An Early Piece of the Puzzle

This is a very off-to-the-side, side-story of my main WIP, 'The Puzzle'. It helped me flesh out my main antagonists backstory and I felt it was good enough to post for feedback.
Edit*- I've revamped a few pieces here and there and introduced all the 'main' characters for now. I will be going back and changing things as I get a better feel for how the story should progress.
Thank you.
~'~'~
Summary:
Alo Mattdermot (pronounced- Mattermot) and Zachary Wiles were born in Entell, a small, poverty stricken town in the what remains of the Mattinallus Nation. However, Zachary's family is from across the western border, what's called the Yorksing territories, and is forced to return before he turns 13. Years later, tensions have risen to the point of war, and the two boys are drafted to fight. Alo spends some time training new recruits, staying well away from the fighting; until he's called directly to the front. determined to not die in a war he doesn't believe in, he aims to run at the first chance he can and head south to the arising new nation of Echelon.