Quick recap
Sixteen years later, Will is grieving Alyss, killed in an inn fire set by the gang leader Jory Ruhl, and can think only of revenge. Halt suggests he take on an apprentice to pull himself out of it. The pick is Princess Madelyn, Horace and Cassandra's daughter, who can't stand royal life: Maddie becomes the first female Ranger's apprentice. The two look into a Ranger's death and uncover a ring that kidnaps children using the legend of the Stealer in the Night. Will learns the Stealer is Ruhl. While Maddie frees the children, Will is captured and tied up to be burned, but she rescues him, and Ruhl dies. Six months later, Maddie earns her bronze oakleaf and turns down becoming a princess again.
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