The practice wooden staff Sosuke gave him was a little thicker than the one Che usually used, and heavier in the hand.
The courtyard after dinner was not particularly cold. The stone paving still held some of the warmth from the day's sun. A lantern at the corner had just been lit, its light falling over the staff's surface and revealing old wear marks. It was not a new staff, which meant Sosuke had not simply grabbed something on a whim to test him. He had known all along that this kind of weight was suited to pressing down on the impatience in someone's heart.
"Don't do the whole set yet," Sosuke said from the edge of the courtyard. "Just practice the lift and the return."
Che gripped the staff, his palms tightening slightly.
The moment he took hold of this staff, all the little details he normally did not need to think about surfaced. Should the web between thumb and forefinger press closer? Had his wrist rushed ahead to exert force? Did his shoulders lift first because they feared the weight? Would his heels press down too early to compensate? It looked like only a little extra weight, but all the habits in his body seemed to be illuminated at once.
"Lift."
Sosuke's voice was quiet.
Che raised the staff as instructed. He nearly gave himself away on the very first attempt. Pressed by the weight, he instinctively wanted to pull the staff up with his hands first. The moment his wrist rushed, the staff tip immediately drifted off line.
"Don't lift with your hands first," Sosuke said. "Let your back and waist carry it. Your hands only follow."
Che drew a breath and started over.
The second attempt was steadier, but still not enough. By the time the