Dace stood in the middle of the yard with his practice blade held low, over his left knee. He did not move for a long time.
The class had gathered along the chalk line without being told. Hesper sat on the bench with her arms round her knees.
Ysra stood with her notebook shut under one hand. Kade leaned on the north wall, and Dorran sat on the stone with his new wrap.
Nell stood at the back, where she could watch Liss’s feet and Dace’s feet at the same time.
“Is this a lesson, Instructor?” Hesper asked. “Or are we only watching a sergeant be embarrassed?”
“Watch it once,” Calen said. “Then tell me what you saw.”
Liss stood at the trough end of the chalk line with her hands at her sides. She looked at Dace’s feet.
She looked at the blade, and then at the knee under it, and then at the small hitch in his weight when he shifted. She did not look at anything else.
