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

raining.”
    They looked up at the sky, and
Thor spotted threatening clouds overhead.
    “It just might,” Reece said.
“Don’t jinx it.”
    “THOR!” came a shout.
    Thor turned to see Kolk glaring
at him, off to the side. He ran over to him, wondering what he had done wrong.
    “Yes, sire.”
    “Your knight has summoned you,”
he said curtly. “Report to Erec at the castle grounds. You’re lucky: you’re
off-duty for today. You will serve your knight instead, as all good squires
should. But don’t think you’re getting out of ditch-digging: when you return
tomorrow, you will be digging ditches by yourself. Now go!” he yelled.
    Thor turned and saw the envious
looks of the others, then ran from the field, heading for the castle. What
could Erec want from him? Had it something to do with the King?
    *
    Thor ran through King’s Court,
turning down a path he had never gone down before: towards the barracks of The
Silver. Their barracks were much more grand than those of the Legion’s, their buildings
twice the size, lined with copper, and their pathways paved with new stone. To
get there, Thor had to pass through a large arched gate, a dozen of the King’s
men standing guard. The path then broadened, stretching out across a huge, open
field and culminating in a complex of stone buildings, encircled by a fence,
and guarded by dozens more knights. It was an imposing sight, even from here.
    Thor raced down the path,
conspicuous in the open field, and knights already prepared for his approach,
even though he was so far away, stepping forward and crossing their lances,
looking straight ahead, ignoring him, as they blocked his path.
    “What business have you here?”
one of them asked.
    “I am reporting for duty,” Thor
responded. “I am Erec’s squire.”
    The knights exchanged a wary
look, but another knight stepped forward and nodded. They stepped back,
uncrossed their weapons, and the gate slowly opened, its metal spikes rising,
creaking. The gate was immense, at least two feet thick, and Thor thought that
this place was even more fortified than even the King’s Castle.
    “The second building on the
right.” the knight yelled. “You’ll find him in the stables.”
    Thor turned and hurried down the
path through the courtyard, passing a compound of stone buildings, taking it
all in. Everything was gleaming here, spotless, perfectly maintained. The whole
place exuded an aura of strength.
    Thor found the building, and was
dazzled by the sight before him: dozens of the biggest and most beautiful
horses he’d ever seen were tied up in neat rows outside the building, most of
them covered in armor. The horses gleamed. Everything here was bigger, grander.
    Real knights trotted by in every
direction, carrying various weapons, passing through the courtyard on their way
in or out of various gates. It was a busy place, and Thor could feel the
presence of battle here. This place was not about training: it was about war.
Life and death.
    Thor passed through a small,
arched entranceway, down a darkened corridor of stone, and continued hurrying
through, passing by stable after stable, searching for Erec. Thor reached the
end of it, but he was nowhere to be found.
    “Looking for Erec, are you?” a
guard asked.
    Thor turned and nodded.
    “Yes, sire. I am his squire.”
    “You are late. He is already
outside, preparing his horse. Move quickly, then.”
    Thor ran down the corridor and
burst out of the stables into an open field. There was Erec, standing before a
giant, valiant stallion, a gleaming black horse with a white nose. The horse
snorted as Thor arrived, and Erec turned.
    “I am sorry, sire,” Thor said,
out of breath. “I came as fast as I could. I did not mean to be late.”
    “You are just in time,” Erec said
with a gracious smile. “Thor, meet Lannin,” he added, gesturing to the horse.
    Lannin snorted and pranced, as if
in response. Thor stepped up and reached out a hand and stroked his nose; he
whinnied softly in return.
    “He is my journey horse. A knight
of rank has many horses, as you will learn. There is one for jousting, one for
battle, and one for the long, solitary journey. This is the one you forge the
closest friendship with. He likes you. That is good.”
    Lannin leaned forward and stuck
his nose in Thor’s palm. Thor was overwhelmed by the magnificence of this
creature. He could see intelligence shining in his eyes. It was eerie: he felt
as if he understood everything.
    But