Then Golding bellowed, "it's time to test your endurance!"

He then gave each boy a bagpack filled with stones and a 3 litre canteen of water. "This should weigh about ten kilograms," he smirked.

As Elizabeth was handed the pack, her arms dropped slightly with the weight. Gritting her teeth, she slung it over her shoulders. It was heavy. But she could manage. She had to manage.

Harley, who was beside her, noticed that she was off-balance with the heavy pack on her shoulders. "Sir!" he gasped, "Shouldn't the packs be in ratio with the carrier's body mass?" He gestured to Elizabeth.

Golding eyed her. "Is it too heavy for you, midget?"

Elizabeth gritted her teeth. "No, sir." She had to show him that she was just as capable as the larger boys.

"But it's nearly half his weight!" protested Harley.

"All apprentices have to be tested the same!" barked Golding. "We can't be handicapping one just because he's smaller!"

Harley opened his mouth to rebuke but Elizabeth grabbed his arm. "I'm fine, seriously. Sir."

Golding smirked at them both. "If you don't make it round the track, you'll be eliminated."

Then he raised his voice as he bellowed at all the boys, "There's a track round the royal forest – Starting here." He gestured toward a path that cut through the trees.

"The whole track is 20km. We will take note of the boys who complete this track the fastest, and also those who finish the run the slowest."

Elizabeth peered at the track that bended into the undergrowth. It was about the width of two boys.

All the boys lined up at the starting line, each jostling to be at the front. "PPPAARRRPP!" went Golding's air horn.

The boys surged forward, squeezing into the narrow track. Elizabeth, although she tried, was too small, and was pushed to the back of the wall of boys.

Finally, she made it onto the track and started jogging steadily. She was tempted to break into a run like the other boys but she paced herself. She knew that 20km with a 10kg bag was a feat. Perhaps it's something the larger boys could manage, but not her.

She kept her pace as the other boys disappeared around the bend. Then she noticed there was someone beside her, panting heavily.

He was tall – extremely tall, but with stick-like limbs that held not an ounce of muscle. He was pale, with knobbly elbows and knees, and he ran awkwardly. Elizabeth figured that this boy rarely ran or did anything physical, for that matter.

Perched on his nose were a pair of thick glasses and he had carrot-like spiky hair.

He looked like he was struggling with his pack, and Elizabeth was sure she looked no better.

Already, she could feel the pack threatening to send her toppling backward, but she forced herself forward, using all her strength to lean forward so the straps dug painfully into her shoulders.

After barely fifteen minutes, the other boy was soaked with sweat. He panted even harder than ever. "Fudge this, I can't be last!" he gasped, and he surged forward.

His legs pounded onto the ground and his arms flailed wildly as he ran.

Elizabeth called after him, "Hey! You'll only tire yourself! Keep your pace!"

But the boy ignored her, instead surging off into the distance.

Elizabeth shook her head inwardly. Poor soul, he'd tire in no time.

After half an hour she found him slumped on a rock by the side of the track.

She knew that stopping now would mean destroying the steady pace her weary muscles had become accustomed to, but she couldn't just leave him there. He looked downright miserable.

"Hey," she said as she stopped before him, "You okay?"

His head was in his hands and he was breathing heavily. Elizabeth rested her hand on his shoulder.

To her surprise, he was crying. "I can't do it," he sobbed, "I'm going to be eliminated."

Elizabeth knelt down beside him, rubbing his back soothingly. "Don't say such things," she said, "You have to try your hardest. Don't give up."

He took a deep gulp from his canteen. "I just… can't go on. You go on without me, don't let me hinder you any longer."

She ignored him deliberately. "What's your name?" she asked.

He choked back another sob. "Joe."

"Well, Joe," she took a deep breath. This was going to be hard. "You are as weak as my little finger. I bet my grandmother could run harder than you."

Joe stopped crying. His mouth was agape. He never expected this seemingly nice little boy to insult him so.

"What did you say?" he finally gasped.

Elizabeth threw her words at him, "Loser. Failure. Weakling. You disgrace your name."

Joe's face was beginning to redden and he stood up abruptly. "Who are you to say such things to me?"

Elizabeth shot back, "I'm five heads shorter than you and yet you can't beat me," she mocked. "You're just gonna show everyone what a pathetic loser you really are."

His temper snapped. "I'll show you!" he roared.

"Well," she taunted, "Come and beat me, then," and she started jogging off.

Furiously, he slung on his pack and took off after her, maintaining pace with her.

"Not bad afterall, for a pansy boy," she jeered after about fifteen minutes of hard jogging. "Let's see if you can keep up with me for the rest of the course," she challenged.

"Bring it on," he panted.

It has now been over an hour. During that time, Elizabeth had to stop a few times for water breaks and to relieve the heavy sack on her shoulders.

If she had not been burdened by the weight, she actually could have been nearly as good as the other boys. Joe, however, had dropped behind her, but this time, Elizabeth was too hot and bothered to care.

By the time she reached the end of the track, every muscle in her legs seemed to be burning. Her shirt was soaked with sweat and her shoulders felt dead.

She had pushed herself to her very limit. Panting, she threw herself over the finish-line.

She heard a loud cheer, "Zachery!" Alan and Harley were rushing over to her, peeling her from the ground, and they wrapped her in a massive hug.

Alan let go, and Harley wrapped her again in a massive bear hug.

"Can't… breath…" choked Elizabeth.

Harley didn't seem to notice, so Alan screamed in his ear, "He can't breathe, you idiot!"

Harley quickly relinquished his hug. Both boys were grinning fiercely. "We thought you didn't make it!"

"Golding was about to go into the forest to look for you," breathed Alan.

Elizabeth's legs were still burning from the run, and she had already discarded the heavy pack. "What have you guys been doing while waiting?"

Harley shrugged, gesturing to the clearing full of boys who were just lazing on the soft grass. "Nothing, really."

Alan smiled, "I only just got here like fifteen minutes ago. Harley's been here for – what – half an hour?"

"I finished the course in just under two hours," smiled Harley, clearly pleased with himself. "I came fifth."

Elizabeth made a face, "Show off." And Alan laughed. "Well," he sighed, "I was one of the last though. Took me two and a half hours."

"Was there anyone behind you, Zach?" Alan asked.

"You guys have SUCH faith in me," Elizabeth grinned as she flopped onto the ground and stretched her legs out. "Yeah, one guy. I feel pretty bad for him cos he's probably gonna get eliminated."

Two boys of about fifteen walked past, deep in conversation. One was tall, with a cat-like frame and pale blue eyes. He walked with a certain grace and elegance – like a panther, Elizabeth thought.

The other was short and stocky, with broad shoulders and a square jaw. He was the one doing most of the talking.

Alan elbowed her and whispered in awe, "See the tall dark one?" He pointed to the graceful panther-like boy.

"He came first place – finished way before the rest. I've heard he completed the course in an hour and a half."

Elizabeth gasped. "How is that even possible?"

The boy seemed to notice that Alan had pointed at him and came over. "Hi," Elizabeth smiled, "You were amazing. An hour and a half – unbelievable!"

The boy seemed to look slightly startled. "Well," he had a soft silky musical voice, "I expected better." And he gave a little shrug. His tone seemed to indicate that he couldn't care less.

Elizabeth felt heat rise to her cheeks. "What are your names?" Harley asked.

The short stocky boy replied instantly in a loud voice, "William," then as an afterthought, "of Carthack Fief."

The taller boy seemed to be waiting for some sort of invitation. Alan asked, "And you?"

"Shephard." The way he said it seemed to hint – What, you don't know my name?

Harley tried for a joke as things were becoming a little awkward. "Shephard – as in you herd sheep?"

Shephard gave no reaction but William burst into a roar of laughter. "I like it!" he cried in his overly-loud voice. "Pity we wouldn't get to know each other better."

"Why?" asked Harley.

William's eyes widened. "Well – You guys are gonna get eliminated soon, y'know."

Elizabeth felt her temper rise. But Shephard said, "No, no. My friend here is only joking… I'm sure… you'll make it." His tone seemed to indicate that he very much doubted so.

Elizabeth had had enough. "We plan on staying, thank you very much," she said icily.

Shephard glared at her. His cool blue eyes seemed to send wave after wave of freezing water over her.

"If you say so, kid," he smiled frostily.

Elizabeth opened her mouth to rebuke, but Shephard simply turned and started walking away. William threw her a dirty look, stuck up his middle finger, and hurried after his companion.

"What a pleasant pair," commented Harley dryly.

Elizabeth snorted, still red with anger. "I don't know which one I hate more, Shephard or William. Wait, I do know – Shephard."

Alan and Harley nodded their agreement. "The way Shephard looks at us is like we're a waste of space." said Alan.

"And he walked off, just like that," added Harley.

"He's probably thinking that he'd spent enough time talking to us 'kids'" said Elizabeth.

"Hey Zach, I'm scared for you," said Harley, his large face worried.

Elizabeth was startled. "Why?"

"Well, you've been making enemies left right and centre! You've got Ralon and now you've got Shephard and William to deal with!" Protested Harley.

"And plus, all your enemies seem to be doing pretty well – just look at Shephard. And I heard Ralon was somewhere near the top as well." Said Alan.

Elizabeth turned beet red, "You guys shouldn't waste your energy worrying about me. It's really my fault cos I always lose my temper."

"Well, we're your friends, so we look out for each other, okay?" said Harley, still worried.

Elizabeth tried to laugh it off, "You worry too much, if there's anything troubling me, I'd tell you for sure."

But she didn't plan on doing that. She felt that a real boy wouldn't be whining about all his problems with his friends.