Sacrifice

Author's Note: It's never easy to follow the path that contains sacrifice. However, it sometimes hurts more to not take that path at all. Learn how this fact is contained in the story The Icebound Land, by John Flanagan.

If you had a choice of having a life of peace and plenty or risking your life to save a friend so close he feels like a brother which would you choose? In the book the Icebound Land (John Flanagan) many people take the chance at having their friends back rather than a peaceful life. An apprentice ranger named Will, a close friend to many, is captured by ruthless warriors. While those close to him are forbidden to go look for him most ignore that option. Sacrifice was the solution to many problems in this story.

One problem that was a major part of the story was the fact that Halt was bound by honor to stay and do the bidding of the king instead of going off to search for Will. The solution to this problem was that Halt had to be banished from the kingdom. By doing this he would have no honor binding him to do the pitiful tasks that the king needed done. However, banishment would mean giving up his life as a ranger and destroying everything that he has worked on in his lifetime. Halt decides that this boy is worth more than all of it and takes his chances getting banished and chasing after Will.

While Halt’s solution of sacrificing much of his own life Will’s solution for saving Evanlyn includes the same, if not larger, amount of threat towards his life. Will has taken a vow to protect the innocent girl that he found on his journey before being captured. When Will finds out of Evanlyn’s royal blood and that their captors’ leader, who rules with an iron fist, has sworn to end any and all royalty he knows keeping her safe means he has to give everything. When they are forced to work among other slaves Will takes the mighty blow of the life threatening labor leaving her with the safest chores. The only way for Will to survive his injuries during these jobs is to take a vile drug that amputates the mind, destroys memories, and makes the person a mindless walking drone.

While Will’s life threatening solution is very courageous, another solution of courage is made by Horace, Will’s closest friend. Horace’s problem is the fact that he has been driven mad by grief at the loss of his friend. He chooses to embark on a quest to save Will by traveling with Halt. By choosing to travel with Halt he puts his own life at risk. While Halt is trained in the art of stealth to sneak past many obstacles Horace is often left behind by Halt and is taking the hammering blow of the obstacles.

The best solutions for characters in this story are by means of sacrifice. They have decided that the aura of happiness that their friend carried about him is more important than a peaceful life. The thought of hearing the unsynchronized laughter of the conversations they had is something they want to hear again. Their lives contain no happiness without this person and they must have him back.