“Today, we’ll cover navigational and endurance training.”
It didn't click what exactly that meant until I spotted Zevrial lounging against one of the walls, a wheelbarrow full of sacks beside him.
And wasn't that a bucket of cold water on my excitement from earlier.
Instructor Garcien lined us up, single file. We filed out of the outpost as she led us toward a nearby bamboo forest.
Trying my best not to think about Zevrial strolling behind us made me think about him strolling behind us.
The forest was vibrant under the summer sun, with thick trunks stretching up to the sky and opulent leaves extending out in all directions. As we ventured inside, all noise perceptibly dimmed. A palpable hush, almost magic in nature, blanketed us. It was oddly cooler inside the woods than it had been outside them.
It brought me more ease than I thought possible, being near trees again. Memories of running through forests with Nessa drifted through my mind.
Before long, we reached an empty grove with a small stream running through it.
“Alright, this lesson will be one-on-one, so Veridiana,” Instructor Garcien stepped up beside the she-wolf who happened to be at the front of the line. “Stay with me. Everyoneelse, you're with Instructor Tyrell until you’re called. You’ll train while you wait for your turn at the individual lesson.”
I swallowed the caramelized lump in my throat. There hadn't been any other questionably indecent incidents for several weeks now with Zevrial. Unless you counted the constant training we had been doing with weighted apparatus. We still had not been taught how to tie knots for ourselves. Which meant he tied mine off in the same manner he had the first time, every time. He managed to make the process feel intimate even when it was a wristband.
I wanted to avoid any more bursts of temporary insanity. This felt distressingly like another opportunity for him to try to complete his self-imposed challenge.
The thought shouldn’t have made me feel more excited than anxious.
Nevertheless, we followed him further up the forested path as he pushed the wheelbarrow. I tried not to inspect his backside as we walked. I failed.
The looser tunic he wore today didn't reveal much of the body that lay beneath it, but the laced breeches he had on were a different story. They had been pulled tight, and way too much of the considerably attractive shape of his backside was outlined in them. He made moving the heavy wheelbarrow look effortless, which also wasn't helping my treasonous hormones.
When we had gone far enough that we could no longer see or hear Instructor Garcien, he stopped us, pulling the top sack out.
“Today's training will be considerably more difficult than the past few weeks.”
Internally I held back a groan. Every joint was sore from the weighted gauntlets, anklets, belts, and other equipment he had used for the past few weeks to strengthen us.
“These,” he unceremoniously dumped a sack on the ground, a flight of dragonflies spraying out as he did. It looked like a lumpy shirt. “Are weighted vests. You’ll each be wearing one.”
I thanked the Devourer that the vests were laced in the front like his top, not something that had to be tied on with knots. Nifty though, the one-size fits all design they'd come up with, even if we were going to look like potato sacks.
Which, now that I’d noticed it, pulling my gaze away from the gap between the laces at the top of Zevrial’s tunic was a fight.
He caught my wandering eyes, but showed no reaction other than a furtive glance my way.
“Each of you will be rucking while attempting to wrestle with another one of your teammates. The strength required to grapple with another person is the same kind you'll need if you're ever caught in a heavy storm. You'll need to be able to hold on, not just against your own body weight, but against brutal winds. They'll pull with significant force. The sails of an Arc weigh a fuck ton.”
Guess our unit of measurement today is obscenity.
He picked up the vest he'd put onto the ground. “These will provide simulated increased resistance, since we can't train you in an actual storm. I will be pairing you up for this exercise, and you’ll continue training until you both can successfully wrestle your opponent into a choke hold. This’ll also help you gain grip strength, something you'll need an abundance of for the sail ropes. The individual lessons today with Instructor Garcien will take around twenty minutes per person. Yes, that means we’ll be out here for ten hours. I hope no one skipped breakfast.
“Take breaks between rounds, I don’t want to see any injuries today. Those who finish the training early get to take a well-deserved break. Spend the time how you please until we’reready to head back. Those who don't finish in time,” his eyes narrowed. “Will have to grapple with me tomorrow, after regular training.”
There was a collective groan of indignation from everyone gathered. I participated.
“Don't try to throw a match either, I’ll know,” he warned. “To save you time, I’ll demonstrate two techniques you'll need to learn before we get started. There’re more ways to get someone in a choke hold than these, so use your imaginations.”
I didn't want my imagination inside the same four walls as him. I didn't want it on the same planet.
“I'll need to borrow a volunteer.”
He pointed straight at me.
