34
Desert Sands
The walking never stopped in this strange test of worthiness.
Julian supposed there must be a reason for the interminable hikes that seemed to be required here. To show persistence and determination, perhaps. But he would give even money that Feirhard and his guys could have designed the thing to get the effects they wanted without the walking, so it probably was the old sorcerer just being bloody-minded.
Bastard.
Julian stopped atop the fourth hill they had climbed since leaving the torture chamber. His ankles had begun to smart from the lack of boots, and the soles of his feet were beginning to feel rubbed raw. He took a moment to stretch out his calves, but that didn't do much good.
At least the bleeding inside his mouth had stopped. For a while there, he had
