A Feast of Dragons - By Morgan Rice Page 0,56

great danger.

“Man the boats and move!” Kolk commanded.

They all ran for the small rowboats, which were rocking wildly in the waters on shore, and one at a time they piled in, each boat holding about a dozen boys. Thor piled in, Krohn beside him, next to Reese, O’Connor, Elden and the twins, each sitting on a bench and grabbing an oar.

Before they pushed off, Thor looked to see William standing on shore, fear in his eyes. Thor had actually been surprised that William had made it this far, expecting him to drop out every step of the way. But now, this final exercise must have been too much for him.

“I said get in that boat!” Kolk yelled, hurrying up to him, the last boy left on the beach.

William stared back, wide-eyed.

“I’m sorry, sir, but I can’t do it,” he said meekly.

Thor sat there, his boat rocking wildly, and his heart dropped for William. He did not want to see him go—not after all they’d been through.

“I’m not going to tell you again,” Kolk warned. “You don’t get in that boat now, you’re out of the Legion. Everything you’ve done will be for nothing. Forever.”

William stood there and shook his head.

“I’m sorry,” William said. “I wish I could. This is one thing I cannot do.”

“I can’t do it either,” came a voice.

Thor looked over, and saw another boy, one of the older ones, jump out of one of the other boats, and stand on shore. They both stood there on the sand, their heads down in shame.

Kolk sneered, grabbed each from behind and shoved them forward, away from the other boys. Thor felt terrible for them. He knew they would be put on the small boat and sent back to the Ring, and carry that stigmatism with them for the rest of their lives.

Before Thor could think of it too deeply, the Legion’s commanders came up behind each boat, and gave each a strong shove, pushing it into the sea. Thor felt his boat moving under him, and moments later he was taking up his oar, with the others.

The churning of the sea grew stronger as they went, and soon they were far from shore, stuck in strong tides, pulling them towards the dragon’s isle.

As they neared it, Thor tried to get a better view, but it was constantly obscured by the mist clinging to its shores.

“I hear the dragon that lives there eats a man a day for breakfast,” O’Connor said.

“Of course they would save something like this for the final day,” Elden said. “Just when we thought we were getting out of here.”

Reese looked at the horizon.

“I’ve heard stories of this place from my brothers,” he said. “The power of the dragon is unfathomable. There is no way we could all defeat it head-on, even together. We just have to hope we tread carefully and don’t rouse him. The island is big enough, and he may be sleeping. All we have to do is survive the day.”

“And what are the chances of that?” O’Connor asked.

Reese shrugged.

“I heard that not all boys survived in years past,” he said. “But enough did.”

Thor’s anxiety increased as the tides picked up, pulling them towards the island. The rowing got easier, and soon he could make out the distinct outline of its shores, comprised of red rocks of infinite shape and size, shining, glowing, as if they were on fire. They sparkled in the light, like a beach of rubies. He had never seen anything like it.

“Orethist,” Conval said, looking at the rocks. “Legend has it that if you give one to someone you love, it will save their life.”

Moments later their boat landed on shore, and Thor jumped out with Krohn and the others, pulling it up all the way on the rocks. Their feet crunched all around him, boys looked down and picked up the glowing red rocks.

Thor did the same. He grabbed one and held it up, examining it. It sparkled, like a rare jewel in the morning light. He closed his palm and closed his eyes, and a breeze arose as he concentrated. He could feel the rock’s power throbbing through his body. Conval was right: this was a magical stone.

He saw the others boys pocketing as many rocks as they could hold, as mementos, and Thor took one and tucked it deep into his pocket. One was enough for him. He didn’t need one for himself, and there was only one person he wanted to give one, too: Gwendolyn.