The Chosen Read Online Free PDF Page B

of the tests you spoke of earlier, Jud? I assume they aren’t written tests, so how are they given? What do they consist of, that is, if I am allowed to know beforehand?” Seth asked again.
    “The tests are each designed for the individual to be tested. First we must know what a young mage’s blessing consists of, what are its limits, and the limits of the mage. The tests are designed to be difficult to accomplish. They are intended to make the mage push himself or herself both mentally and physically. All tests are monitored closely by the heads of all the mage orders. Healers are always on site as sometimes a mage fails their test, or sometimes they are simply injured during the test. That is all I can reveal on the subject at present. Your tests will depend mostly on you and your abilities.” Jud stated finishing his explanation.
    During their discussion a young woman poked her head through a small doorway off the side of the dining hall. As quickly as she appeared, she again disappeared behind the stone wall. Shortly after, scents of spice mixed with herbs permeated the air around them. Judilanthaliz sat quietly for a moment thinking to himself as his new guests watched his expression and waited patiently.
    “I was going to wait until tomorrow to tell you this, as I won’t be entirely sure of the details until after tonight’s meeting. As the kingdom once again faces war with the lands to the south, I am afraid, Seth, that your training will probably be accelerated to a pace that would usually be intolerable to the both of us. It is out of necessity and so we will skip whatever portions of the normal training regimen that I feel are not of immediate need or significance. The priority is to get you well versed in the lore of Saranadia as well as of the other gods, and then we have to hope that you receive a blessing. Then the real training will begin,” Jud said as the plain lady again poked her head through the doorway.
    “Are you ready for some food, Jud?” she asked in a hushed tone.
    “Indeed Fera, we are quite ready to eat, I think. We have some guests, at least for the time being, so prepare for some larger meals,” Jud replied.
    “Consider it done, Jud. I will be right out with your food,” Fera said and vanished once again.
    Moments later Fera returned carrying with her a single large platter. She was not much older than Seth and Sara with olive skin and straight brown hair that fell just past her shoulders. Her eyes too were a deep brown. She was a little taller than Sara, and a slightly heavier build, though she was not overweight. Fera was an average looking woman with no immediately visible traits that would make her stand out in a crowd. The platter she carried held three small loaves of bread and three steaming bowls as well as three tall mugs. The bowls were filled nearly to the brim with a thick beef and vegetable soup that turned out to be the source of the scents wafting through the air. The mugs were filled with cool cider, a perfect complement to the hot soup. As they received their food, both Seth and Sara thanked Fera for the meal, and Jud smiled to the woman who then quickly retreated back the way she had come.
    The three sat in the dining hall in near silence enjoying the meal while it remained hot. They all finished rather quickly, and Jud asked them to retrieve their belongings. He took them back out of the room, leaving their emptied dishes to sit on the table. Judilanthaliz led them back down the hall the way they had come earlier, and passing the intersection with the main hallway, he continued straight on down what would be the left fork, past several doorways. He continued to lead them to the very end of that particular hallway, all the while torches ignited just ahead of them and extinguished as soon as they passed.
    At the end of the hall a large open archway revealed a huge library filled wall to wall with wooden shelves that were covered to entirety in books and scrolls. In