Ferris O'Carrick was the King of Clonmel and the younger twin brother of Halt. He tried to kill Halt at least three times when they were younger, by way of poisoned shrimp, falling roof slates, and drowning. Halt's parents turned a blind eye to his behavior, possibly because they felt bad that he would not be king because his bright attitude compared to his grim-faced older brother Halt. Only Caitlyn, Ferris' and Halt's sister, saw his treachery. He assumed the throne of Clonmel after Halt left the kingdom.
The Kings of Clonmel[]
Ferris was rightfully surprised and slightly disoriented upon his older brother's arrival. He had originally refused Halt's plea for help, until Horace lured Ferris into his robing room and knocked him unconscious. Halt then impersonated Ferris and publicly denounced Tennyson and his ways. Ferris resumed his role as king afterwards, but not for long. Tennyson had him killed by a Genovesan assassin during the tournament between Horace and two of his henchmen. Ferris had changed his ways once he'd woken up and resumed his place as king, denouncing Tennyson which, for the first time, made him popular with the people of Clonmel.
Appearance[]
King Ferris was identical to Halt, but their lifestyles had given them different appearances. Ferris wore his hair long and pulled back from his face by a braided leather band which served as his crown. He wore a short mustache and a goatee. His hair was dyed to make his appearance seem younger. He was slightly overweight and had filled in cheeks. He also could not hold anyone's gaze for more than a few seconds.
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King Ferris on the cover of the Kings of Clonmel
Actions[]
Ferris had essentially sold out his people to Tennyson and the Outsiders by the time Halt O'Carrick, Horace Altman, and Will Treaty arrive. He has trouble making decisions when presented with the Sunrise Warrior (played by Horace) as an alternative to the cult but decides he is more afraid of them than he is of his brother. Halt is powerless to change his mind so Horace attacks him and he is replaced by Halt for an afternoon. By the time he recovers it is too late to turn back.
Resigned to his fate he attends the duel at the end of the book, but is killed during the chaos at the end by a Genovesan assassin. He is succeeded by his nephew Sean O'Carrick. Ferris was ultimately avenged by Will after he killed Tennyson.
Personality[]
Ferris is shown as an incredibly selfish and greedy person. He wants power and riches, and is also incapable of leading. He is so worried that other kings will try to overthrow him, that he misses the big threat. He is also a truly evil man, seeing as how he tried to kill his own brother just because he wanted to be king. In his final moments, however, he showed that there was some good in him, supporting Will claim's and repeatedly standing up to Tennyson.
Ferris, despite his attempts of Halt's life, seems to feel some family connections to his nephew Sean, son of his younger sister, Caitlyn, who was, incidentally, the only one to know of Ferris's attempts on Halt's life, Halt having trusted her. Though not mentioned, Caitlyn's feelings for Ferris might have darkened after he forced Halt out of Clonmel after attempting to assassinate him. However, though unconfirmed, it is possible Ferris might have taken Sean in after Caitlyn died, potentially out of regret for being the cause of or never attempting to end the possibly hostility that may have simmered between the two after Halt's departure.
- ↑ In The Kings of Clonmel, Halt says: “When we were sixteen, [Ferris] tried to poison me” (pg 130). The next murder attempt, this time poison, was “six months later” (pg 131). And the final attempt, drowning, happened “a year after” (pg 131). Halt later adds to this in The Tournament at Gorlan, stating he “had spent several months traveling through Hibernia” (pg 16) afterwards. Thus, a full two years have passed by time he meets Crowley, making him eighteen at the time. Counting back from 627, when The Hibernian/The Tournament at Gorlan take place, we land at 609.