John Flanagan - The Battle for Skandia

I think this is one of the greatest books in the series. I wasn't very sure about buying it, but decided to anyway. What a great buy it was! The Battle for Skandia (2008) is the fourth fantasy novel in the Ranger's Apprentice series, following The Icebound Land. In the previous volume, Will and Evanlyn escape from Ragnak's hall and flee into the mountains. They stay in a small cabin awaiting winter's end. Halt and Horace leave Montsombre and head toward the reopened passes to Skandia.

In this novel, Will is an apprentice Ranger from Araluen. He is just now recovering from his addiction to warmweed in a cabin within the foothills. The weather is thawing and they can soon leave Skandia.

Evanlyn Wheeler is an Araluen woman who is using a false name. She is really the Princess Cassandra, the daughter of King Duncan of Araluen. She is glad that Will is throwing off his addiction, but cautions him to take it easy for a while.

Halt is a full Ranger, dangerous and feared. He is searching for Will and Evanlyn. He has been accompanied by Horace and is slowly becoming used to his incessant questions.

Horace is Will's friend and a knight trainee. He is very good with sword and lance, seeming to be a natural armsman. But he is not very accomplished in politics and intrigue.

Erak Starfollower is a Skandian Jarl and captain of the raider ship Wolfwind. He has brought Will and Evanlyn back to Skandia and gave them to Overjarl Ragnak as slaves. Later, Erak helped Will and Evanlyn to escape.

In this story, Evanlyn goes out to check the snares while Will stays behind to rest. A Temujai scout captures her and takes her back to his camp. Will wakes and realizes that Evanlyn has been gone far too long.

Will writes a message to tell her to stay at the cabin if she returns and then leaves to follow her trail. He takes much longer reach the first snare than Evanlyn did, having to rest fairly often. When he finally arrives, he reads the signs and starts following the trail. After a long and exhausting walk, he reaches the Temujai camp.

After checking out the security and noticing Evanlyn, Will decides to go take a nap. He is not going to be able to rescue her while he is so tired. And he only has a hunting bow and a small knife as weapons against six armed Temujai warriors.

The next day, the Temujai leader decides to dispose of Evanlyn. As he strides over to the girl while drawing his sword, Will steps out into plain view and shoots him in the wrist. Then the other warriors run toward him with weapons in hand.

Meanwhile, Halt and Horace have reached the border of Skandia and find the border guards dead from Temujai arrows. They follow the smaller band that enters Skandia and comes upon the camp just as Will is shooting the leader.

Halt quickly shoots some of the Temujai and Horace captures the one who attempts to kill Evanlyn. Two others escape. Then the Araluen and their captive quickly ride away from the campsite.

This tale brings the Araluens together with Erak on the trail. The Skandians had been tracking the Temujai and ambushes the Araluens. Then Halt explains the coming invasion. Erak declares a truce and goes with Halt to scout the invader.

Needless to say, Erak makes a very bad scout. He sounds like a bear walking through the woods. And his horsemanship is poor at best.

This novel confronts the Skandians with an overwhelming invasion by the Temujai. Halt decides to help them stop the invaders. The next volume is The Sorcerer of the North. Read and enjoy!

Highly recommended for Flanagan fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of edged combat, military tactics, and a courageous princess.