Summary

The novel begins in medias res with Merlin unconscious in a ditch. A boy helps him up, and Merlin begins questioning him about the night before. It is revealed that Merlin, the illegitimate son of the deceased High King Abrosius, had helped his uncle High King Uther Pendragon disguise himself and sleep with Countess Ygraine, wife of Count Gorlois. Uther begged Merlin to use his “magic” to deceive everyone so he could get into Tintagel unnoticed. There was a skirmish, though, and Gorlois was killed in action. Merlin agreed to take the blame for the entire trick if Uther agreed to let him raise the child resulting from the union. He saw, in a vision, the son born of the union would be a great leader for England. So Merlin went to his home Bryn Myrrden, a cave, to heal and wait for the...