From the residence window, the perimeter path had looked level.
At the first rise I discovered how much of it the wall had hidden. The stones continued up toward an arch, turned behind it and disappeared. I slowed down, then stopped beside the first distance post with one hand against the wall.
I hadn't run. That made the need to stop more irritating.
Veylan had allowed slow work with my right hand relaxed. He hadn't asked me to walk around the entire academy. I had chosen that part while looking out of a window, which now seemed a poor place to make decisions about exercise.
A pair of runners came through the arch. I moved my boots out of their line and pretended to adjust the stopper on my flask. It was already tight. The finger beneath the linen objected to the movement, and I let my right hand hang open again.
"You're in the return lane."
The voice came from behind me.
