Ranger's Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan Quiz

Answer: Slipsunder

"Then Lord Northolt, the old king's supreme army commander, had rallied some of the younger barons into a loyal confederation, giving strength to [King] Duncan's resolve and stiffening the wavering courage of others. The armies had met at Hackham Heath, close by the Slipsunder River, and the battle swayed in the balance for five hours, with attack and counterattack and massive loss of life. The Slipsunder was a shallow river, but its treacherous reaches of quicksand and soft mud had formed an impassable barrier, protecting Morgarath's right flank."

Note: I really do think that name sounds like "slip under", don't you?

Answer: Improve

"George nodded several times, considering Will's statement. 'On the other hand,' he added, ' a little nervousness can actually improve performance. It can heighten your perceptions and sharpen your reactions. So, the fact that you are worried, if, in fact, you are, is not something necessarily something to be worried about, of itself--so to speak.'"

Note: I suppose George would know. He's the one who stutters and mumbles during the Choosing.

Answer: Willpower

"The Baron felt for the young lad in that moment. He could see the tears welling up in those lively brown eyes, held back only by infinite determination. Willpower, he thought abstractly, recognizing the play on the boy's name."

Answer: 31

"Will couldn't believe that such a small and seemingly neat cottage could generate so much cleaning and general maintenance. After he had filled the water barrel with fresh river water (thirty-one buckets full), he chopped wood from a stack of logs behind the cabin, piling the split firewood into a neat stack. He swept out the cabin, then, after Halt decided that the rug on the living room floor needed a beating, he rolled it up, carried it outside and draped it over a rope slung between two trees, beating it savagely so that clouds of dust flew from it."

Note: Makes your chores at home sound easy now, doesn't it?

Answer: Intelligent

"'An intelligent force?' said Will.
'Not intelligent.' [said Halt] 'Intelligence. Although it does help if your intelligence force is also intelligent. Intelligence is knowledge of what your enemies, or your potential enemies, are up to. What they're planning. What they're thinking. If you know that sort of thing in advance, you can usually come up with a plan to stop them. That's why he [King Herbert] founded the Rangers--to keep the kingdom informed. To act as the eyes and ears of the kingdom.'"

Note: There is a real part of the US Armed Forces called Rangers. My friend's brother is one.

Answer: The Temujai

"'It's called a recurve bow,' said Halt, sensing his [Will's] puzzlement. 'You're not strong enough to handle a full longbow yet, so the double curve will give you extra arrow speed and power, with a lower draw weight. I learned how to make one from the Temujai.'
'Who are the Temujai?' asked Will, looking up from the strange bow.
'Fierce fighting men from the east,' said Halt. 'And probably the world's finest archers.'"

Answer: Eats an apple like one

"The old horse handler nodded his head in pleasure. 'I'll be glad of the company, Ranger. Sometimes I spend so much time with the horses that I start to think I'm one myself.' Unconsciously, he dipped a hand into the apple barrel and selected one, absentmindedly crunching into it--much as Tug had done a few minutes earlier. Halt watched him, one eyebrow raised."

Answer: Do you mind?

"Bob screwed up his eyes, pretending his couldn't remeber. Then his face cleared.
'Oh, yes, I recall!' he said. 'This 'un here, he needs to be asked, "Do you mind?" afore you get on his back.'"

Note: 'Permettez moi' is what you had to say to Halt's horse Abelard. That's Gallic for 'Will you allow me?' You have to tell Gilan's horse Blaze 'Brown Eyes'.

Answer: Jenny

"'Maybe you'd better ask your grandmother if she'll teach you to ride,' he [Will] said, straight-faced. George and Alyss managed to hide their smiles but, unfortunately, it was Jenny who couldn't stop the small giggle that escaped her.
In an instant, Horace scrambled to his feet, his face dark with rage. He looked around, saw a fallen branch from the apple tree and grabbed it, brandishing it over his head as he rushed at Tug."

Note: This is "unfortunate" because Horace likes Jenny (likes, likes Jenny)

Answer: Willowtree Creek

"'What are you doing here?' Halt asked. 'You're not a local, are you?'
The farmer, anxious to please, shook his head once again.
'Come over from Willowtree Creek, I do!' he said. 'Been trailing that porker and hoping to find someone as could turn him into bacon.'"

Note: The "porker" Salt Peter is talking about is the wild boar that was running around the countryside.

Answer: Halt

"Halt's heavy-shafted, long arrow was almost buried in its [the boar's] side, driven there by the full power of the Ranger's mighty longbow. He'd struck the charging monster right behind the left shoulder, driving the head of the arrow into and through the pig's massive heart.
A perfect shot."

Note: Archery is a cool sport. I, myself, shoot a longbow and my brother shoots a recurve.

Answer: Second

"He [Will] had just set the bow down, preparatory to recovering his arrows, when the sound of a footstep behind him made him turn. He was a little surprised to see three Battleschool apprentices watching him, their red surcoats marking them as second-year trainees."

Note: This is the set of trainees that were bullying Horace throughout the book. They go after Will after the boar hunt.

Answer: Think

"'But I thought...,' he [Will] began and instantly realized his mistake. Halt and Gilan looked at him, then looked at each other and said in chorus:
'You're an apprentice. You're not ready to think.'"

Note: Well I think, don't you? :-)

Answer: Ragnak

"'There's a war coming,' he [Halt] went on. 'That much is already obvious. The Wargals are on the move and we've heard Morgarath has been in contact with Ragnak.' He saw the puzzled expression flit across Will's face. Gilan, he knew, understood who Ragnak was. 'Ragnak is the Oberjarl, or supreme lord, if you like, of the Skandians--the sea wolves.'"

Note: The Skandians play a much bigger role in the second and third books of this series.

Answer: Silver

"'Bronze is the apprentice color,' Halt told him [Will]. 'When you finish your learning, you'll receive a silver oak leaf like this one [Halt's]. We all were them in the Ranger Corps, either silver or bronze.'"

Did you find out if you were paying attention or not? Well, either way, I hope you enjoyed my quiz! Keep looking out for my soon to come quizzes on "The Burning Bridge" and "The Icebound Land".