Thus my characters can show traits and behaviour that may appear to be anachronisms. Will, Halt and Gilan are addicted to coffee, for example. This is because I am too and I sympathise with them when they wake up in a cold camp with no fire. An American reader wrote to me and queried the existence of coffee in mediaeval Europe. She suggested that herbal tea might be more historically correct. I agreed that the drink was unknown in Europe. But in my world, it had been around for over a hundred years.

Besides, I couldn’t imagine anyone saying “I’m like a bear in the morning until I’ve had my herbal tea.”

The same anomaly can be seen in the date on the maps. The year is 643 in my world. Yet in the real world it would be closer to the tenth or eleventh centuries.

So here’s some background on some of the main countries, races and characters in the series, along with comments on the real countries or people they might be based on. Click on the thumbnails down the side to see larger versions of the illustrations.

The Rangers are Araluen’s special forces troops, equivalent to the modern day SAS or Green Berets. They are Duncan’s Intelligence force. Each Ranger is an expert archer and knife thrower. They have also mastered the art of camouflage and unseen movement. They live by their wits and their courage, often going into situations where they are heavily outnumbered.

I’m occasionally asked if I borrowed the term Ranger from Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. In fact, I was influenced by the US Army’s World War II Rangers – the equivalent of the British Army’s commandos - and by the legendary Texas Rangers , a group of lawmen who originated the formula “One riot, one Ranger.” It’s a concept that seems to sum up the qualities and abilities of the Araluan Rangers.

A former baron of Araluen, Morgarath led an unsuccessful rebellion against the king and was driven into a barren, mountainous plateau in the south east of the country. At the time Book 1 commences, he is planning a revenge attack against the King of Araluen and his subjects.

Morgarath is evil personified. An expert warrior himself, he has recruited an army of half human, half bestial warriors called Wargals.

The Wargals were an ancient race of creatures who have become enslaved by Morgarath. They are fearsome warriors and are virtually fearless in battle. Only one thing can strike fear into the hearts of the Wargals.

Sometime enemies, sometime allies to Will and his friends, the Skandians are a seagoing race of warriors from a frozen northland. They raid the coast of Araluen and countries on the main continent, travelling in their fast Wolfships. The Skandians are big, noisy, enthusiastic warriors, fond of singing and drinking. Their weapon of choice is the battleaxe. Skandians make faithful friends and fearful enemies.

Obviously, the Skandians are based on the Vikings of our world. Although, as I mentioned on the map page, Skandia is a good deal further east than Skandinavia. Another point of difference lies in their horned helmets. Skandians wear them. Vikings didn’t.

Led by General Haz’Kam, the Temujai are a fierce race of mounted warriors from the Eastern steppes, which lie beyond the limits of our maps. Undefeated in battle, they are highly organised, courageous and dedicated fighters. Their aim is to conquer the continent and eventually, Araluen. To this end, they mount an invasion of Skandia.

The obvious inspiration for the Temujai are Ghengis Khan’s Mongol armies, which over ran Russia and parts of Europe. There’s a nod given to this resemblance in the fact that Genghis Khan’s given name was Temujin.

The Scotti

These are the untamed clans from north of the border with Picta. Fierce fighters, implacable enemies. With their tartan cloaks and kilts and their huge broadswords, it’s not too hard to see that the Scotti are based on the Highland clans of Scotland in our world. We meet them in Book 6.

To the south of the Constant Sea lies the land of Arrida. It’s a bare desert country and its dominant people are known as the Arridi. They are a sophisticated nation with well planned and comfortable towns and cities. The Arridi light cavalry rivals that of the Temujai in professionalism and skill. There are also the Bedulli, a tribe of desert nomads who remain proud and independent of the Arridi.

And there are the Tulaga – the Forgotten of God. These are bandits and assassins who roam the desert areas, rising up from time to time against the Arridi rulers. You’ll meet them all in the seventh book.

It’s pretty obvious that Arrida is based on North Africa and its people. The Constant Sea equates to the Mediterranean. Why the Constant Sea? Well, the Mediterranean is tideless, so in a way it’s unchanging – or constant.

Will

At the beginning of Book 1, Will is 15 years old and apprenticed to the Ranger Halt. He is, in fact, the Ranger’s Apprentice for whom the series is named. He’s small, agile, quick witted and inquisitive. And courageous. All of which are ideal qualities in a Ranger.

Halt

Will’s master and mentor. Halt is one of the greatest of all Rangers. An expert with the bow and the throwing knife, he is at first a grim humourless figure. Some years prior to the events described in Book 1, Halt and Crowley, acting on a request from the then Prince Duncan, were responsible for the reformation of the Ranger Corps, which had become indolent and corrupt. They made it into the potent force it is today. Crowley of course, is the Corps Commandant ad Halt’s oldest friend.

Baron Arald

Baron of Redmont Fief, good friend to Halt and senior adviser to the King, Arald is a loyal and brave Araluan* nobleman. He has a lively sense of humour and is fond of making jokes. Unfortunately, he’s usually the only one to appreciate them.

*(Note: In the Australian editions, Araluen is the country and the noun form. Araluan is the nationality and the adjective form. In the United States editions, we decided to simplify the terminology and use Araluen for both).

Horace

Initially Will’s sworn enemy, later becoming his best friend, Horace is a Warrior apprentice. He is tall and muscular and when he begins training he is quickly seen to have immense natural skill as a swordsman. His training and promotion are accelerated accordingly.

Horace’s courage and logical approach combine perfectly with Will’s quick witted ability to seize the initiative in any circumstance, making them a formidable team.

Evanlyn

The third member of the team, Evanlyn first appears in Book 2. She’s brave, resourceful, intelligent and worldly wise - an ideal addition to the group. There’s a secret about her, however, which I’ll leave for new readers to discover for themselves.

Erak

A Skandian Jarl, equivalent to an earl, Erak is also an experienced Skirl – the Skandian term for a ship’s captain. When we first meet Erak, he’s serving as a mercenary in Morgarath’s army, leading a small group of Skandians. He’s an enemy, but an honourable one.

Gilan

A young Ranger and a friend to Will. Gilan was also an apprentice of Halt’s. He is the only one among the rangers allowed to wear a sword. Growing up as the son of a Battlemaster, he had begin instruction in the sword before he was recruited to the Ranger Corps. He showed such extraordinary talent with the weapon than he was allowed to continue developing his skill.

He’s cheerful, capable and a good man to have on your side. I felt I had under-used Gilan. He makes a welcome return in the seventh book. At least, I welcome him. I hope readers do as well.

Obviously, in Books 5 and 6, there are new characters. But I’d be giving away too much of the plot if I described them here, as Book 5 is currently (Feb 2007) available only in Australia and Book 6 won’t be released here until May 2007.

Books 5 and 6 also see the return of a minor character from Book 1, who takes a more central role. But again, I can’t say who it is without giving too much away.

You’ll just have to wait.

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