Book 1, Chapter 4 Summary

Merlin's life begins to settle down in chapter four. Calmach does not offer him favor. Yet he finds a way not to need his protection. On one of his forays under the house, he hears his cousin Dinias and some boys bragging about a sexual encounter they had witnessed between Camlach's friend Alun and a servant girl.

When Dinias approaches Merlin to bully him, Merlin tells him some words he heard. This serves to make Dinias and the other children afraid of his 'seeing ability' and to leave him alone afterwards. This time, though, it was just blackmail on Merlin's part.

Six months after the visit of Gorlan, Calmach begins to push that Merlin be taught to read and write. Calmach is relieved to see that Lady Niniane seems content not to marry and wishes to retire to the St. Peters...