9

~Kiva

With gritted teeth, I stare at the raging river before me.

"You can't be serious,” I growl.

"You need to learn this,” Ark insists.

This is my first outdoor training exercise. Ark in all his imposing state stands next to me, ready to thrust me into this raging river with a low chance of survival.

I swear it’s just for his amusement.

"It's freezing out here. Are you trying to kill me?" I motion to the ice underfoot. The water is all ice melt from the mountains, which means I’m more than reluctant to step into this river.

"I gave you a week to heal. You should be perfectly capable of crossing this river."

"I can do it. I just don't need to practice in the cold."

Not that the ground is ever not frozen. Of all places father has to rule, I wish it wasn't over a cold, mountainous area.

"If they come in to hurt you again, this is the path to get to the safe-house. It could be in the dead of night that you need to cross this, after heavy rains. You need to learn before