Vagabond is the second book in the Grail series by Cornwell. It picks up after the final battle in The Archer's Tale.

Thomas, an archer in the English army, is searching for the Holy Grail. He's not sure if he believes it exists, and his friend and traveling companion, Father Hobbes, keeps reminding him of the promise he made to his dying father which involved another holy relic.

Most of France is under siege by the English and it's not safe to be traveling for Thomas, Father Hobbes, and Eleanor, Thomas's soon to be wife. They run into a band of English soldiers who are very interested in the treasure he is seeking. He soon finds himself back in an archer line and, during the battle, both Father Hobbes and Eleanor are killed by another group seeking the Grail. Wrought with grief, he finds new determination. He plans on hunting down the ruthless murderers and exacting revenge for Eleanor's life.

I liked The Archer's Tale, the first in the series, but didn't get into it much. Vagabond moved much faster for me and I began liking Thomas instead of feeling sorry for him. There was still a lot to feel sorry for, but he becomes stronger and more determined which made him much more likable.

It's a true quest book. Thomas is forever walking somewhere and somehow always seems to find himself in an archer line. He gets closer to the Grail with each fight and deals with an enormous amount a guilt along the way. People around him constantly die and you expect him to give up at any moment.

It's a violent story. The life of an archer and man-at-arms is not clean, fun, or healthy but it makes for good reading. Cornwell has a way of clearly and very realistically describing battles, sword fights, and the damage an English bow can do. It's not for the squeamish.

The second book of the Grail Series is better than the first book in my opinion. I enjoyed revisiting characters introduced in the first book. His ability to develop small twists to a character and give them human frailty makes the story more and more believable, I also like how he sets the mood of a scene with small comments of a village scene as the characters start a new venture. The descriptions are great the twists in the story riveting. I read this story in 4 days, not wanting it to end. I want to lay my hands on the last book as soon as I can. ( )

Thomas has been sent on a quest for the Grail that supposedly was in his father's family's possession and we meet him again on his way to Durham where he is due to talk to an old monk. But the Scots are raiding in the north of England and other people are making their way to Brother Collimore - so Thomas fights for the English and contributes to the unexpected English victory but his fellow travellers fare less well. He leaves Durham seeking revenge, and is joined by young Robbie whose brother was killed by same people as Thomas's friends - they travel south before crossing over to France where Thomas makes plans to help his friends, is tortured and once healed, takes part in a battle that is unlikely to turn right for the English. ( )

O Andarilho - A Busca do Graal 2. Guerras, sangue, batalhas: tudo muito bem descrito.

With this second book in the series, I'm finding more and more to enjoy and savor. Thomas faces new enemies (Father Bernard, and Sir Geoffrey the "Scarecrow") and makes a new friend, Robbie Douglas, a hot-headed Scot. Mordecai, a very interesting and likeable secondary character from book one, that I really like, makes an appearance in this book and continues to add to the overall enjoyment.

The story opens with the battle of Neville's Cross in northern England when a small English force defeats a much larger force of Scots under King David II, again because of the presence of English archers. The story ends back at Le Roche-Derrien in France where Thomas has once again encountered Jeannette, and helps defeat the French/Breton forces.

The scene involving Thomas' torture by a Dominican inquistitor is hard to endure, but later the Dominican gets his comeuppance and that is most satisfactory. ( )