Sarketh Blackcoil

Sarketh Blackcoil teaches soldiers to watch the banner before the blade. Where his dark coil rises, riders widen, wells grow quiet, messengers fail to return, and wounds become decisions rather than accidents. Surayan recognises the open-ground craft in him: circle, thirst, witness, pursuit, and the terrible patience of riders who do not need to close until the enemy has spent its courage. Drazakar recognises the doctrine beneath the dust, fear organised into a visible sign that tells every unit where obedience ends and death begins. Sarketh smells of hot leather, bitter herbs, horse sweat, black dye, and water skins kept just out of reach. He wins by making a wide sky feel narrow, then tightening it one hoofbeat at a time.