Ranger's Apprentice - The Sorcerer in the North Quiz

Answer: A wounded dog

The black and white border shepherd dog has a large gash down one side. Will treats her wound, stitches the gash closed and finds a space on top of his pack horse to take her with him. She is now part of the team. He finds out later that she was mistreated and abandoned by one John (sometimes Jack) Buttle, a local ruffian.

Answer: He invites them to dinner

The Skandians have not had a successful raiding season but the island is ill-prepared to fight them off. Will negotiates with them by himself and, learning that they are short of supplies for over-wintering on Skorghijl, they agree to leave peacefully in exchange for some supplies. Will also invites them to a banquet at the castle.

Answer: Giving him to the Skandians as a slave

Buttle comes for the dog armed with a spear. He overhears Alyss telling Will of the secret mission so Will has to deal with Buttle more permanently. Selling slaves is illegal in Araluen so he gives him to the Skandians as a way of keeping him from revealing Will's mission to the locals.

Answer: He goes as a jongleur (wandering minstrel)

Will's mission initially requires him to be able to gather information on an apparent problem with a sorcerer. To do that he needs people to speak to him, something that they are too scared to do with the Fief's existing ranger. Going as a musician allows him to gain their confidence and get some leads towards solving the mystery.

Answer: By message pigeon

Alyss brought a pigeon handler with her. A pigeon would return to its home base with its message. After resting for a few days, it is able to remember the return route back to its handler and so can provide long-distance two-way communication.

Answer: A projected image onto mist

Will and Alyss go out during the day to investigate Will's night-time experiences in the wood. Alyss uses Will's tracking expertise to find an area of scorched grass and surmises that the Night Warrior is created by a light, a lens and a cut-out figure. The shadow of the cut-out figure is projected onto the mist. It is revealed later that the Warrior's voice is projected through hidden speaking tubes.

Answer: He escaped after the Skandian ship was damaged during a storm

The wolfship ran into a storm which eventually drove them on to a reef where the keel of the ship was broken. The skirl (Skandian ship's captain) had Buttle's bonds cut to give him a chance of surviving the expected sinking. The ship struggled on into a river mouth. When near safety, Buttle killed two of the crew and swam to shore, making his escape.

Answer: He wants help escaping from the castle

Orman had worked out that Will is a ranger. He also realises that he has been poisoned and is in great danger if he remains at the castle for much longer. He seeks Will's help to get him out of the castle and to take him to the former healer and suspected sorcerer Malkallam for medical help.

Answer: Using a very strong acid

After the healer Malcolm (renamed by locals as Malkallam the sorcerer) saves Orman, Will is determined to return to the castle to rescue Alyss. When he learns that there are vertical iron bars across the window, he decides to use a file to cut his way through. Malcolm offers him the acid instead as a much quicker solution. The acid works but unfortunately they are interrupted before it has eaten its way through the bars and so the escape attempt fails.

Answer: She is hypnotised

During the first interrogation Keren produces a strange blue stone which he plays with whilst questioning her. He draws her attention to it and she finds it fascinating. In the second interrogation he explains that it helps him to mesmerise her so that she will be unable to refrain from answering his questions. This proves to be the case.