The smell of wild garlic, chicken, salt and a few other spices drifted into Rainer's nose. The silent pain in his stomach jolted him awake in response. Clutching his stomach he rose from his rough bed of straw and dressed himself in ragged dirty clothed. He yawned and left his bare room, the others were still sound asleep, the young ones always slept in.
Bounding down the stairs, around a corner, then through a long dark hallway he reached the kitchen. The cook, Rena, worked at a large pot over the fire place string in bunches of leaves he couldnt recall the name of. His gaze wandered over her figure, she was only twenty and very fair looking.
He shook his head and banising his lude thoughts. "Hey Rena, I dont have any chores today do you need any help?"
Rena glanced at him with a frown. "Not from you Rainer, I know you like to sneak extra portions when you 'Help' me." She replied.
"Suit yourself then, if grams asks for me tell her im out in the town." He turned and marched to the exit giving Rena one more long glance.
The orphanage was set cozily at the top of a small hill west of the town making it stand out from the rest of the village. The path to the village proper was dirt turned mud from the passing of the rainy season. Walking around the biggest of the mud spots Rainer's route was slow but steady. The entrance was marked by a half rotten sign post that read "Engilholt" naming the danty village. Engilholt was a backwater relying almost entirely on whatever megar game that could be hunted in the nearby forest. Poverty was bountiful in the country as of late but the rise in taxes due to the war left Engilholt near ruin.
Rainer made his way through the village passing the sparse dwellings overrun with weeds and vines. His destintion, the abandoned blacksmiths house whose former inhabitant had left almost a decade ago for greener pastures, now housed a duo of rough looking individuals.
"Here goes nothing." He whispered to himself
Checking his nerves and taking a deep breath he rose to his full height and knocked on the door. Almost immediatly he was greated with a clanging of falling pots and pans and a deep scratchy voice swearing. The owner of the voice swung the door open harshly, he was aged, atleast early fifties maybe older. His head was bald with lines showing his age creasing his face, esspecially around his face were he seemed to be in a permeant scowl. The old man took a good long look at Rainer who was fighting to keep himself calm under his intense gaze.
"What do you want kid?" The voice boomed deep and intimidating. Rainer only now noticed a scar peaking out from the neck of his shirt that stretched to his bottom lip.
Mustering what courage he could spoke. "I am Rainer, I was told you two were recruiters for the imperial army. I want to..." Before he could finish speaking the man interuppted him.
"You? Join the army." He let out an exagerated laugh. "Greer get over here." A second man came into view. Greer was younger but still older middle aged with a mane of blond hair with a spotting of white here and there.
"What do you want Zeke?" Greer's eyes caught on Rainers. "Oh. OH. This kid really? By the Kaiser I hate these backwater provinces."
Rainer refused to back down so easily "My name is Rainer I am fit and healthy sirs, I wish to join the Imperial Army." Rainer had spent the last couple days rehearsing the talk so the words flowed naturally.
"Kid, we need men in the Army not some sorry excuse of a beggar." Zeke spoke
"Wait." Greer pulled his companion aside and whispered something Rainer could hear.
Zeke returend with a meanicing smile on his face "Alright kid we'll take you, return here tommorow moring with a weeks worth of food and a fresh pair of clothes."
With a smile on his face Rainer walked egarly back to the orphanage.