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

feet, and continued to run. With a supreme effort, gasping for air,
finally he crossed the field.
    “Yield!”
Kolk yelled.
    Thor
dropped the shield, dripping in sweat. He was beyond grateful he had reached
the other side: he didn’t know if he could’ve held that shield for another
moment.
    Thor
hurried back to the others, many of whom gave him looks of admiration. He
wondered how he had survived.
    “Nice
work,” Reece whispered to him.
    “Any
other volunteers?” Kolk called out.
    There
was dead silence among the boys. After watching Thor, no one else wanted to
try.
    Thor
felt proud of himself. He wasn’t sure if he would have volunteered knowing what
was entailed, but now that it was over, he was glad that he did it.
    “Fine.
Then I will volunteer for you,” Kolk yelled. “You! Saden!” he called out, pointing
to someone.
    An
older, thin boy stepped forward, looking terrified.
    “Me?”
Saden said, his voice cracking.
    The
other boys laughed at him.
    “Of
course you. Who else?” Kolk said.
    “I’m
sorry sir, but I would rather not.”
    A
horrified gasp arose among the Legion.
    Kolk
stepped forward, approaching him, grimacing.
    “You
don’t do what you want,” Kolk growled. “You do what I tell you to do.”
    Saden
stood there, frozen, looking scared to death.
    “He
shouldn’t be here,” Reece whispered to Thor.
    Thor
turned and looked at him. “What do you mean?”
    “He
comes from a noble family, and they placed them here. But he doesn’t want to be
here. He’s not a fighter. Kolk knows that. I think they’re trying to break him.
I think they want him out.”
    “I’m
sorry sir, but I cannot,” Saden said, sounding terrified.
    “You
can,” Kolk screamed, “and you will!”
    There
was a frozen, tense standoff.
    Saden
looked down to the ground, hanging his chin in shame.
    “I
am sorry, sir. Give me some other task, and I will gladly do it.”
    Kolk
turned red in the face, storming towards him until he was inches from his face.
    “I will give you another task, boy. I don’t care who your family is. From
now on, you will run. You will run around this field until you collapse. And
you will not come back until you volunteer to take up this shield. Do you
understand me?”
    Saden
looked as if he were about to burst into tears, as he nodded back.
    A
soldier came over, draped chainmail over Saden, and then another soldier draped
a second set of chainmail on him. Thor could not understand how he could bear
the weight of it. He could barely run with one of them.
    Kolk
leaned back and kicked Saden hard in the rear, and he went stumbling forward
and began his long, slow jog around the field. Thor felt bad for him. As he
watched him hobble around, he couldn’t help but wonder if the boy would survive
the Legion.
    Suddenly
a horn was sounded, and Thor turned to see a company of the King’s men ride up
on horseback, a dozen of The Silver with them, holding long spears, wearing
feathered helmets. They rode up and stopped before the legion.
    “In
honor of the king’s daughter’s wedding day, and in honor of the summer
solstice, the king has declared the rest of today a hunting day!”
    All
the boys around Thor erupted into a huge cheer. As one, they all broke off into
a sprint, following the horses as they turned and charged across the field.
    “What’s
happening?” Thor asked Reece, as he began to run with the others.
    Reece
wore a huge smile on his face.
    “It’s
a godsend!” he said. “We’re off for the day! We get to hunt!”

CHAPTER
TWENTY ONE
     
     
    Thor
jogged down the forest trail with the others, holding the spear that had been
handed to him for the hunt. Beside him were Reece, O’Connor, and Elden, along
with at least fifty other members of the Legion. In front of them rode a
hundred Silver, on horseback and in light armor, some carrying short spears,
but most with bows and arrows slung over their backs. Running on foot amongst
them were dozens of squires and attendants.
    Riding
at the front was King MacGil, looking as huge and proud as ever, an excited
grin on his face. He was flanked by his sons, Kendrick and Gareth, and, Thor
was surprised to see, even Godfrey. Dozens of pages ran amidst them, a few of
them leaning back and blowing horns made of long ivory tusks; others yanked at
baying dogs, who anxiously ran forward to keep up with the horses. It was
complete mayhem. As the huge group charged through the forest, they began to
split off in every direction, and