PHILOMELBOOKS
A division of Penguin Young Readers Group.
Published by The Penguin Group.
Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014, U.S.A.
Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.).
Penguin Books Ltd, 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England.
Penguin Ireland, 25 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd).
Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd).
Penguin Books India Pvt Ltd, 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi—110 017, India.
Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, Auckland 0632, New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd).
Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd, 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa.
Penguin Books Ltd, Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England.
ISBN: 978-1-101-57779-0
Copyright © 2011 by John Flanagan. All rights reserved.
This story originally appeared in Ranger’s Apprentice: The Lost Stories, 2011.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, Philomel Books, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group, 345 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014.
Philomel Books, Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law.
Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
Published simultaneously in Canada. Printed in the United States of America.
Edited by Michael Green. Design by Amy Wu.
DEATH OF A HERO
A Ranger’s Apprentice Lost Story
J OHN F LANAGAN
P HILOMEL B OOKS ANIMPRINTOFPENGUINGROUP ( USA ) INC .
Also by John Flanagan:
T HE R ANGER’S A PPRENTICE E PIC
B OOK 1: T HE R UINS OF G ORLAN
B OOK 2: T HE B URNING B RIDGE
B OOK 3: T HE I CEBOUND L AND
B OOK 4: T HE B ATTLE FOR S KANDIA
B OOK 5: T HE S ORCERER OF THE N ORTH
B OOK 6: T HE S IEGE OF M ACINDAW
B OOK 7: E RAK’S R ANSOM
B OOK 8: T HE K INGS OF C LONMEL
B OOK 9: H ALT’S P ERIL
B OOK 10: T HE E MPEROR OF N IHON- J A
T HE L OST S TORIES
T HE B ROTHERBAND C HRONICLES
B OOK 1: T HE O UTCASTS
B OOK 2: T HE I NVADERS (MAY 2012)
1
I T HAD BEEN A LONG, HARD THREE DAYS.
Will had been on a tour of the villages surrounding Castle Redmont. It was something he did on a regular basis, keeping in touch with the villagers and their headmen, keeping track of the everyday goings-on. Sometimes, he had learned, little pieces of gossip, seemingly trivial at the time, could become useful in heading off future trouble and friction within the fief.
It was part of being a Ranger. Information, no matter how unimportant it might seem at first glance, was a Ranger’s lifeblood.
Now, late in the afternoon, as he rode wearily up to the cabin set among the trees, he was surprised to see lights in the windows and the silhouette of someone sitting on the small verandah.
Surprise turned to pleasure when he recognized Halt. These days Will’s mentor was an infrequent visitor to the cabin, spending most of his time in the rooms provided for him and Lady Pauline in the castle.
Will swung down from the saddle and stretched his tired muscles gratefully.
“Hullo,” he said. “What brings you here? I hope you’ve got the coffee on.”
“Coffee’s ready,” Halt replied. “Tend to your horse and then join me. I need to talk to you.” His voice sounded strained.
Curiosity piqued, Will led Tug to the stable behind the cabin,
A division of Penguin Young Readers Group.
Published by The Penguin Group.
Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014, U.S.A.
Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.).
Penguin Books Ltd, 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England.
Penguin Ireland, 25 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd).
Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd).
Penguin Books India Pvt Ltd, 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi—110 017, India.
Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, Auckland 0632, New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd).
Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd, 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa.
Penguin Books Ltd, Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England.
ISBN: 978-1-101-57779-0
Copyright © 2011 by John Flanagan. All rights reserved.
This story originally appeared in Ranger’s Apprentice: The Lost Stories, 2011.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, Philomel Books, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group, 345 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014.
Philomel Books, Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law.
Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
Published simultaneously in Canada. Printed in the United States of America.
Edited by Michael Green. Design by Amy Wu.
DEATH OF A HERO
A Ranger’s Apprentice Lost Story
J OHN F LANAGAN
P HILOMEL B OOKS ANIMPRINTOFPENGUINGROUP ( USA ) INC .
Also by John Flanagan:
T HE R ANGER’S A PPRENTICE E PIC
B OOK 1: T HE R UINS OF G ORLAN
B OOK 2: T HE B URNING B RIDGE
B OOK 3: T HE I CEBOUND L AND
B OOK 4: T HE B ATTLE FOR S KANDIA
B OOK 5: T HE S ORCERER OF THE N ORTH
B OOK 6: T HE S IEGE OF M ACINDAW
B OOK 7: E RAK’S R ANSOM
B OOK 8: T HE K INGS OF C LONMEL
B OOK 9: H ALT’S P ERIL
B OOK 10: T HE E MPEROR OF N IHON- J A
T HE L OST S TORIES
T HE B ROTHERBAND C HRONICLES
B OOK 1: T HE O UTCASTS
B OOK 2: T HE I NVADERS (MAY 2012)
1
I T HAD BEEN A LONG, HARD THREE DAYS.
Will had been on a tour of the villages surrounding Castle Redmont. It was something he did on a regular basis, keeping in touch with the villagers and their headmen, keeping track of the everyday goings-on. Sometimes, he had learned, little pieces of gossip, seemingly trivial at the time, could become useful in heading off future trouble and friction within the fief.
It was part of being a Ranger. Information, no matter how unimportant it might seem at first glance, was a Ranger’s lifeblood.
Now, late in the afternoon, as he rode wearily up to the cabin set among the trees, he was surprised to see lights in the windows and the silhouette of someone sitting on the small verandah.
Surprise turned to pleasure when he recognized Halt. These days Will’s mentor was an infrequent visitor to the cabin, spending most of his time in the rooms provided for him and Lady Pauline in the castle.
Will swung down from the saddle and stretched his tired muscles gratefully.
“Hullo,” he said. “What brings you here? I hope you’ve got the coffee on.”
“Coffee’s ready,” Halt replied. “Tend to your horse and then join me. I need to talk to you.” His voice sounded strained.
Curiosity piqued, Will led Tug to the stable behind the cabin,
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