Tournament at Gorlan / John Flanagan.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

From John Flanagan, author of the worldwide bestselling Ranger's Apprentice--the first in a new prequel series featuring one of our favorite Rangers, Halt!

When Halt and Crowley discover that the ambitious Morgarath has been infiltrating the Rangers in order to corrupt the Corps, the young Rangers travel north to find Prince Duncan, seeking a royal warrant to stop Morgarath before it is too late. By weakening the Rangers, the most powerful force in support of the King, Morgarath plans to steal the throne.

Yet when Halt and Crowley arrive in Gorlan, they discover just how close Morgarath's scheme is to success. Morgarath has a plan to discredit the Prince and alienate him from his father. At the same time, the Baron of Gorlan has been conspiring to win the trust and admiration of the Council of Barons to further his plan. If the young Rangers are to prevent the coup from succeeding, they will have to tread a dangerous path, which leads them to a thrilling climax at the annual tournament at Gorlan, where a series of bitter duels must be fought and won.

This origin story brings readers to a time before Will was an apprentice, and lays the groundwork for the epic battles that will culminate with The Ruins of Gorlan and The Burning Bridge --Books 1 and 2 of the Ranger's Apprentice series.

Praise for the New York Times bestselling Tournament at Gorlan

* "Action and intrigue, great characters, and a properly scary villain make this book an absolute necessity for any library. With appeal for both boys and girls, libraries can anticipate a waiting list for this title and great anticipation for the sequel."- School Library Connection , starred review

"Flanagan's familiar mix of action, humor, and cliff-hanger endings will have fans and newbies hooked."- School Library Journal