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

he
would receive. Would there be envy, jealousy? Would they be mad he got all this
attention? Would they make fun of him for being carried back across the canyon?
Or would they finally accept him?
    Thor
hoped it was the latter. He was tired of struggling with the rest of the Legion
and just wanted, more than anything, to belong. To be accepted as one of them.
    The
barracks came into sight in the distance, and Thor’s mind began to be
preoccupied with something else.
    Gwendolyn.
    Thor
didn’t know how much he could talk to Reece about this, given that it was his
sister. But he could not get her out of his mind. He couldn’t stop thinking of
his encounter with that menacing royal, Alton, and wondered how much of what he
said was true. A part of him feared to discuss it with Reece, not wanting to
risk upsetting him somehow and losing his new friend over his sister. But
another part of him had to know what he thought.
    “Who
is Alton?” Thor finally asked, hesitant.
    “Alton?”
Reece repeated. “Why do you ask of him?”
    Thor
shrugged, unsure how much to say.
    Luckily,
Reece continued.
    “He’s
but a menacing, lesser royal. Third cousin to the king. Why? Has he been after
you about something?” Then Reece narrowed his eyes. “Gwen? Is that it? I
should’ve warned you.”
    Thor
turned and looked at Reece, eager to hear more.
    “What
do you mean?”
    “He’s
a lout. He’s been after my sister since he could walk. He’s certain the two of
them will be wed. My mother seems to think so, too.”
    “Will
they?” Thor asked, surprised by the urgency in his own voice.
    Reece
looked at him and smiled.
    “My,
my, you have fallen for her, haven’t you?” He chuckled. “That was fast.”
    Thor
reddened, hoping it wasn’t so obvious.
    “Whether
or not they do would depend on my sister’s feelings for him,” Reece finally
answered. “Unless they forced her into marriage. But I doubt my father would do
that.”
    “And
how does she feel for him?” Thor pressed, afraid he was being too nosy, but
needing to know.
    Reece
shrugged. “You’d have to ask her, I guess. I never talk to her about it.”
    “But
would your father force her into marriage?” Thor pressed. “Could he really do
such a thing?”
    “My
father can do anything he wants. But that’s between him and Gwen.”
    Reece
turned and looked at Thor.
    “Why
all these questions? What did you talk about?”
    Thor
blushed, unsure what to say.
    “Nothing,”
he said finally.
    “Nothing!”
Reece laughed. “Sounds like a lot of nothing to me!”
    Reece
laughed harder, and Thor was embarrassed, wondering if he was just imagining
that Gwen liked him. Reece reached over and put a firm hand on his shoulder.
    “Listen,
old mate,” Reece said, “the only thing you can know for sure about Gwen is that
she knows what she wants. And she gets what she wants. That’s always been the
case. She’s as strong-willed as my father. No one can force her to do
anything—or like anyone—she doesn’t want. So don’t worry. If she chooses you,
trust me, she’ll let you know. Okay?”
    Thor
nodded, feeling better, as always, after he talked to Reece.
    He
looked up and saw the huge gates to the Legion’s barracks before him. He was
surprised to see several of the other boys standing at the gate, as if waiting
for them, and even more surprised to see them grinning, and let out a cheer at
the sight of him. They rushed forward, grabbed Thor by the shoulders, draped
their arms around him, and pulled him inside. Thor was amazed as he was swept
inside in an embrace of goodwill by the others.
    “Tell
us about the Canyon. What’s it like on the other side?” one asked.
    “What
was the creature like? The one that you killed?” another asked.
    “I
didn’t kill him,” Thor protested. “Erec did.”
    “I
heard you saved Elden’s life,” one said.
    “I
heard you attacked the creature head-on. Without any real weapons.”
    “You’re
one of us now!” one yelled out, and the other kids cheered, ushering him along,
as if he were their long-lost brother.
    Thor
could hardly believe it. The more he heard their words, the more he realized
maybe they did have a point. Maybe he had been brave after all. He never really
thought about it. For the first time in a long while, he was starting to feel
good about himself. Most of all because now, finally, he felt like he belonged
with these boys. He felt tension releasing from his shoulders.
    Thor
was ushered out into the