Product Description
Follow the Brotherband in a battle against an Iberian pirate raiding ship in the latest exciting tale in the Brotherband Chronicles from John Flanagan, author of the internationally bestselling Ranger's Apprentice series!
The Herons are home in Skandia—preparing to celebrate two of their own and working on sea trials in the newly constructed Heron. But during a short excursion, they encounter an Iberian pirate ship raiding the coast of Sonderland, so Hal and his crew take action.
Though the Herons quickly triumph, the Iberians voice their fury at the Herons, vowing to take revenge. And soon they do—raiding the harbor and stealing or destroying as many ships as they can. Though there is little proof the Iberians are behind it, the Herons take their ship, the only one that has survived the raid—and race after their enemy in hot pursuit. They will take down these pirates and get justice—no matter what.
Climb aboard with the Herons in The Stern Chase, the exciting ninth installment of the Brotherband Chronicles!
About the Author
John Flanagan (www.WorldofJohnFlanagan.com) grew up in Sydney, Australia, hoping to be an author. And after a successful career in advertising and television, he began writing a series of short stories for his son, Michael, in order to encourage him to read. Those stories would eventually become The Ruins of Gorlan, Book 1 of the Ranger's Apprentice epic. Together with his companion series, the Brotherband Chronicles, the novels of John Flanagan have sold millions of copies and made readers of kids the world over. Mr. Flanagan lives in the suburb of Mosman, Australia, with his wife. In addition to their son, they have two grown daughters and four grandsons.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Hal smiled to himself as the Heron cut smoothly through the water, rising and falling gracefully; swooping over the small, even waves and sending showers of spray high into the air on either side of her bows as she sliced down into the troughs.
It was good to feel the slight vibration in the tiller and the surge of the deck under his feet once more. He and his crew had spent the winter building this new Heron, and he was enjoying being back at sea, and in command.
They were off the Sonderland coast, well to the west of Hallasholm, carrying out final sea trials on the new ship.
"She's definitely faster than the old Heron," he commented to Stig, who was standing close by, keeping an eye on the taut curve of the sail.
His first mate smiled. "That's only to be expected," he said. "She's two meters longer on the waterline."
Hal nodded. The extra length would make the ship faster through the water. But he had also had time to experiment with the cut of the sails-to shape them and reinforce them with extra seams so they formed a smoother, more efficient curve when the wind filled them. In addition, he had increased the height of the mast and yardarms, so the new ship carried more sail than the old.
All in all, he thought, it was a good result. But there was one thing that bothered him slightly, and that was one of the reasons they had put to sea-to test the new ship under a variety of conditions and see if she would deliver maximum performance.
"Coming about!" he called to Ulf and Wulf, who were crouched amidships by the sheets and halyards that controlled the sails.
Wulf signaled that they had heard him and were ready.
"Tack!" he called, putting the helm over and swinging the ship into the eye of the wind.
The twins brought the current sail down to the deck and hoisted its opposite number as the ship turned.
There, thought Hal, sensing a slight hesitation as the bow came around. But she had enough speed and momentum to carry her through the maneuver, and within seconds, the new sail had filled with a dull, booming sound and was driving her firmly on the opposite tack, the slight hesitation left behind. But, still, he thought, it had been there. He had first sensed
