On a mission to pay the ransom of a new ally, apprentice Will and his friends find themselves in a desert wasteland awash with enemies.

Hal, his Brotherband crew, and the Ranger Gilan have freed the twelve Araluens sold into slavery. Returning to Araluen, Gilan is given a new mission by King Duncan: protect his daughter's life. Princess Cassandra has survived one attempt on her life already, and now whispers of a second attempt have reached the kingdom. A deadly sect known as the Scorpion Cult is thought to be behind the assassination threat.

In this prequel to the Ranger's Apprentice series, Halt and Crowley travel north seeking Prince Duncan's royal warrant to stop Morgrath from corrupting the Corps, but if they are to prevent a coup that is nearing success, the young Rangers will have to tread a dangerous path toward the annual tournament at Gorlan.

Hal and the Herons celebrate their victory in the Brotherband competition only to be wrongly blamed for the theft of a sacred artifact that they must risk their lives to reclaim.

Maddie, Will Treaty's fearless young apprentice, aided by Hal, Thorn, and the rest of the Heron Brotherband, tries to rescue her mother, Princess Cassandra, who is trapped in Castle Araluen.