The protagonist and hero of the story is Will, age 15, who wants desperately to be a knight to honor his father but is simply too small for Battleschool. Instead, for his quick mind and physical adeptness, he’s chosen by Halt to learn the secret arts of the Rangers, who serve the king behind enemy lines and as enforcers of the law. Will thrives on his training. He proves his worth during a boar hunt, where he saves the life of his friend Horace, and again later, when he saves Baron Arald, Halt, and Sir Rodney by killing the deadly Kalkara.

Will journeys from a doubtful, uncertain boy to a determined, skilled warrior. His dream of knighthood transforms into the reality of an honorable career as a Ranger. In the process, Will discovers himself to be a good and courageous person who’s found his calling and a life that’s better than he ever dreamed.

Halt oversees the Rangers, the highly trained intelligence and subversion force, and he teaches Will how to be a Ranger. He is described as having hair and a beard that are “short and dark, but peppered with steel gray flecks” (49). Though “grim and taciturn” (190), Halt is perceptive, wise, and a good taskmaster.