A Quest of Heroes Read Free

his father, and nearly burst out of his skin as the soldier approached.
    The soldier stopped, for the first time, before his brothers. He looked them up and down, and seemed impressed. He reached out, grabbed one of their scabbards and yanked it, as if to test how firm it was.
    He broke into a smile.
    “You haven’t yet used your sword in battle, have you?” he asked Drake.
    Thor saw Drake nervous for the first time in his life. He swallowed.
    “No, my liege. But I’ve used it many times in practice, and I hope to—”
    “In practice !”
    The soldier roared in laughter and turned to the other soldiers, who joined in, laughing in Drake’s face.
    Drake turned bright red. It was the first time Thor had ever seen Drake embarrassed—usually, it was Drake embarrassing others.
    “Well then I shall certainly tell our enemies to fear you—you who wields your sword in practice !”
    The crowd of soldiers laughed again.
    The soldier then turned to his other brothers.
    “Three boys from the same stock,” he said, rubbing the stubble on his chin. “That can be useful. You’re all a good size. Untested, though. You’ll need much training if you are to make the cut.”
    He paused.
    “I suppose we can find room.”
    He nodded towards the rear wagon.
    “Get in, and be quick of it. Before I change my mind.”
    Thor’s three brothers sprinted for the carriage, beaming. Thor noticed his father beaming, too.
    But he was crestfallen as he watched them go.
    The soldier turned and moved on to the next home. Thor could stand it no longer.
    “Sire!” Thor yelled out.
    His father turned and glared at him, but Thor no longer cared.
    The soldier stopped, his back to him, and slowly turned.
    Thor took two steps forward, his heart beating, and stuck out his chest as far as he could.
    “You haven’t considered me, sire,” he said.
    The soldier, startled, looked Thor up and down as if he were a joke.
    “Haven’t I?” he asked, and burst into laughter.
    His men burst into laughter, too. But Thor didn’t care. This was his moment. It was now or never.
    “I want to join the Legion!” Thor said.
    The soldier turned and stepped towards Thor.
    “Do you now?”
    He looked amused.
    “And have you even reached your fourteenth year?”
    “I did, sire. Two weeks ago.”
    “ Two weeks ago !”
    The soldier shrieked with laughter, as did the men behind them.
    “In that case, our enemies shall surely quiver at the sight of you.”
    Thor felt himself burning with indignity. He had to do something. He couldn’t let it end like this. The soldier turned his back to walk away—but Thor could not allow it.
    Thor stepped forward and screamed: “Sire! You are making a mistake!”
    A horrified gasp spread through the crowd, as the soldier stopped and slowly turned.
    Now, he was scowling.
    “Stupid boy,” his father said, grabbing Thor by his shoulder, “go back inside!”
    “I shall not!” Thor yelled, shaking off his father’s grip.
    The soldier stepped towards Thor, and his father backed away.
    “Do you know the punishment for insulting the Silver?” the soldier snapped.
    Thor’s heart pounded, but he knew he could not back down.
    “Please forgive him, sire,” his father said. “He’s a young child and—”
    “I’m not speaking to you,” the soldier said. With a withering look, he forced his father to look away.
    He turned back to Thor.
    “Answer me!” he said.
    Thor swallowed, unable to speak. This was not how he saw it going in his head.
    “To insult the Silver is to insult the King himself,” Thor said meekly, reciting what he’d learned from memory.
    “Yes,” the soldier said. “Which means I can give you forty lashes if I choose.”
    “I mean no insult, sire,” Thor said. “I just want to be picked. Please. I’ve dreamt of this my entire life. Please. Let me join you.”
    The soldier stood there, and slowly, his expression softened. After a long while, he shook his head.
    “You’re young, boy. You have a