear enough. Anyone who wants to, male or female, may join. If you want to take this opportunity, you have to do it now.”

Raidon doesn't need more encouragement. He runs in the direction of the clerk, with about ten to fifteen others rushing after him.

When Raidon arrives at the table, the clerk looks at him for a moment.

“Aren't you a little young, boy?”

“No sir,” Raidon replies proudly, “I'm eighteen, old enough to work.”

Still the clerk is a little reluctant.

“That's still pretty young to go into the military,” he says, but adds: “But we need everyone we can get. Tell me your name and I'll sign you up.”

“I can write my own name, sir,” Raidon replies.

“Good for you, boy. Just write it here. That's it. Now go and stand with the others. Next to those three warriors over there.”

When Raidon stands with the others, one of the warriors addresses him.

“Once everyone has signed the forms, we will head for the palace. There you will get a uniform and a place to sleep. When that’s done you will have two hours to go into the city. Make the best of it, because from sunrise tomorrow you will be hard at work. Tomorrow in the afternoon you will leave the city to go to the training camp. When you have time to come back is not certain. So say goodbye to your family or your sweetheart and arrange your business where necessary.”

At that moment, Raidon realizes that he doesn't even know how much they get paid. In all the excitement, he has totally forgotten to ask. Fortunately, the warrior is still there to answer his question.

“Two coppers a day while you're a recruit. Three a day when you're done with your training,” the warrior says.

That's double what I earned before in a whole day, Raidon thinks. And it becomes even more so after he finishes training! It doesn't occur to him that he might not even be suitable for the program.

After about fifteen minutes, all the forms are signed and they are on their way to the palace. Here they get a gray uniform and boots.

“These don't fit,” Raidon complains to the clerk handing out the clothes.

“You're going to grow into them, boy, and you're not the only one. At the end of the training you will no longer recognize yourself,” is the clerk's answer.

The others have the same problem and get similar answers.

There are other things they need, but they don't get those until the next day, according to the clerk.

Once they've put their new uniform away in a wooden box at the foot of their bed, of which there are enough of in one room that everyone can sleep in the same space, it's time to head into the city.

“Make sure you are back before the last changing of the guard, otherwise you will be noted as absent. You really don't want that, believe me!” They are once again urged.

Raidon goes home to tell his mother. And she is not happy.

“How can you leave us?” She cries, “and the army, that's dangerous! I could lose you forever. You could get hurt, or even die!”

Raidon sympathizes with his mother, but he has made this decision for himself. He has wanted to be a warrior for so long and this might be the only chance he'll ever get to follow his dream and help his family.

“I'll come back as often as I can, mom,” he tells her, “and I'll give you all the money I make. Then you can pay the masters to give my sisters an internship.”

His mother laughs through her tears.

“That would be nice,” she says.

Together they continue to talk for a while. Meanwhile mother is busy with the household chores, because during the day she has almost no time for those.

After Raidon says goodbye sometime later, he returns to the palace. He's just in time.

“Good timing, recruit,” calls the guard at the palace gates. “You're the last one in.”

That night, Raidon has intense dreams of fighting and defeating all the enemies of the empire. In those dreams, of course, he himself is the great hero.

The next morning, before sunrise, they are gathered outside the dormitories, which are called barracks. Most of the recruits are still very sleepy. They're not used to getting up so early. Even when they were looking for jobs, none of them were awake before the sun rises.

A few minutes ago, however, a bunch of guards had entered the barracks and shouted:

“Wake up! Rise and shine! The day has begun!” Thereby waking up everybody.

When everyone has quickly put on their new uniform, they are sent outside. There they have to stand in a long line with their faces facing the middle of the field in front of the barracks.

As soon as everyone is in place, new orders are called. They are told how to stand at attention. “Stand up straight, recruit!” Is something that is called across the field more than once.

When the instructors are finally satisfied, it is explained how to march and what a marching order is. Apparently, soldiers have to walk with small steps to keep their balance.

Raidon is fifth in line. One of the recruits in front of him is having a hard time. “Other left foot, you idiot!” The instructor shouts at the man for the third time.

After the instructions, they continue to practice on the field in front of the barracks. After a few laps around the field, most of them begin to understand what’s expected of them. Then they are handed a backpack with several things inside to carry. Fortunately, it's not that much, Raidon thinks.

“In these backpacks are a drinking bottle and your lunch. Be careful drinking it at once, because this is all you get for the day,” says their instructor. Once everyone has received their backpack, they have to march around the field again to experience how the marching goes with the added weight.