The fox took two of the wooden swords fromthe rack. He swung them about, to get a feel for their weight. “Are you going to start dancing around?” Oneof the watching Legionnaires jeered. “Like you’re a Persian?” Bitt turned to the antelope who had spoken.“What?” He asked. Confused. “Ignore them,” the centurion ordered. “Thisis the only excitement they’ve had in weeks.” Bitt hunched down making himself evenshorter than he already was. He held the blades close to his body, not givingthe wolf a chance to strike at an arm. The fox didn’t immediately attack.Instead he slowly moved forward and circled to the right. Obviously looking foran opening to strike. He suddenly leapt forward, the blades already moving. Thecenturion blocked one with his shield and deflected the other with his ownblade. Bitt back pedaled as the legionnairesgladius slid past his own and went for his chest. The blade barely missed hisarmor and he cursed under his breath. The fox shifted to the left, trying to getaround the shield. He lunged forward aiming for the wolf’s side. The wolf turned without moving from his spotand lashed out with his sword. With a loud smack the wooden blade caught Bittacross the wrist. Bitt realized that he was outclassed. Notonly was the centurion probably twice his age he was also twice as skilled. Buthis pride got the best of him and he refused to back down. The fox lunged forward, leading with hisright but then suddenly stabbing out with his left. The wolf blocked the right blade easily withhis shield. He smacked Bitt hard on the wrist and the blade dropped to theground. Then the wolf smacked the fox on the other hand. The second gladiusdropped to the ground alongside the first. “Now what do you do?” The wolf asked calmly. The fox rubbed his sore wrists. He looksaround on the ground for something to use but there wasn’t even a stray rock.“My pride tells me to stay and fight but my common sense wants me to run!” The wolf nodded. “That’s enough for now. Youhave some decent skills with the sword. Now we will teach you the right way tofight.” “What?” Bitt asked genuinely confused. Hewas still rubbing his wrist from where the wolf had hit it. The centurion took his rod and drew a linearound the fox in the shape of a square. “Now fight while staying inside thatbox.” Bitt turned around slowly looking at thesmall box he was now in. He muttered a curse loudly Gaelic. “As a legionnaire you fight as a unit,” thecenturion explained. “The legionnaires standing beside and behind you aredepending on you. Just as you have to learn to depend on them. That meansmoving and fighting as a group. No more fighting like some macho warrior. Youmust fight like a true Legionnaire. And that requires discipline. Disciplinehelped the legion conquer the world and it helps us keep it.” “For how long?” The fox asked. “How long canwe keep it all together?” “For as long as we can,” the centurionanswered.
_______________________________________________ MKGuild mailing list [email protected] http://lists.integral.org/listinfo/mkguild
