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

stomach
tightened. He couldn’t help but feel as if he had made too many enemies, though
he did not understand why. He did not like the feeling.
    “Don’t
pay any attention to him,” Reece said to Thor, loudly enough to be heard. “You
did nothing wrong. They sent you to Canyon duty because they see potential in
you. They want to toughen you up or else they wouldn’t bother. You’re also in
their sights because my father singled you out. That’s all.”
    “But
what is Canyon duty?” he asked.
    Reece
cleared his throat, looking anxious.
    “I’ve
never been on it myself. But I’ve heard stories. From some of the older kids,
and from my brothers. It is patrol duty. But on the other side of the Canyon.”
    “The
other side?” O’Connor asked, terror in his voice.
    “What
do you mean ‘the other side?’” Thor asked, not understanding.
    Reece
studied him.
    “Have
you never been to the Canyon?”
    Thor
could feel the others looking at him, and he shook his head, self-conscious.
    “You’re
kidding,” Elden snapped.
    “Really?”
O’Connor pressed. “Not once in your life?”
    Thor
shook his head, reddening. “My father never took us anywhere. I’ve heard of
it.”
    “You’ve
probably never been outside your village, boy,” Elden said. “Have you?”
    Thor
shrugged, silent. Was it that obvious?
    “He
hasn’t,” Elden added, incredulous. “Unbelievable.”
    “Shut
up,” Reece said. “Leave him alone. That doesn’t make you any better than him.”
    Elden
sneered at Reece and raised his hand briefly to his scabbard; but then relaxed
it. Apparently, even though he was bigger than Reece, he didn’t want to provoke
the king’s son.
    “The
Canyon is the only thing keeping our kingdom of the Ring safe,” Reece
explained. “Nothing else stands between us and the hordes of the world. If the
savages of the Wilds were to breach it, we would all be finished. The entire
Ring looks to us, the King’s men, to protect them. We have patrols guarding it
all the time—mostly on this side, and occasionally, on the other. There is only
one bridge across, only one way in or out, and the most elite of The Silver
stand watch around-the-clock.”
    Thor
had heard of the Canyon his entire life, had heard horrifying stories of the
evils that lurked on the other side, the massive evil empire that surrounded
the Ring, and how close they all lived to terror. It was one of the reasons why
he had wanted to join the King’s Legion: to help protect his family and his
kingdom. He hated the idea that other men were out there, constantly protecting
him  while he lived comfortably in the arms of the kingdom. He wanted to do his
service and help fight off the evil hordes. He could imagine nothing braver
than those men who guarded the Canyon passageway.
    “The
Canyon is a mile wide, and surrounds the entire Ring,” Reece explained. “It is
not easy to breach. But of course our men are not the only thing keeping the
hordes at bay. There are millions of those creatures out there, and if they
wanted to overrun this Canyon, by sheer force of will, they could in a moment.
Our manpower only helps supplement the energy shield of the Canyon. The real
power that keeps them at bay is the power of the Sword.”
    Thor
turned. “The Sword?”
    Reece
looked at him.
    “The
Destiny Sword. You know the legend?”
    “This
country rube probably never even heard of it,” Elden chimed in.
    “Of
course I know it,” Thor snapped back, defensive. Not only did he know it, but
he had also spent many days pondering the legend throughout his life. He had always
wanted to see it. The fabled Destiny Sword, the magical sword whose energy
protected the Ring, filled the Canyon with a potent force that protected the
Ring from invaders.
    “The
sword lives in King’s Court?” Thor asked.
    Reece
nodded.
    “It
has lived amongst the royal family for generations. Without it, the kingdom
would be nothing. The Ring would be overrun.”
    “If
we are protected, then why bother patrol the Canyon at all?” Thor asked.
    “The
Sword only blocks the major threats,” Reece explained. “A small and isolated
evil creature can slip in here and there. That is why our men are needed. A
single being could cross the Canyon, or even a small group of them—they might
be so bold as to try to cross the bridge, or they may act with stealth and
climb down the Canyon walls on one end and up on the other. It is our job to
keep them out. Even one creature can