There is a firepath set out and you wonder why. There has been no mention of a firewalk. No readying a celebration as is usual. The firepath, it is longer, far, far longer than is normal. You wonder why everyone is gathered. You wonder why there is no meat cooking and no cakes or bread being baked. No tables up. No fancy flags of Broken Iftal blessing the fire god Zorir. No sense of celebration.
Saradis is there and you try not to tremble. Try not to show fear because you know she hates weakness. They all hate weakness. They beat weakness out of you.
“The firewalk!” shouts Saradis, “is the test of the faithful! Those who have betrayed Zorir will be consumed!”
These words scare you.