Follow your promise, protect the boy

Dolph sized up the bigger guy. He was pretty scrawny looking, and he wasn't fighting very well. Probably never had to fight his Dad, or do any heavy lifting.

Dolph drew back his fist and swung, putting his body's weight behind it. The bigger guy slammed back into his seat.

"Don't talk shit" Dolph said. All of the eyes were on him.

"Yeah" the bartender's son said. The bigger guy held his nose. It was bleeding profusely. His eyes were filled with anger, but he did nothing more than look at Dolph.

"Why don't you sit with me? The name's Felix. I'm going to be in the military police" he said.

Dolph wondered if he made a mistake promising to protect him. But it would be far worse to break his word. His father had always told him that promises decided character. You couldn't be respected if you broke them.

"I'm Dolph. I just want to join the garrison."

The bigger guy looked at Dolph. Instead of rage, it was incredulity.

"You want to join the garrison? Why?" he said.

"It sounds the easiest" Dolph said.

"With that punch you'll probably be in the military police. You'd be a fool not to join." said the bigger guy.

Dolph smiled. "What's your name?"

"Magnus."

The ride was silent. A few recruits slept as the wagon made it's way to the training camp. They were loudly awoken by a screaming man.

"Wake up you maggots. Stand in line and present."

The recruits, looking at each other all hurried out. Inside they felt fear, and some of them tripped as they came outside.

"I said stand in line. This look like a line to you?" He was a small, blonde, bearded man. The recruits stood closer to each other, carefully placing their feet. He yelled at them until they were perfectly straight.

"Shoulders up, eyes forward." he yelled at Felix, who fixed his posture, the look of fear in his eyes. As the man walked to inspect the others, Felix spoke quietly to Dolph.

"Is he going to be yelling at us the entire time?"

The man turned around, and Felix immediately faced forward. He looked at Felix in the eyes. "Get on the ground and give me twenty pushups. Did I give you permission to speak?"

"No" Felix said as he got on the ground, and started doing pushups.

"No? Then why are you speaking? Give me ten more pushups string bean." Felix started to strain as he did the pushups.

"When you address me, you will call me sir. Is that clear?"

"Yes sir!" a man yelled. He was chubby, with a black bowl cut.

"Correct. Looks like I found the smartest son of a bitch among you. A real brain genius, here. I am your drill sergeant. As of now, your bodies all belong to me. You don't talk until I've given you permission. You don't move until I tell you to do so. If I tell you to fly you best start flapping your arms."

He walked backwards, still shouting.

"When I ask a question, you may respond. Do you understand, maggots?"

"Sir, yes sir!" the recruits all yelled. Except for Felix. Felix was still struggling with his pushups. The drill sergeant walked over to him.

"Do you understand, maggot? Or do I need to climb in there and pull the shit out of your ears?"

"Sir, yes sir!" He said, struggling as he did his last pushup and fell on the ground.

"Get up. I did not give you permission to sleep. If you want a dirt nap just ask nicely and I'll bury you myself."

Felix got up.

"Over there is the training camp. Only a mile away from here. You will run to the barracks, and then line up orderly for chow. Then, you will line up orderly to wash, and then you will go to your assigned bunks, where I give you the privilege of sleeping." He walked along the line, making sure everyone was staying still.

"After five minutes, I'm going to get on my horse and run down the slowest recruit."

Dolph looked at him, trying to tell if he was serious. There was no hint of irony in his voice.

"Now run maggots!"

Everyone scrambled.