Kolk took a deep breath, then screamed out: “BEGIN!”
All around him the boys broke into action, each charging for a rope. Thor sprinted for a free rope; he was about to grab it, when an older boy reached it first, bumping him out of the way. Thor scrambled, and grabbed the closest one he could find. He grabbed the thick knotted twine, his heart pounding, as he began to scramble his way up the wall.
The day had turned misty, and Thor’s feet slipped on the stone as he climbed. Still, he made good time, and he couldn’t help but notice that he was faster than many of the others, nearly taking the lead as he scrambled his way up. He was, for the first time today, starting to feel good, starting to feel a sense of pride.
Suddenly, he felt something hard slam into his shoulder. He looked up, and saw members of the Silver at the top of the wall, throwing down small rocks, sticks, all manner of debris. The boy on the rope beside Thor reached up with one hand to block his face and lost his grip and fell backwards, down to the ground. He fell a good twenty feet, and landed in the pile of hay below.
Thor was losing his grip, too, but somehow managed to hang on. A club hailed down and hit Thor hard on the back, but he continued to climb. He was making good time and was starting to think he might even be the first one to the top, when suddenly, he felt himself kicked hard in the ribs. He couldn’t even understand where it came from, until he looked over and saw one of the boys beside him, swinging sideways. Before Thor could react, the boy kicked him again.
Thor lost his grip this time and found himself hurling backwards, through the air, flailing. He landed on his back in the hay, shocked, but unhurt.
Thor scrambled to his hands and knees, catching his breath, and looked about: all around him, boys were dropping like flies from the ropes, landing in the hay, kicked or shoved by each other—or if not, then kicked off by members of the Silver up top. Those who weren’t had their ropes cut, so they went flying, too. Not a single member reached the top.
“On your feet!” yelled Kolk. Thor jumped up, as did the others.
“SWORDS!”
The boys ran as one to a huge rack of wooden swords. Thor joined them and grabbed one, shocked at how heavy it was. It weighed twice as much as any weapon he had lifted. He could barely hold it.
“Heavy swords, begin!” came a shout.
Thor looked up and saw that huge oaf, Elden, the one who had first attacked him when he met the Legion. Thor remembered him too well: his face was still hurting from the bruises he had given him. He was bearing down on him, sword held high, a look of fury on his face.
Thor raised his sword at the last moment; he managed to block Elden’s blow, but the sword was so heavy, he was barely able to hold it back. Elden, bigger and stronger, reached around and kicked Thor hard in the ribs.
Thor dropped to his knees, in pain. Elden swung around again, to crack him in the face, but Thor managed to reached up and block the blow with a moment to spare. But Elden was too quick and strong, and he swung around and slashed Thor in the leg, knocking him down on his side.
A small crowd of boys gathered around them, cheering and hollering, as clearly their fight was becoming the center of attention. It seemed as if they were all rooting for Elden.
Elden came down with his sword again, slashing down hard, and Thor rolled out of the way, the blow barely missing his back. Thor had a moment’s advantage, and he took it: he swung around and hit the oaf hard behind the knee. It was a soft spot, and enough to knock him back, then down, stumbling onto his rear.
Thor used the chance to scramble to his feet. Elden rose, red-faced, more furious than ever, and now the two faced off.
Thor knew he couldn’t just stand there; he charged and swung. But this practice sword was made of a strange wood and just too heavy; his move was telegraphed. Elden blocked it easily, then jabbed Thor hard in the ribs.
It hit a soft spot, and Thor keeled over and dropped his sword, the wind knocked out of him.
The other boys screamed in delight. Thor kneeled there, unarmed, and felt the tip of Elden’s sword jammed into the base of his throat.
“Yield!” Elden demanded.
Thor glared up at him, feeling the salty taste of blood on his lip.
“Never,” he muttered, defiant.
Elden grimaced, raised his sword, and prepared to bring it down. There was nothing Thor could do. He knew that he was in for a mighty blow.
As the sword came down, Thor closed his eyes and concentrated. He felt the world slowing down, felt himself transported to another realm. He was suddenly able to feel the swing of the sword in the air, its motion, and he willed the universe to stop it.
He felt his body warming, tingling, and as he focused, he felt something happening. He felt himself able to control it.
Suddenly the sword freezed in mid-air. Thor had somehow managed to stop it using his power.
As Elden stood there, holding the sword, confused, Thor then used his mind power to grasp and squeeze Elden’s wrist. He squeezed harder and harder in his mind, and in moments, Elden cried out and dropped the sword.
All the boys quieted, as they stood there, frozen, looking down at Thor, wide-eyed in surprise and fear.
“He’s a demon!” one yelled out.
“A sorcerer,” another yelled.
Thor was overwhelmed. He had no grasp of what he had just done. But he knew it was normal. He was both proud and embarrassed, emboldened and afraid.
Kolk stepped forward, into the circle, standing between Thor and Elden.
“This is no place for spells, boy, whoever you are,” he chastised Thor. “It is a place for battle. You defied our rules of fighting. You will think about what you have done. I will send you to a place of true danger, and we shall see how well your spells defend you there. Report to guard patrol at the Canyon.”
There was a gasp among the Legion, and they all quieted. Thor did not understand exactly what that meant, but he knew that whatever it was, it could not be good.
“You can’t send him to the Canyon!” Reece protested. “He is too new. He could get hurt.”
“I shall do whatever I choose to boy,” Kolk grimaced at Reece. “Your father is not here to protect you now. Or him. And I run this Legion. And you better mind your tongue—just because you are royalty, don’t think you can speak out of line again.”
“Fine,” Reece responded. “Then I shall join him!”
“As will I!” O’Connor chimed in, stepping forward.
Kolk looked them over, and slowly shook his head.
“Fools. That is your choice. Join him if you wish.”
Kolk turned and looked at Elden. “Don’t think you get off so easy, either,” he said to him. “You started this fight. You must pay the price, too. You will join them on patrol tonight.”
“But sire, you can’t send me to the Canyon!” Elden protested, eyes wide in fear. It was the first time Thor had seen him afraid of anything.
Kolk took a step forward, close to Elden, and raised his hands on his hips. “Can’t I?” he said. “Not only can I send you there— I can also send you away for good, out of this Legion, and to the farthest reaches of our kingdom, if you continue to talk back to me.”
Elden looked away, too flustered to respond.
“Anyone else want to join them?” Kolk called out.
The other boys, bigger and older and stronger, all looked away in fear. Thor gulped as he looked around at the nervous faces, and wondered just how bad the Canyon could be.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Thor walked along the well-trodden, dirt road, flanked by Reece, O’Connor and Elden. The four of them had barely said a word to each other since they left, still in shock. Thor looked over at Reece and O’Connor with a feeling of gratitude he had never known before. He could hardly believe that they had put themselves on the line for him like that. He felt that he had found true friends, more like brothers. He had no idea what lay in store for them at the Canyon, but whatever they should face, he was happy to h
ave them at his side.
Elden, he tried not to look at. He could see him, kicking rocks, smoldering with rage, could see how annoyed and upset he was to be here, on patrol with them. But Thor felt no pity for him. As Kolk had said, he had started the whole thing. It served him right.
The four of them, a ragtag group, proceeded down the road, following directions. They had been walking for hours, it was getting late in the afternoon, and Thor’s legs were growing weary. He was also hungry. Had been given only a small bowl of barley for lunch, and he hoped some food might be waiting for them wherever they were going.
But he had bigger worries than that. He looked down at his new armor, and knew that it would not have been given to him if there were not an important reason. Before sending them off, the four of them had been given new squire’s armor, leather, dressed in chainmail, given short swords of a course metal. It was hardly the fine iron used to forge a knight’s sword, but it was certainly better than nothing. It felt good to have a substantial weapon at his waist—in addition, of course, to his sling, which he still carried. Though he knew that if they were to encounter real trouble tonight, the weapons and armor they were given might not suffice. He longed for the superior armor and weapons of his cohorts in the Legion: medium and long swords of the finest metal, short spears, maces, daggers, halberds. But these belonged to the boys of fame and honor, from famous families, who could afford such a thing. This was not Thor, a simple shepherd’s son.
As they all marched down the interminable road, into the second sunset, far from the welcoming gates of King’s Court, towards the distant divide of the Canyon, Thor could not help but feel as if this were all his fault. For some reason, some of the other members of the Legion had seemed to not taking a liking to him, as if they resented his presence. It didn’t make any sense. And it gave him a sinking feeling. His whole life he had wanted nothing more than to join them. Now, he felt he had crashed into it by cheating, and he wondered if he would ever be truly accepted by his peers.
Now, on top of everything, he was singled out to be marched away for Canyon duty. It was unfair. He hadn’t started the fight, and when he had used his powers, whatever they were, it had not been on purpose. He still didn’t understand them, didn’t know where they came from, how he summoned them, or how to turn them off. He shouldn’t be punished for that.
Thor had no idea what Canyon duty meant, but from the looks of the others, clearly, it was not desirable. He wondered if he were being marched off to be killed, if this was their way of forcing him out of the Legion. He was determined not to give up.
“How much farther can the Canyon be?” O’Connor asked, breaking the silence.
“Not far enough,” answered Elden. “We wouldn’t be in this mess if it weren’t for Thor.”
“You started the fight, remember?” Reece interrupted.
“But I fought cleanly, and he did not,” Elden protested. “Besides, he deserved it.”
“Why?” Thor asked, wanting to know the answer that had been burning inside for a while. “Why did I deserve it?”
“Because you don’t belong here, with us. You stole your position in the Legion. The rest of us, we were picked. You fought your way in.”
“But isn’t that what the Legion is about? Fighting?” Reece answered. “I would argue that Thor deserves his spot more than any of us. We were merely picked. He struggled and fought to gain what was not given him.”
Elden shrugged, unimpressed.
“The rules are the rules. He was not picked. He shouldn’t be with us. That’s why I fought him.”
“Well, you are not going to make me go away,” Thor responded, shakiness in his voice, determined to be accepted.
“We’ll see about that,” Elden muttered darkly.
“And just what you mean by that?” O’Connor asked.
But Elden did not volunteer anymore; he continued walking silently. Thor’s stomach tightened. He couldn’t help but feel as if he had made too many enemies, and he did not understand why. He did not like the feeling.
“Don’t pay any attention to him,” Reece said to Thor, loudly enough to be heard. “You did nothing wrong. They sent you to Canyon duty because they see potential in you. They want to toughen you up. Or else they wouldn’t bother. You’re also on the radar because my father singled you out. That’s all.”
“But what is Canyon duty?” he asked.
Reece cleared his throat, looking anxious.
“I’ve never been on it myself. But I’ve heard stories. From some of the older kids, and from my brothers. It is patrol duty. But on the other side of the Canyon.”
“The other side?” O’Connor asked, terror in his voice.
“What do you mean the other side?” Thor asked, not understanding.
Reece studied him.
“Have you never been to the Canyon?”
Thor could feel the others looking at him, and he shook his head, self-conscious.
“You’re kidding,” Elden snapped.
“Really?” O’Connor pressed. “Not once in your life?”
Thor shook his head, reddening. “My father never took us anywhere. I’ve heard of it.”
“You’ve probably never been outside your village, boy,” Elden said. “Have you?”
Thor shrugged, silent. Was it that obvious?
“He hasn’t,” Elden added, incredulous. “Unbelievable.”
“Shut up,” Reece said. “Leave him alone. That doesn’t make you any better than him.”
Elden sneered at Reece and raised his hand briefly to his scabbard; but then relaxed it. Apparently, even though he was bigger than Reece, he didn’t seem to want to provoke the king’s son.
“The Canyon is the only thing keeping our kingdom of the Ring safe,” Reece explained. “Nothing else stands between us and the hordes of the world. If the savages of the Wilds were to breach it, we would all be finished. The entire Ring looks to us, the King’s men, to protect them. We have patrols guarding it all the time—mostly on this side, and occasionally, on the other. There is only one bridge across, only one way in or out, and the most elite of the Silver stand watch around-the-clock.”
Thor had heard of the Canyon his entire life, had heard horrifying stories of the evils that lurked on the other side, the massive evil empire that surrounded the Ring, and how close they all lived to terror. It was one of the reasons why he had wanted to join the King’s Legion: to help protect his family and his kingdom. He hated the idea that other men were out there, protecting him around-the-clock, while he lived comfortably in the arms of the kingdom. He wanted to do his service and help fight off the evil hordes. He could imagine nothing braver than those men who guarded the Canyon passageway.
“The Canyon is a mile wide, and surrounds the entire Ring,” Reece explained. “It is not easy to breach. But of course our men are not the only thing keeping the hordes at bay. There are millions of those creatures out there, and if they wanted to overrun this Canyon, by sheer force of will, they could in a moment. Our manpower only helps supplement the energy shield of the Canyon. The real power that keeps them at bay is the power of the Sword.”
Thor turned. “The Sword?”
Reece looked at him.
“The Destiny Sword. You know the legend?”
“This country rube probably never even heard of it,” Elden chimed in.
“Of course I know it,” Thor snapped back, defensive. Not only did he know it, but he had spent many days pondering the legend throughout his life. He had always wanted to see it. The fabled Destiny Sword, the magical sword whose energy protected the Ring, filled the Canyon with a potent force that protected the Ring from invaders.
“The sword lives in King’s Court?” Thor asked.
Reece nodded.
“It has lived amongst the royal family for generations. Without it, the kingdom would be nothing. The Ring would be overrun.”
“If we are protected, then why bother patrol the Canyon at all?” Thor asked.
> “The Sword only blocks the major threats,” Reece explained. “A small and isolated evil creature can slip in, here and there. That is why our men are needed. A single creature could cross the Canyon, or even a small group of them—they might be so bold as to try to cross the bridge, or they may act with stealth and climb down the Canyon walls on one end and up on the other. It is our job to keep them out. A single creature can cause a lot of damage. Years ago, one of them slipped in, and murdered half the children of a village before he was caught. The Sword does the bulk of the work, but we are an indispensable part.”
Thor took it all in, wondering. The Canyon seemed so grand, their duty so important, he could hardly believe that he would be part of this great purpose.
“But even with all that, I haven’t explained it very well,” Reece said. “There’s more to the Canyon than just that,” he said, then fell silent.
Thor looked at him and saw something like fear or wonder in his eyes.
“How can I explain it?” Reece said, clearly struggling. He cleared his throat. “The Canyon is far bigger than all of us. The Canyon is…”
“The Canyon is a place for men,” came a resounding voice.
They all turned at the sound of the voice, the sound of a horse.
Thor could not believe it. There, trotting up beside them, bedecked in full chainmail, with long gleaming weapons hanging over the side of his incredible horse, was Erec. He smiled down at them, keeping his eyes fixed on Thor.
Thor looked up, in shock.
“It is a place that will make you a man,” Erec added, “if you are not one already.”
Thor had not seen Erec since his jousting match, and felt so relieved at his presence, to have a real knight here with them as they headed for the Canyon—no less, Erec himself. He felt invincible having him, and prayed he was coming with them.
“What are you doing here?” Thor asked. “Are you accompanying us?” he asked, hoping he didn’t sound too eager.
Erec leaned back and laughed.