Obstacle Course #4
He was right. This was my choice. I was deciding to enter a dark, small place.
I wasn’t being forced to so I could walk away at any time.
Looking into Abbott’s eyes one last time, I moved toward the tunnel.
Repeating the truth as a mantra, I hunched over and waddled through the entrance, bracing myself on the tunnel walls.
Let’s see if this fire can be reborn.
Farther into the tunnel, I thought about crawling on my hands and knees, but when I felt the ground, it was covered in loose rock.
Not wanting to end up with bloody knees as well as hands, I decided against it.
Slowly, I worked my way down the tunnel, counting my steps until the ground began to shift downward.
Just like he said, it happened slowly at first, then my feet began to slide on the loose rocks as it became steeper.
A rock shot out from under my foot, sending me careening down the incline.
I screamed as I tumbled down the dark tunnel, fear clawing at me.
Finally, I landed in a heap after being shot out and dropped into the other dark part of the tunnel.
I willed my eyes to see something, anything, terror rising in me at the thought of being trapped. Then I saw a faint, soft glow of light to my left. I crawled toward it, not caring about the rocks cutting into my skin. When I emerged from the tunnel, the sun was bright and blinding.
I’d survived.
I noticed that I felt a little lighter and pulled the sack off. A rock must have cut into the sack, and it was now all but empty. Perfect, just perfect. Hopefully, he’d been kidding that I would have to do this twice tomorrow.
“I told you that you would finish it,” Abbott said, grinning from ear to ear as he held out a hand and pulled me to my feet. “Now, let’s finish the course together.”
As we rounded a corner of trees, I stopped in my tracks.
The once-open path was now blocked by fallen trees stacked in varying heights.
Abbott took off at a brisk jog, easily making his way over the blockades.
I should’ve known it wouldn’t be that easy for me.
Five walls later, I was on the open path once again.
I tried my best to jog my way back, but I was exhausted and decided for a steady, trudging pace that would get me back alive and breathing.
When I made it to the clearing, I collapsed onto the soft grass, panting.
Even without the added weight of the rocks, the last part had been hell.
Abbott sat beside me as I rolled over, looking up at him. “Here, have some water. Helena also brought us some lunch.”
I sat up and gulped down the water, letting it spill out of my mouth and down my face, feeling its coolness refresh me.
“That is one hell of a course, Abbott,” I said, wiping off the water on my chin. “I’m amazed I survived it. How do you keep from losing some of your new trainees on this trail?”
“In the spirit of sharing, I want to be honest with you.” Abbott hesitated at the frown I felt growing on my face. “This course is for trainees to test their endurance and see if they can move up to advanced training.”
I felt my jaw fall open as I stared at him in disbelief. “Are you kidding me? You made me go through all that unprepared?”
“I told you there was a fire inside you, and now you can’t deny it. No one weak of mind or spirit could have managed to pull that off.”
I thought about what he said for a moment. If I hadn’t been forced into making myself do this, I would’ve never thought I could. He was trying to make me believe I was stronger than I thought, and in a way, he’d been right. I’d just accomplished something I never would have attempted had I known.
“I understand why you did it, but if I find out you did this to me again, I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to trust you,” I said, locking eyes with him.
“I understand,” Abbott answered as he tucked a wayward curl behind my ear.
“From now on, I promise I’ll be upfront and honest about my intentions.
That being said, now that I’ve seen what you’re capable of, I’m holding you to that standard.
Many trainees give up once they cross the river, but you didn’t.
You even pushed yourself through a panic attack.
” Abbott grinned, respect showing in his eyes.
“I have no doubt you could be the best trainee we’ve seen in a long time. ”
“Thank you, Abbott, for helping me do this.” I sighed. “Although I did lose the rocks out of my sack.”
“Well, I guess tomorrow you’ll have to do it twice.”
I slumped at the response. “Kill me now.”
“Don’t worry about that now. Rest and eat your lunch. It will all be easier in time.”
Helena had packed us a lunch of cured meat, cheese, and bread with some apples.
I couldn’t believe how hungry I was after that workout.
I didn’t worry about taking dainty, ladylike bites—I tore off chunks and shoved them in my mouth.
Abbott chuckled at me, but I didn’t feel that awkward since he was eating the same way, albeit slower than I was.
“Did you grow up here?” I asked.
“Yes, but I was actually born into one of the other clans. When my parents died, my clan brought me to Ballard, and he took me in and raised me alongside Cole.”
I wanted to smack myself for bringing up the subject when Ballard had told me this yesterday. Now here I was, forcing him to talk about his parents’ death. Good going, Cass.
“I’m so sorry about your parents. That’s awful.”
“You’d be surprised at how often it happens in this way of life. Many go on a job and come back safe, but there is always the chance you might never return.”
“Is that why people have been leaving?” I questioned, remembering my reading from last night.
Abbott shrugged. “I guess that could be part of it. Personally, I think it has more to do with having to live in secret. We didn’t always have to hide in the woods like thieves. We used to work with Norden, but something happened, and they turned on us. No one to this day knows what occurred.”
“Last night I was working on translating one of the older scrolls. Maybe it’s written down but just lost to us right now.”
Abbott’s eyes widened in surprise. “You can read our original tongue?”
“I might not be so good in the physical arena, but I’m very skilled in the brains department.” I smiled, loving the reaction I was getting from him. “My father made sure I learned many things a normal noble lady wouldn’t. I’m quite the strategist if I do say so myself.”
It was nice to finally show what I could do well instead of focusing on where I fell short.
“Hmm, we’ll have to set you up against Ballard and see who’s the better strategist. He’s scary in how he thinks of trapping people in their own plans. It’s a sight to see,” Abbott said, his eyes flashing with excitement.
“I’ll have to bring that up to him later,” I said, smiling back.
“Wait ’til we get you trained in fighting, then you’ll be near unstoppable. You’ll have beauty, brains, and brawn,” Abbott said, a glint of something in his eyes I’d never seen directed at me before.