The Ruins of Gorlan

Morgarath, an exiled baron, wants revenge on the Kingdom of Araluen. On Choosing Day, 15-year-old orphan Will is passed over for Battleschool and apprenticed instead to Halt, the Ranger of Redmont Fief. Horace, his wardmate, is bullied at Battleschool until he saves Will from a wild boar and turns the tables on his tormentors. Morgarath sends two Kalkara, beast assassins, after the Rangers. Halt and Will track them to the Ruins of Gorlan. Baron Arald and Sir Rodney are badly hurt in the fight, and Will brings one beast down with a flaming arrow. He comes home a hero and receives his bronze oakleaf. Alyss kisses him, and Araluen prepares for war.

1. Behind the scenesStories for his son

   Flanagan wrote Will's first adventures week by week for his son Michael, who didn't like reading. About ten years later, he found them again and turned them into this novel.

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2. Behind the scenesSmall on purpose

   Will was based on Michael: short, agile and quick. Flanagan made his hero small to show his son that size can be an advantage too.

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3. ReferenceHorace was the villain

   In the original stories, Horace, based on Michael's friend Jeremy, was the villain. In the novel he became a lead, and Flanagan added the bully-gets-bullied storyline at Battleschool.

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4. SetupThe war comes later

   The book ends with Araluen getting ready for war against Morgarath's army. That threat carries into the next book.

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