Will, an orphan who doesn't know anything about his family, desperately wants to join the Redmont Battleschool because his father was a knight. However, he isn't accepted by the Battlemaster because of his body size and strength. Sadly, none of the Craftmasters will accept him as an apprentice because Will just wasn't fit for any of the crafts. However, Halt the Ranger gives a note to Baron Arald that says that he wants Will to be his apprentice. At first, the Baron questions Halt, but after Will slips into the Baron's room to look at the note, the Baron decides that Will could actually become a Ranger because of Will's skill to move around without being noticed. With no other choice then to be a Ranger apprentice, Will starts learning the ways of the Rangers. At first, as Halt's apprentice, Will does all the housekeeping and cooking. Then, after a while, Halt starts to teach Will the ways of the Rangers, and slowly, Will becomes accustomed with the weapons that Rangers use, as well as the ways that Rangers live.