Book request: The book starts on an island of orphans, I believe. The two main characters, both boys, find a stone that marks one as the next king, I believe it was either a falcon or an eagle marked stone/gem. They escape the island and travel through the world (the book included a map, they traveled from the southernmost point on the map up the west side through the mountains and across to the northeast where a kingdom was found). After both nearly die in the mountains they find their way to a kingdom, the future-king child presents the stone and enters into a tournament to win the hand of a beautiful woman (princess maybe), and succeeds but is stabbed in the back by her lover and dies. the second character, who up until then had been the narrator, suddenly becomes the next king.

Matching book description: There was something different about him. He had no name. He showed no emotion, never yielded. And Griff had always stood by him. Even in this place where cruelty and betrayals were the way of life. So when he decides to escape, he takes Griff with him. Their journey has no known destination, and no purpose except to make their way through life's chances. There was something different about him. He had no name. He showed no emotion, never yielded. And Griff had always stood by him. Even in this place where cruelty and betrayals were the way of life. So when he decides to escape, he takes Griff with him. Their journey has no known destination, and no purpose except to make their way through life's chances. ...more