wheeling thrust (immortal lion pt I) - E

     Battle was the only thing in Razheed's life that felt right. "Right" wasn't the best word for it. It was natural to him. In fact, he was quite unparalleled. He took to fighting like wind takes to the sky. Like heat takes to magma. It was something that was in his nature, and that had defined him all his life. Why did this moment, this single instant, suddenly feel wrong? How could anything feel so heart-wrenching with a spear in his grip? With hot blood running over his knuckles? That was his element, from the moment he could swing a fist. This single breath felt to him like a stone making its first impact against a stained-glass window. For a second, he froze, caught himself, choked. His grip loosened, and he let the spear slip from his slick hands. She fell against his chest, impaled.

---

     Razheed was utterly confident, firm in his resolve to see the Emperor of Aht Urghan choking on his own blood as he tried to bargain for his life. The vision was clear in his mind when he set foot in the imperial capital. He had had plenty of time to form it, and to refine it as he trekked across the continent-- or what was left of it, anyway. It was a long, solitary journey. He was the last soldier of Alzadaal, which now rested in ruin at the bottom of the ocean.

     So utterly confident was Razheed that it was difficult to feign having the wind knocked out of him when Leiza rammed her fist into his solar plexus. It was a forceful gesture meant to be a surprise, a show of strength to assert her role as their sergeant. He knew it was coming, for he had done it numerous times himself to numerous unsuspecting privates. He tried not to brace himself, and though her strike thudded dully against his muscular abdomen, he staggered back, doubled over and coughed. He even spit into the dirt a bit to make it look more convincing. He even dropped to his knees. This was not a stretch, he knew; any ordinary person, even a soldier ready for military service would have been incapacitated by such a punch. Leiza had made a good impression on Razheed and on her squad.

     She scowled viciously as she paced before them, patiently waiting for Razheed to finish his act. He took his feet, and she shouted, 

     "You think of yourselves as soldiers? You think you've got the right to take up arms in defense of the Empire? To fight alongside me? Alongside the Serpent Generals?! You're nothing! You're worthless, vile vermin! I've seen more dangerous things creep out of the leftover bucket at the Alchemists' Guild!!" At this, she spat at the ground, then flashed a fierce beryl gaze over the squad. "You're lower than the lowest tunnel worm! Until each and every one of you can last two minutes on your feet against me, you will remain at the rank of Private Second Class-- the lowest pay-grade. If you can keep up with me, you'll be promoted, and maybe someday we'll let you earn your keep against the scalebacks. Until you collectively reach that point, your asses are mine." She shot a particularly sharp glance at Razheed, and gave the dismissal.