It felt like a step in the right direction as Asher watched Verissa relax and invite him to teach her something. She could have refused and then they would have gone back to his tent together. Learning how to weild a staff wasn't crucial, not like learning to how simply live as a slave in the camp. Asher couldn't put his finger on why, but this was important. Perhaps that's why he looked so serious when he approached her. He reached for the staff, but didn't take it from her. Rather, he corrected her hold on the staff, moving her fists to cut the length of wood into thirds, both palms down.

[color=707070]"There. From this position you can get to any other type of hold fairly quickly. Both hands on one end like a sword can give you a powerful strike, but the beauty of the staff is how versatile it is. From this hold you can bring your hands out and use the staff to block a sword or axe..."[/color]

He slid her hands out, increasing the gap between them and then brought the staff up towards him until it bumped his chest.

[color=707070]"...or, you can bring them closer together and turn the staff into a weapon on both ends."[/color]

He brought her hands in closer with only a fist-length between them and then rotated the staff slowly, doing figure-eights so that the ends of the staff swept around beside her shoulders. He never looked away from her face, even if she looked down to see what he was doing with his hands. 

[color=707070]"From here you can strike down at the knees or up at the ribs or even the head."[/color] Asher held both ends of the staff, twisting it up or down to show Verissa how she could use both hands to manipulate the staff to jab either one end or the other at a specific target.

[color=707070]"The position you hold your body in can help you control your strikes or blocks. You have to move so you can move the staff around you."[/color] The swordmaster moved, keeping one hand on the staff as he stepped around behind his slave, reaching for the other end until Verissa was between the wooden weapon and Asher's chest. His voice was in her ear.

[color=707070]"You were using your lower back too much, which throws you off balance and leaves you open to attacks. Until you have learned the basics, focus on keeping your back straight and moving your legs instead. Now, step forward with your right leg and I will move the staff, but keep your hands on it."[/color]

When she did so, Asher moved the staff, swinging the right end out and the left end back, showing Verissa how the momentum put power behind the strike and how natural the motion could feel. They practiced the move and a couple more. Asher had taught this lesson many times before. The staff was usually the first weapon children started with, graduating to other things when their talents and interests emerged. But somehow this lesson was special, more personal. Now and then the wind brushed through Verissa's hair, and Asher could still smell the herbs from her shop. He kept close to her, and it occured to him that he should enjoy the feeling of her back against him, but he tried to ignore it, resolving that he didn't want to be like Jasper.

[color=707070]"I hope you'll let me teach you more. It will make me feel better to know you can protect yourself."[/color] His words caught a little and Asher fell silent, trying to clamp down on a jab of grief. 

[color=707070]"Anyways, if you someday wanted to go on the Hunt, it's never too early to learn how to wield a weapon."[/color]