Page 102 of The Hermit

I hear the clank of the weights, then Dominik says, “Today, we’re working on your agility.”

“Okay.” I continue to jog for fifteen minutes before climbing off.

Dominik has been training me for two weeks.

Every single day.

When we first started, I thought I would die because my husband is a drill sergeant when it comes to training.

I get why, though. The sooner I can fight, the sooner he doesn’t have to worry about my safety during trips.

I’ve also been learning sign language so I can communicate better with Evinka, but that’s taking a bit longer than the training.

I walk to the other side of the room, where he’s set up a small obstacle course, and take up position at the starting point.

“Remember to use the momentum you gain toward the end,” he mutters while getting the stopwatch ready. “Time to beat today is one minute and sixteen seconds. I want it well under sixty seconds.”

“Yes, sir,” I say, even saluting him.

“Ready?” he asks. When I nod, he shouts, “Go!”

I dart away from the starting point, and taking hold of the crate, I throw my leg up and climb on top of it. I keep going, launching my body into the air, and grabbing a ring, I swing forward before I drop and army crawl underneath a net.

Coming out from beneath it, I shoot to my feet and run zig-zag through the containers we use to ferment our vegetables.

“One minute and seven seconds,” Dominik mutters. “Again.”

I walk to the starting point while sucking in deep breaths of air.

Taking up my position, I picture Dominik standing at the end with a gun to his head.

“Go!”

I surge forward, and keeping the image of Dominik in my mind, I push myself harder than I ever have. My body moves instinctively, jumping, ducking, crawling, and weaving until I fly over the finish line.

Gasping for air, I drop to the floor.

“Why didn’t you move like that the first time?” Dominik asks as he walks toward me.

I hold up a hand so he’ll wait while I catch my breath.

He crouches beside me with a grin on his face. “Forty-eight seconds.”

“I pictured a gun to your head,” I say between breaths. “Worked like a bomb.”

He lets out a burst of laughter, then grabbing hold of my hand, he pulls me up as he rises to his full height.

“As a reward, I’ll let you practice your chokehold on me.”

“Oooh.” I don’t give him any warning and jump onto his back, wrapping my arm tightly around his neck.

When he grabs hold of my arms, I quickly lock my legs around his waist so he can’t throw me off.

“Fucking spider monkey,” he mumbles before he drops to the floor, slamming us both down on a mat.

I don’t let go, and when he cheats and tickles my feet, I sink my teeth into the side of his neck.

A tap against my calf tells me he gives up. I let go and roll away from him. I climb to my feet, and just as I throw my arms in the air to do my victory dance, his shoulder slams into my stomach, and I’m hauled into the air.

---