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

Thor hardly knew where they were going, or
which group to follow.
    Erec
rode close by, and Thor and the others decided to follow his trail. Thor came
running up beside Reece.
    “Where
are we going?” he asked Reece, out of breath as they ran.
    “Deep
into the wood,” Reece called back. “The King’s men aim to bring back days’
worth of game.”
    “Why
are some of The Silver on horses and others on foot?” O’Connor asked Reece.
    “Those
on horses are hunting the easier kill, such as deer and fowl,” Reece responded.
“They use their bows. Those on foot aim for the more dangerous animals. Like
the yellowtail boar.”
    Thor
was both excited and nervous at the mention of the animal. He had seen one
growing up: it was a nasty and dangerous creature, known to tear a man in two
with little provocation.
    “The
oldest warriors tend to stay on horseback and go after deer and birds,” Erec
added, looking down. “The younger tend to stay on foot, and go after the bigger
game. You have to be in better shape for it, of course.”
    “Which
is why we allow this hunt for you boys,” Kolk, running with the others, not far
away, yelled out, “it is training for you, too. You will have to be on foot the
entire hunt, keep up with the horses. As we go, you will break off into smaller
groups, and each fork down your own path, and each hunt down your own animal. You
will find the most vicious animal you can—and you will fight it to the death.
These are the same qualities that make you a soldier: stamina, fearlessness,
and not backing down from your adversary, no matter how big or how vicious. Now
go!” he screamed.
    Thor
ran faster, as did all of his brethren, racing to catch up to the horses as
they tore through the forest. He hardly knew which way to go, but he figured if
he stuck close to Reece and O’Connor, he would be okay.
    “An
arrow, quick!” Erec yelled down.
    Thor
burst into action, running up beside Erec’s horse, grabbing an arrow from the
quiver on the saddle, and handing it up to him. Erec placed it on his bow as he
rode, slowed and took steady aim at something in the woods.
    “The
dogs!” Erec screamed.
    One
of the King’s attendants released a barking dog, which dove into the bushes. To
Thor’s surprise, a large bird flew up, and as it did, Erec let loose the arrow.
    It
was a perfect shot, right to the neck, and the bird fell down, dead. Thor was
amazed at how Erec had spotted it.
    “The
bird!” Erec yelled out.
    Thor
ran, grabbed the dead bird, warm, blood oozing from its neck, and ran back to
Erec. He slung it on Erec’s saddle to hang there as he rode.
    All
around Thor, many knights on horseback were doing the same, flushing birds and
shooting  them down for their squires to retrieve. Most used arrows; some used
spears. Kendrick pulled back his spear, took aim and hurled it at a deer. It
was a perfect strike, right into its throat, and it fell, too.
    Thor
was amazed at the abundance of game in these woods, the amount of bounty they
would be bringing home. It would be enough to feed King’s Court for days.
    “Have
you been on a hunt before?” Thor called out to Reece, narrowly avoiding being
trampled by one of the King’s men as they ran. It was hard to hear, with the
barking of the dogs, the horns sounding, and the screams of men, laughing,
victorious, as they took down animal after animal.
    Reece
had a big smile on his face as he jumped over a log and continued running.
    “Many
times! But only because of my father. They don’t let us join the hunt until a
certain age. It’s a thrilling thing—although no one tends to get out of it
unscathed. More than one man has been hurt, or killed, chasing boar.”
    Reece
gasped as he ran. “But I’ve always ridden on horseback,” he added. “I’ve never
been allowed to be on foot before, with the Legion, never allowed to hunt boar.
It is a first for me!”
    The
forest suddenly changed, with dozens of trails stretching out before them,
splitting in a dozen ways. Another horn sounded, and the huge group began to
break up into smaller groups.
    As
they all split up, Thor stuck close to Erec, and Reece and O’Connor joined
them; they all turned onto a narrow path that curved sharply downward. They ran
and ran, Thor clutching his spear and jumping a small creek. Their small group
comprised Erec and Kendrick on horseback, Thor, Reece, O’Connor, and Elden on
foot, making six of them—and as Thor turned, he noticed two more members of