Slaves of Socorro

Slaves of Socorro is the fourth instalment in the Brotherband novel series by Australian author John Flanagan. It was released on 1 May 2014 in Australia, 2 May 2014 in New Zealand, and 15 July 2014 in the United States.

Synopsis

Hal and the rest of the herons have returned to Hallasholm where they have been awarded for returning the Andomal. Thorn is beginning to find love in Karina, and Hal finds himself a new companion in a dog named Kloof. All of the Herons have also started helping convert some of the Skandian ships to the newer, faster model Hal designed. However, Erak feels the group is getting too comfortable and decides on a new mission for the Herons.

Hal and his brotherband are dispatched to Araluen to serve as the Skandian coast guardians for 8 months' time. Their primary missions will be to help stop smuggling, occasionally stop raiding, patrol the coastlines, and provide transport for emergency messages for the king. On their way to Araluen though, they come across a ship that is sinking. It has been attacked by pirates. Hal and the Herons agree to help the ship, but they are soon shocked when they learn that Tursgud and his renegade crew are the pirates that tried to sink them. The Herons hope they will never see him, but they worry about the image the renegade will cause their country.

The Herons soon arrive in Araluen where their fellow countrymen inform them all their housing and food will be taken care of. They also tell them not to expect too many missions for King Duncan as they've had one in the eight months they've been there. However, a message in a mysterious cloak arrives less than a week into their stay. The Ranger Gilan has come needing them to travel to Castle Araluen for a mission from the king.

Before the Herons and Gilan can depart though, the headman of a nearby village comes to the Skandian camp from a nearby village. A group of pirates have kidnapped 12 Araluens and are planning on selling them as slaves. When the Herons learn the wolfship being used was either a dark blue or black, they realise it is Tursgud and his crew. The Herons set out in pursuit, hoping to capture and sink Tursgud before he can escape Araluen. However, Tursgud had bought or found a map through waters that had dangerous coral and rocks, which nearly sunk the Heron.

Rather than try to pursue him on the open sea, Hal, Gilan, and the rest of the Herons set sail for Socorro, home of the nearby slave market. On the way they make some changes to the ship, knowing that Tursgud would recognise it if they didn't. Lydia and Gilan are also sent into the city to scout a way for them to rescue the kidnapped Araluens. After members of the crew look around Hal decides to pretend to sell Invagar so that they can see the type of security in the slave market. Once there they find out that Invgar must stay there to be sold as a slave as those are the rules. Invgar convinces Hal that he'll be fine and that the others can rescue him with the 12 Araluens. Hal agrees and leaves and goes back to the ship.

The next day, Gilan and Lydia set fire to a market, distracting the soldiers as they try to put out the fire. Hal, along with Stig, Jesper, and Thorn, storm the slave market and rescue Ingvar and the rest of the Araluens before taking off in the Heron. Tursgud tries to follow them, but Hal had attached a heavy rope to Tursgud's ship, which causes Tursgud's ship to sink.

References

External links

• Slaves of Socorro at Random House Australia
• Slaves of Socorro at Random House New Zealand
• Slaves of Socorro at Penguin Group (USA)