The Burning Bridge (2006) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

Summary edit see section history

Characters/People edit see section history

• Will: Will was orphaned as a baby and sent to Redmont Castle to live. He was slight of build and fairly short, all of these things bad since he wanted to be a warrior. But his skills seemed to lay somewhere else. He was swift of mind and body and was able to climb and hide with ease. All good traits for a Ranger. When he was apprenticed by the legendary Halt he had no idea what he had gotten himself into.
• Halt: Halt is a legend. His acts for the Ranger's Corps, in which he is an important member of, were monumental to the survival of the Kingdom of Araluen. His grim, cold manner made it so no one approached him. Only having one apprentice before, the young boy Will caught his eye. Halt discovered his skills and made Will his apprentice.
• Horace: Horace was orphaned at a young age but, unlike Will, he knew his parents briefly. They were both put into the same Ward with other orphaned children. His big build and other skills landed him in the position Will always wanted, Battleschool. Horace was a very kind, honorable and trusting young man unless you got him mad. His obvious skill for the sword was evident on his first days in the Battleschool.
• Gilan: Gilan
• Morgarath: Morgarath was the former Baron of Castle Gorlan, but after conspiring against the king he was banished to the Mountains of Rain and Night. Now he is plotting his revenge on all of those who put him back there. One of which is Halt the Ranger.
• Crowley: Crowley was the Ranger Corps Commandant (basically the leader of the Rangers). He is stationed at Castle Araluen where he can keep in touch with the King. He and Halt were dear friends and companions.
• Baron Arald: Arald was the Baron of Redmont Castle. Slightly overweight and cheery, his jokes often were considered as serious. A fact the bothered him completely. He was a skilled knight.
• Evanlyn: Princess Cassandra. She hid her identity so, if she was captured, she could not be used as a bargaining tool.
• Erak: The Jarl (captain) of a Skandian ship. He and his men joined Morgarath's army to get spoils from the war.
• Duncan: The king of Araluen.
• Rodney: Battlemaster at Redmont Fief
• Carney: A bandit.
• Montague: Master of Cobram Keep. He is an oaf and a fop who disrespects Redmont and claims to not owe any soldiers for the army.
• Lady Pauline: She is in charge of the Diplomatic corps at Redmont.
• Sir David: Gilan's father and the kingdom's Battlemaster.
• Bart: A bandit.
• Macneil (Mentioned only): Famous swordmaster.
• Alyss: Will's former Wardmate. A diplomat courier in training.
• Abelard: Halt's Horse
• Svengal: Skandian
• Foldar: Morgarath's second in command.
• Sir Vincent: Arulan Knight
• Chubb: Castle Redmont's cook
• Glendyss: A Celtic miner.
• Tug: Will's horse
• Horth (mentioned only): Leader of Scandian forces
• Nigel (mentioned only): Writes letters for Lady Pauline
• Dirk Reacher: Deserted Araluen army years ago and found a place with Morgarath.
• Olvak: Skandian
• Nordal: Skandian
• Tyler: A Baron

Quotes edit see section history

• “"Sarcasm isn't the lowest form of wit. It's not even wit at all".”

  Halt

• “"There's a big difference between shooting a target and shooting at a charging Wargal. A target isn't usually trying to kill you."”

  Halt

• “"Oh, I'm sure the King wouldn't be offended to hear that a lowly apprentice Ranger thought he was crazy," said Halt. "Kings usually love to hear that sort of thing."”

  Halt

• “"Well I'm way behind you!" he burst out. "What on earth are you talking about? You are speaking Araluen, aren't you, and not some strange foreign tongue that just sounds like it, but makes no sense at all?"”

  Will

• “"Gilan hesitated. "I wouldn't advise anyone to face a battleax with just two knives," he said carefully. "So what should I do?" Will joined in. Gilan glared from one boy to the other. He had the feeling he was being set up. "Shoot him," he said shortly. Will shook his head, grinning. "Can't," he said. "My bowstring's broken." "Then run and hide," said Gilan, between gritted teeth. "But there's a cliff," Horace pointed out. "A sheer drop behind him and an angry axman coming at him." "What do I do?" prompted Will. Gilan took a deep breath and lookd them both in the eye, one after the other. "Jump off the cliff. It'll be less messy that way."”

  Gilan, Will and Horace

• “"So I sent Halt to straighten matters out. Thought it might be a good idea to give him something to keep him busy." "So what's Digby got to complain about?" Rodney asked. It was obvious from his tone that he felt no sympathy for the recalcitrant commander of Barga Hold. The Baron gestured for Lady Pauline to explain. "Apparently," she said,"Halt threw him into the moat.”

  Baron Arald, Lady Pauline and Sir Rodney

• “"I wonder," she said. "Does this castle have a moat?" A group of servants were busy emptying the privy buckets into the moat when they were startled by a sudden drawn-out cry. They looked up in time see a scarlet-and-gold clad figure sail out of a first-story window, turn over once and then land with an enormus splash in the dark, rancid waters. They shrugged and went back to work.”

  Alyss

• “"You really miss him don't you?" The Ranger nodded. "More than I realized," he said. Alyss urged her horse close beside his and learned over to kiss him on the cheek. "That's for Will when you see him." A ghost of a smile touched Halt's face. "You'll understand if I don't pass it on in person?" he said. Alyss smiled and leaned over and kissed him again. "And that's for you, you jaded, bad-tempered old Ranger." A little surprised by her own impulsivness, she urged her horse ahead of him. Halt touched his cheek and looked at the slim blonde figure. If I were twenty years younger...he began. The he sighed and had to be honest with himself. Make that thirty years, he thought."”

  Halt and Alyss

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• “sarcasm isn’t the lowest form of wit. It’s not even wit at all.”

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• “The question is,” said Halt, glancing at Alyss, “what should we do with him?” She hesitated, then that wonderful smile spread over her face. “I wonder,” she said. “Does this castle have a moat?”

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• “Apparently,” she said, “Halt threw him into the moat.”

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• “Now, if you two will excuse us, we’ll get back to the relatively simple business of planning a war,”

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• Horace pointed out. “A sheer drop behind him and an angry axman coming at him.” “What do I do?” prompted Will. Gilan took a deep breath and looked them both in the eye, one after the other. “Jump off the cliff. It’ll be less messy that way.”

  Highlighted by 194 Kindle customers

• A group of servants were busy emptying the privy buckets into the moat when they were startled by a sudden drawn-out cry. They looked up in time to see a scarlet-and-gold-clad figure sail out of a first-story window, turn over once and then land with an enormous splash in the dark, rancid waters. They shrugged and went back to work.

  Highlighted by 188 Kindle customers

• When you can’t see the reason for something, look for the possible result—and ask yourself who might benefit from it.”

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• “There’s a big difference between shooting at a target and shooting at a charging Wargal. A target isn’t usually trying to kill you.”

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• I am the lord of Redmont Fief. He is my tenant. I am his commander. End of story. Ipso facto. Case-o closed-o.”

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• If I were twenty years younger… he began. Then he sighed and had to be honest with himself. Make that thirty years, he thought.

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Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Celtica
• Pordellath
• Nordal
• Araluen

Organizations edit see section history

• The Ranger Corps: An elite intelligence organization.
• Skandians: Mercenaries. A bear-like race.
• Wargals: Troll-like creatures who are servants of Morgarath.

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

• Fantasy series: Describe this theme.

Series & Lists edit see section history

Preceded by The Ruins of Gorlan, and followed by The Icebound Land.

Preceded by The Ruins of Gorlan, and followed by The Icebound Land.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. John Flanagan (Author)

Other Contributors:

1. Marikka Tamura (Designer)

First Edition edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: PZ7.F598284 Bu 2006 FT MEADE
• Dewey: 813.54

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Deals with war and the accompanying death and treachery, but as a fantasy, it's not disturbing.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Literature & Fiction › World Literature › Mythology › Children's Books
• Books › Children's Books › Literature › Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror › Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
• Books › Children's Books › Literature › Action & Adventure
• Books › Children's Books › Literature › Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths
• Books › Children's Books › Ages 9-12

Books with Additional Background Information edit see section history