On day1634, Iven found Kesh beside the practice frame, holding the old bell striker in one hand and a length of packing wood in the other.
“Which one stops a blow?” she asked.
“The wood, if it is thick enough and in the right place.”
“And the bell?”
“Depends what I do with it.”
“Good. Today you tell me before you do it.”
They had spent too many recent days moving between workshops and hot rooms. Iven knew the next contest would not be won by having a larger collection of possible functions than he could actually seat. Venn had six channels too, and a practiced set built around receiving force, controlling load, and cutting close.
Iven put his lance on the ordinary support.
