Despite overwhelming numbers, the Temujai do not expect an attack and the sentries are lax. The Temujai force is so great that Hal fears the entire Temujai nation is within striking distance of Hallasholm. Meanwhile, Hal and Lydia have found the Temujai camp and its size shocks them. However, the attack fails disastrously, resulting in the deaths of Ka'zhak and the rest of the troop apart from En'tak, who rides, shattered and devastated from the sight of his best friend and troops demises, back to the Temujai camp alone. Meanwhile, a Temujai patrol spots the Heron, and plans a dawn attack, its leader, En'tak, having been a Ulan leader during the recent Battle at Fort Ragnak who's troop had been decimated by the Skandians and who had been demoted to the position of lowly patrol command with his best friend and deputy commander, Ka'zhak. They scout the east bank, travelling north and east. Hal and Lydia do exactly that, leaving the Heron and her crew beached on the east bank. Hal sets up camp on the deserted island, planning to scout the east bank at night to find the Temujai camp. They are also equally surprised to find Temujai have arrived in the area already and are patrolling the east bank. Once past the rapids, Hal and his crew are surprised to find that the river opens up to a large lake, with an island in the middle. The portages are on the west bank of the river, on the Skandian side of the border.
Hal sails the Heron up the river, and portages 3 times, each time beaching her, hauling her up a slope, and then floating her once again. Ships must be beached and then carried on the shore past the rapids, in maneuvers called portages.
The Ice River is treacherous, and at 3 separate points, cannot be navigated by ship. Erak is concerned that the unexplored river may have potential muster points for a Temujai army, and even a pass or a fjord that will allow the Temujai to access Skandia's coastal plain, where it's ships and cities are located. It is this context, that Erak commands Hal to sail up the Ice River, an unexplored mountain river on the northern border. Access to the Stormwhite would allow the Temujai to invade less warlike nations, like Gallica and Teutlandt, and acquire vessels from the hireable fleet of Sonderland. Because of this, Erak reasons they will continue to attack Skandia, even if they are unable to secure a fleet. The nomadic and aggressive state of the Temujai is such that they must continually be in a state of warfare, otherwise their unity and purpose would crumble. After their defeat at Fort Ragnak, Erak believes that the Temujai will attempt to invade using a different route. Hal and Erak analyze the recent assault on Fort Ragnak back in Hallasholm. The Temujai withdraw the next day, and the Heron Brotherband returns to Hallasholm. The Temujai attack the fort, but without siege equipment and facing disciplined archer fire, the attack is doomed to fail.
Construction of the giant crossbows commences, and Lydia scouting reveals that a Temujai war party is in the area. The Heron Brotherband arrives without issue. Hal intends to shore up defenses at the fort by installing two Manglers on the slopes of Fort Ragnak, as well as reconnoiter the surrounding countryside using Lydia Demarek's stealth and tracking skills. They are on a mission for Erak Starfollower, Oberjarl of Skandia, who has, in recent months, become concerned with probing Temujai attacks on the fort and feels that another Temujai invasion may occur soon. The story begins with Hal and the Heron brotherband traveling overland to Fort Ragnak, the fort which guards the Serpent's Pass, one of the few land entrances to Skandia from the lands the Eastern Riders hold sway. The book is split into two parts: Fort Ragnak and Ice River. Hal and his crew will have to brave the treacherous icy river and rapids to stop them, no matter the cost.Ĭlimb aboard with the Herons in Return of the Temujai the exciting eighth installment of the Brotherband Chronicles! The Temujai-ruthless warriors from the Eastern Steppes-have never given up on their ambition to claim Skandia for their own.and now they're on the move. The Herons are home in Skandia, but the usually peaceful country is in danger. The Herons take to the high seas in the action-packed eighth installment of the Brotherband Chronicles, Brotherband: Return of the Temujai from John Flanagan, author of the internationally bestselling Ranger's Apprentice series!
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