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

it down, empty, and they cheered.
    Thor
felt lightheaded. He was beginning to feel out of control, and it was harder to
focus. He didn’t like the feeling.
    Thor
felt another squirm in his shirt, as Krohn reared his head.
    “Well,
what have we here!” Godfrey shouted in delight.
    “It’s
a leopard cub,” Thor said.
    “We
found it on the hunt,” Reece added.
    “He’s
hungry,” Thor said. “I’m not sure what to feed him.”
    “Why,
of course, ale!” the tall man yelled.
    “Really?”
Thor asked. “Is that healthy for him?”
    “Of
course!” Godfrey yelled. “It is just hops, boy!”
    Godfrey
reached out, dipped his finger into the foam, and held it out; Krohn leaned
forward and licked it up. He licked again and again.
    “See,
he likes it!”
    Godfrey
suddenly retracted his finger with a scream. He held it up and showed blood.
    “Sharp
teeth on that one!” he yelled out—and the others all broke into laughter.
    Thor
reached down, stroked Krohn’s head, and tilted the remnant of his drink into
the leopard’s mouth. Krohn lapped it up, and Thor resolved to find him real
food. He hoped Kolk would let him stay in the barracks and that none of the
Legion would object.
    The
musicians changed their song, and several more friends of Godfrey’s appeared.
They came over, joined them in a fresh round of drinks, and led Godfrey away,
back into the crowd.
    “I
will see you later young man,” Godfrey said to Reece, before leaving. Then he
turned to Thor: “Hopefully you’ll spend more time in the alehouse!”
    “Hopefully
you’ll spend more time on the battlefield,” Kendrick called back.
    “I
very much doubt that!” Godfrey said and roared with laughter with the rest of
his compatriots, as he disappeared into the crowd.
    “Do
they always celebrate like this?” Thor asked Reece.
    “Godfrey?
He’s been in the alehouse since he could walk. A disappointment to my father.
But he’s happy with himself.”
    “No,
I mean the King’s men. The Legion. Is there always a trip to the alehouse?”
    Reece
shook his head.
    “Today
is a special day. The first hunt, and the summer solstice. This doesn’t happen
that often. Enjoy it while it does.”
    Thor
was feeling increasingly disoriented as he looked around the room. This was not
where he wanted to be. He wanted to be back in the barracks, training. And his
thoughts drifted, once again, to Gwendolyn.
    “Did
you get a good look at him?” Kendrick asked, as he came up to Thor.
    Thor
looked at him, puzzled.
    “The
man, in the woods, who shot the arrow?” Kendrick added.
    The
others crowded around close, trying to hear as the mood grew serious.
    Thor
tried again to remember, but he could not. Everything was fuzzy.
    “I
wish I did,” he said. “It all happened so fast.”
    “Maybe
it was just one of the king’s other men, shooting in our direction by
accident,” O’Connor said.
    Thor
shook his head.
    “He
wasn’t dressed like the others. He wore all-black, and a cloak and hood. And he
only shot one arrow, aimed right for Kendrick, then disappeared. I’m sorry. I
wish I saw more.”
    Kendrick
shook his head, trying to think.
    “Who
would want you dead?” Reece asked Kendrick.
    “Was
it an assassin?” O’Connor asked.
    Kendrick
shrugged. “I have no enemies that I know of.”
    “But
father has many,” Reece said. “Maybe someone wants to kill you to get to him.”
    “Or
maybe someone wants you out of the way for the throne,” Elden postulated.
    “But
that’s absurd! I’m illegitimate! I cannot inherit the throne!”
    While
they all shook their heads, sipping their ale and trying to figure it out,
there came another shout in the room, and all the men’s attention turned
towards the staircase leading upstairs. Thor looked up, and saw a string of
women walk out of an upper hallway, stand by a bannister, and look down at the
room. They were all scantily dressed and wore too much makeup.
    Thor
blushed.
    “Well,
hello men!” called the lady in front, with a large bosom and wearing a red lace
outfit.
    The
men cheered.
    “Who’s
got money to spend tonight?” she asked.
    The
men cheered again.
    Thor’s
eyes opened wide in surprise.
    “Is
this also a brothel?” he asked.
    The
others turned and looked at him in stunned silence, then all broke into
laughter.
    “My
God, you are naïve, aren’t you!” Conval said.
    “Tell
me you’ve never been to a brothel?” Conven said.
    “I
bet he’s never been with a woman!” Elden