The Sorcerer of the North

Now a full Ranger, Will is given his own fief, Seacliff, where he settles a Skandian raid with food and drink instead of a fight. Then he gets a secret mission: find out who the sorcerer of Grimsdell Wood is, the one threatening Castle Macindaw. Disguised as a jongleur, he investigates, and Alyss joins him. Suspicion falls on Orman, the castle's acting lord, and Halt sends Horace to help. When Orman falls ill, Will searches for Malcolm, a former healer, and finds his home in the woods. In the end, Orman's cousin Keren is revealed as the traitor: he seizes the castle and captures Alyss, and Will barely escapes.

1. Behind the scenesIn or of the North

   In Australia the book is The Sorcerer in the North. In the U.S. it's The Sorcerer of the North.

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2. Behind the scenesHonored in Australia

   It was a Children's Book Council of Australia Notable Book, like books 1 and 2.

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3. ReferenceAlyss in the field

   Alyss, Will's childhood friend from The Ruins of Gorlan, joins the mission. Will goes undercover as a jongleur.

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4. SetupHalf a story

   The book ends on a cliffhanger. The story picks up directly in The Siege of Macindaw.

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