Into the Wastelands: Book Four of the Restoration Series by Christopher Williams Page A

alive, at all costs. Would you like to tell the High Priest that you disobeyed his direct orders to save some time?” His voice rose and he was practically shouting by the end.
    “No,” Jordan said and he looked like he meant it. He was even more flushed now and despite the nice cool morning, he was covered in sweat.
    “No, I don’t think you want to either,” Thomas said after a moment. He turned his back on the soldier, “ L eave us.”
    Flare watched Thomas as Jordan hurried to make his escape. It was true that the medallion’s punishments were slowing them down. They had no horses so Flare was being compelled to walk to his death. When he was incapacitated, they were unable to continue their journey. They needed him able to walk.
    He had fled Telur and traveled northwest to the Az’ha’ rill Mountains . In the far north, this mountain chain formed an enormous V , with the mountains running both to the northeast and northwest . With great difficulty he had climbed the eastern part of the mountain chain. He had been pursued and captured while still inside the V of the mountains. The quickest path back to Telur was to retrace Flare’s steps back over the peaks . It was an extremely difficult climb and not a climb that he could have done with his hands bound. Refusing to untie his prisoner, Thomas had decided to take them west through the easier part of the mountain chain and then turn south to Mul-Dune. From there, his plan was to travel east to Telur.
    That had been nearly two weeks ago. At first they had made good time. The going was easy and the weather favorable. Flare had first tried to use sorcery the night after their first day of traveling. The pain had been unbelievable and it felt like every nerve ending in his body was on fire. The next day, although sore, Flare had been able to walk and they had continued westward. It was n’t until his third attempt to use sorcery that the pain made him unable to travel and cost them several hours. The punishments were weighing on him to the point that the medallion was slowing them down even on days that he didn’t attempt to use sorcery.
    Several days back, they crossed the western part of the V and entered the wilds of Cail dar’mack. This heavily forested and largely unexplored territory ran from the Az’ha’ rill Mountains to the ocean in the west. It was a dangerous forest, full of wild animals and beasts. Fort Mul-Dune had been built in the only gap of the mountains that was large enough, and safe enough, for a group to travel through. The primary purpose of the fort was to protect the western side of Telur from attack. In addition to animals and beasts, the forests were known to be the home of goblins, trolls, and the like.
    “That medallion will kill you,” Thomas said.
    Flare had been adrift in his thoughts and had forgotten that the man was still watching him. “Ole Dalin wouldn’t like that very much.”
    Thomas clinched his teeth and Flare could see the man’s jaws moving. “You should show some respect to the High Priest of Adel.”
    “Even when he’s wrong and refuses to see it?” Flare asked.
    Thomas took a deep breath and ignored the question. “That medallion will kill you. Each time you try to use sorcery, it’s getting worse. How much more do you think you can take?”
    Flare pushed himself up onto an elbow, it was rather difficult when his hands were tied together. “So?” he asked. “If I die here or in the middle of a square in Telur, what does it matter to me?”
    “Well, there’s the lives of my men. If, like you say, you’re so noble, then that should matter to you.”
    Flare laughed out loud. “So I should go willingly so that you and these bastards can keep o n living?” He shook his head, “N o, I don’t think so.”
    The monk stared at Flare in silence for several moments and then asked, “Surely you know that the Church would never have allowed you to restore the Order. They would never have allowed