Lygos - the island of Gloam

Story I'm thinking of takes place mostly on an island sane folks avoid. The Midnight Isle is supposedly riddled with monsters and demons, as well as an actual dragon. Sea captains plot courses to avoid ever coming within sight of the cursed place. No one has ever been there and returned to tell the tale. Zjordin and Poke are two teen-age boys on their way to academy. Zjordin is a noble brat, third son of Duke Phylos. Poke is a commoner, the only son of Huck and Delana Thatcher. Each boy was tested and found to have extreme potential in the magic arts. Duke Phylos had to pay, while the Thatchers were given a scholarship for Poke as well as recompense for the work he'd miss while away at school.