She felt his hands cup hers, and guide them along the wood, her grip relaxed to let him do his work. Verissa noticed that the staff felt more balanced and light now. She listened intently at his words, wanting to learn how to not be so helpless the next time someone decided to rip her life from her. She felt him guide her hands out, into a blocking pose. She held it here, already feeling her weak arms beginning to burn and strain at the outstretched weight.

Verissa was relieved as he brought the staff in, her hands closer as the weight easier to manage. He spun the staff in her hands, and she struggled to keep her hands from stumbling over one another. How did people do this so fast? Her mind told her the obvious answer. Practice. Perhaps she could make this a daily routine, if her new slave master would let her. Her eyes were busy watching their hands spin and spin the staff, her own constantly bumping and having to grab again. She could feel his gaze one her, proving his skill as someone experienced in combat. 

She listened as he told her about places to strike with this. Suddenly, she felt him behind her, his breath hot in her ear, as he spoke again. It made her nervous. Prior to the night of the attack, and their horse ride back, she'd never been so close to a man. And even though she was nervous, especially after what Jasper had wanted to do, there was something comforting in Asher's strength. He could crush her, kill her, take her if he wanted. And yet, he didn't. It was nice knowing her master was someone strong, yet... gentle. 

At his direction, she straightened her back, tightening her weak stomach muscles. She stepped forward with her right leg, trying to remember to keep a firm but relaxed grip on the staff. She felt Asher swing the staff, and she could actually feel the power behind the blow, how... normal and natural it felt. She felt as if she could never wield a bladed weapon, but this, this she could do. She repeated the motion with him, until she was adding her own meager amount of power to the swing. Her timings were always a bit off, but she kept at it, over and over, until she had forgotten Asher was even there.

Suddenly his words snapped her back to reality. Turning to face him, her face flush from exertion, she slowly moved her eyes up his muscular form, to find his own. She couldn't hold the gaze for long, but she managed to say, [color=f6989d][b]"Yes, please... Asher."[/b][/color] She wasn't sure if she should call him master or sir or anything like that. 

Her eyes quickly cast away again, [color=f6989d][b]"Could you please keep speaking in Kvaren too? I need to learn it quickly."[/b][/color] Her boldness surprised her, and she hoped he didn't take it badly. In for a copper, in for a gold, [color=f6989d][b]"What's the Hunt? I've never hunted anything before."[/b][/color]