The Kings of Clonmel
 |
| File:The Kings of Clonmel.jpg Second Australian edition cover of The Kings of Clonmel | |
| Author | John Flanagan |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | Ranger's Apprentice (Book no. 8) |
| Genre | Fantasy, Adventure |
| Publisher | Random House (Aus) |
Publication date | 4 November 2008 (Aus) 18 May 2010 (US) |
| Publication place |  Australia |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 403 |
| ISBN | 978-1-86471-911-6 |
| OCLC | 260231394 |
| A823.4 | |
| Preceded by | Erak's Ransom |
| Followed by | Halt's Peril |
The Kings of Clonmel is the eighth novel in the Ranger's Apprentice series by Australian author John Flanagan. It was released in Australia on 4 November 2008.
Plot summary
While at the annual Rangers' Gathering, series protagonist Will is informed by Ranger Commandant Crowley that Ranger Halt will not be able to attend the Gathering as he is investigating things in Hibernia, a country to the west of Araluen. The Outsiders, a mysterious religious cult, is gaining followers and stealing gold and jewels. Halt is watching the group, who are acting in Selsey, a small Araluen village. The cult demands gold to build an altar to their god to protect the village and tries to set the village's boats on fire to persuade them into donating more gold. Halt stops their plan and also discovers that the golden altar is a fake. Rather than being solid gold, it is wooden and gold-plated; the cult has been keeping the gold for themselves.
When Halt captures the Outsiders' Selsey leader, he becomes puzzled; the leader recognises him though Halt is sure they have never met. Back at the Ranger's Gathering, Crowley asks Will to take care of three apprentices for a while and tells Will that he is being moved to Redmont Fief to share half the Ranger duties there with Halt. Redmont Fief is where Will grew up, and where his girlfriend, the diplomat Alyss, and Halt's wife Pauline also live. Will rides to the fief, where he is greeted by a feast made by his childhood friend and cook, Jenny. Halt arrives back in Redmont and tells of what he has seen. Halt reveals the secret of his past; he is the identical twin brother of the King of Clonmel, Ferris. Halt was born first, meaning he was the heir to the throne. He fled Clonmel and joined the Ranger Corps after Ferris repeatedly tried to kill him to obtain the crown for himself. Halt believes the Outsiders leader recognised him as he thought he was Ferris. Crowley assigns Will, Halt, and the knight Horace to investigate the matter in Clonmel.
The group investigates the Outsiders in Clonmel and works on destroying their influence in Clonmel. When King Ferris tells them he made a deal with the Outsiders, he is knocked out by Horace, and Halt takes the king's place. The Outsiders' leader, Tennyson, is angry, and challenges Horace to duel his two bodyguards. Horace accepts. Meanwhile, Will is investigating a camp, and he sees that Tennyson has recruited three foreign assassins. He tells Horace and Halt this, and Halt is expecting treachery from Tennyson. The duel proceeds, with Horace barely winning against the chain and mace used by the first bodyguard. Horace is then drugged by the assassins, causing him to be unable to unable to focus on objects. Will shoots the second Genovesan in the arm, after which he manages to accuse Tennyson. Tennyson escapes, though not before killing King Ferris. Halt is pronounced the new king, though abdicates the throne to his nephew, Sean, who he believes will be a worthy king. Halt, Will and Horace follow Tennyson's trail to Picta.