SOLVED. Old book involving slave boys and a girl named Beryl? [s]

[Taylor]

I read a novel about 7 years ago, one which was rather old. The tale starts off with boys being worked to death/slaved on an island. The first part of the book is about how one boy can survive more whip lashes than any of the others, and he "befriends" (it's more of a strong master and grateful servant relationship) another boy whose name is something like Gryffin/Grifin. The escape the island and travel around growing up and towards the end of the book, the stronger of the two was married/marrying a woman named Beryl (I think) but he dies so Gryffin/Grifin marries/takes care of her and raises the other guys child. It was difficult to read because of the wording style, so I'm thinking it was written pre-1900s. Any help would be appreciated!

[Rebecca]

This sounds like The Wings of a Falcon by Cynthia Voigt.

The following is from a review of that book:

(view spoiler)[When I read this at a young age I had no idea that it was part of a series, and actually this information isn’t necessary. Standing alone it is a great hero story of a young man and his close friend, Oriel and Griff, who must survive the cruel harsh world around them. They begin on an island as part of a group of young male slaves to an unruly master called the Damall. The other children look up to Oriel, and eventually the Damall picks him as his successor. Taking part of the Damall’s treasure, a green beryl with a falcon engraved on it, Oriel and Griff leave the island when the Damall grows ill and passes. They make their way to a small town where they become saltwellers, and try to begin a new life. The town is split between alliances to different earls (represented by the color they wear) but the wolfers, an unruly tribe of bandits, threaten the town. Oriel and Griff convince the town that it would be better to stand together and fight as one than sheepishly concede in fear. The wolfers capture Oriel and Griff, and the leader of the group begins to take a liking to Oriel’s courageousness. The group leader takes him to the wolfer’s base camp, where he offers his loot to his cruel chief. The leader is not impressed with their haul, so sends the group out to the north with Griff and Oriel in tow. Eventually Griff and Oriel cleverly dispatch of the wolfers, but are stuck in the cold harsh winter around them. An old man saves them, and points them to the path through the mountains. When they make it through the pass, they are again stuck from the sheer lack of energy and cannot go on. This time a young woman living on her own, named Beryl, takes them in and nurses them back to health. She also teaches them her trade, puppeteering, and takes them to the yearly festival held at the nearby large settlement. When they discover there is a life and death competition for the earldom, Oriel decides he will train and compete. He becomes the top contender, and on the day of the competition convinces the rest of the combatents to concede. One contender though decides he would rather have the thrown for himself, and kills Oriel. Griff must take Oriel’s place, and serve as Earl.
(hide spoiler)]

This series is written in a fairly medeival-style as well.

[Kate]

Hi Taylor, was The Wings of A falcon your book? I wasn't sure if you moved this to Solved, or if someone else did.

[Taylor]

that was it! Thanks for your help~