They got to the desert faster than expected. The path was very steep, but Jasmine leaned on Randolph, and her weakness didn't bother her at all. By evening, they were down among the pale sand dunes, heading for some huts near one of the massive canyons where they'd rest for the night.
As the sun set, painting the sky fiery red in the west, Randolph took her away from the huts to the base of the canyon.
"Jasmine," he began, "everyone who journeyed to the Abra Mountains had to take this detour through the desert. It's known as 'The Hearth of Dune, a place of great darkness and dread. Here, they have gained knowledge and experiences that they would have otherwise remained unaware of."
Randolph continued, "The desert, despite its desolation, is a place of valuable lessons. It teaches endur
