SOLVED. YA Fantasy book about group of different aged males on an island, leader is dying, main character and another boy are oldest and struggle to be named new leader. Read in 1990s. Spoiler.

[Jenzilla]

I remember reading this book in the 90’s when I was a teenager though I have no idea when it might have been published. It was NOT Lord of the Flies.

It was about a group of males ranging in age from adult to small children who lived on an island. They had been there for generations. They had a leader who was dying. He was lying on a bed near a fire to be cared for, and was cruel. He would beat the boys. He was going to name a successor and the main character and another older boy struggle to gain the title.

I know they were given money to go get supplies occasionally, coins and specifically I remember Beryls being named. I think they went by boat to a mainland for the supplies. The main character struggled to play the role of a tough guy so he could be named successor but all he really wanted was to leave/gain his freedom. He does eventually get named new leader and figured out a way to take money/beryls and get away, I think leaving the boy he struggled with to take over.

[Jenzilla]

Nevermind, found it. The Wings of a Falcon by Cynthia Voigt