A Quest of Heroes (Book #1 in the Sorcerer's Ring)

slashed Thor in the
leg, knocking him down on his side.
    A
small crowd of boys gathered around them, cheering and hollering, as their
fight became the center of attention. It seemed as if they were all rooting for
Elden.
    Elden
came down with his sword again, slashing down hard, and Thor rolled out of the
way, the blow barely missing his back. Thor had a moment’s advantage and took
it: he swung around and hit the oaf hard behind the knee. It was a soft spot,
and enough to knock him back, then down, stumbling onto his rear.
    Thor
used the chance to scramble to his feet. Elden rose, red-faced, more furious
than ever, and now the two faced off.
    Thor
knew he couldn’t just stand there; he charged and swung. But this practice
sword was made of a strange wood and just too heavy; his move was telegraphed.
Elden blocked it easily, then jabbed Thor hard in the ribs.
    It
hit a soft spot, and Thor keeled over and dropped his sword, the wind knocked
out of him.
    The
other boys screamed in delight. Thor kneeled there, unarmed, and felt the tip
of Elden’s sword jammed into the base of his throat.
    “Yield!”
Elden demanded.
    Thor
glared up at him, the salty taste of blood on his lip.
    “Never,”
he said, defiant.
    Elden
grimaced, raised his sword, and prepared to bring it down. There was nothing
Thor could do. He was in for a mighty blow.
    As
the sword came down, Thor closed his eyes and concentrated. He felt the world
slowing down, felt himself transported to another realm. He was suddenly able
to feel the swing of the sword in the air, its motion, and he willed the
universe to stop it.
    He
felt his body warming, tingling, and as he focused, he felt something
happening. He felt himself able to control it.
    Suddenly
the sword froze in mid-air. Thor had somehow managed to stop it using his
power.
    As
Elden stood there, holding the sword, confused, Thor then used his mind power
to grasp and squeeze Elden’s wrist. He squeezed harder and harder in his mind,
and in moments, Elden cried out and dropped the sword.
    All
the boys quieted, as they stood there, frozen, looking down at Thor, wide-eyed
in surprise and fear.
    “He’s
a demon!” one yelled out.
    “A
sorcerer!” another yelled.
    Thor
was overwhelmed. He had no grasp of what he had just done. But he knew it was
not normal. He was both proud and embarrassed, emboldened and afraid.
    Kolk
stepped forward, into the circle, standing between Thor and Elden.
    “This
is no place for spells, boy, whoever you are,” he chastised Thor. “It is a
place for battle. You defied our rules of fighting. You will think about what
you have done. I will send you to a place  of true danger, and we shall see how
well your spells defend you there. Report to guard patrol at the Canyon.”
    There
was a gasp among the Legion, and they all quieted. Thor did not understand
exactly what that meant, but he knew that whatever it was, it could not be
good.
    “You
can’t send him to the Canyon!” Reece protested. “He is too new. He could get
hurt.”
    “I
shall do whatever I choose to boy,” Kolk grimaced at Reece. “Your father is not
here to protect you now. Or him. And I run this Legion. And you better mind
your tongue—just because you are royalty, don’t think you can speak out of line
again.”
    “Fine,”
Reece responded. “Then I shall join him!”
    “As
will I!” O’Connor chimed in, stepping forward.
    Kolk
looked them over, and slowly shook his head.
    “Fools.
That is your choice. Join him if you wish.”
    Kolk
turned and looked at Elden. “Don’t think you get off so easy, either,” he said
to him. “You started this fight. You must pay the price, too. You will join
them on patrol tonight.”
    “But
sire, you can’t send me to the Canyon!” Elden protested, eyes wide in fear. It
was the first time Thor had seen him afraid of anything.
    Kolk
took a step forward, close to Elden, and raised his hands to his hips. “Can’t
I?” he said. “Not only can I send you there— I can also send you away for good,
out of this Legion, and to the farthest reaches of our kingdom if you continue
to talk back to me.”
    Elden
looked away, too flustered to respond.
    “Anyone
else want to join them?” Kolk called out.
    The
other boys, bigger and older and stronger, all looked away in fear. Thor gulped
as he looked around at the nervous faces, and wondered just how bad the Canyon
could be.
     

CHAPTER
FIFTEEN
     
     
    Thor
walked along the well-trodden dirt road, flanked by