Whyte, Jack

Threats against the life of young Arthur Pendragon have forced Caius Merlyn Brittanicus to take him away from Camulod. They make their home in a long-abandoned Roman fort called Mediobogdum. As Arthur grows, Merlyn can see the day when he will wield the sword Excalibur and become the legendary King Arthur of Britain. With Arthur now in his teens, Merlyn realizes that time will be soon and they must return to Camulod so Arthur can complete his training. There is great unrest in the land and Merlyn knows that soon Camulod must be defended against its enemies.

After an unsuccessful assassination attempt on the boy Arthur Pendragon, Merlyn Britannicus takes him to the port town of Ravenglass to seek sanctuary so the boy can grow up. They move to a long-abandoned Roman fort, Mediobogdum, near to the town, and there Merlyn continues to teach Arthur about justice, honor, leadership, and his Christian faith.

The complete story of Uther, Caius Merlyn Britannicus' cousin and best friend, which was begun in The Eagles Brood, but never fully developed since the emphasis in that book was on Caius' early years.

Clothar, the son of a Frankish lordling, flees for his life after his family is destroyed. His journey brings him to the new High King of Britain, Arthur Pendragon, and together they build a dream that might be too perfect to last.

Chronicles the events of Clothar the Frank's life in the aftermath of his meeting and befriending Arthur Pendragon, High King of all Britain in the fifth century.

Before the time of Arthur and Camelot, Britain was invaded by Rome and savaged by warring factions of Picts, Celts, and invading Saxons. The Roman citizens who lived there were faced with a choice once the Roman Legions left in the fourth century: to be killed or move to the continent. For Publius Varrus and his friend, Caius Britannicus, there is only one answer. They will stay and try to preserve what is best of Roman life. Unknowingly, they create a legend for they are King Arthur's great-grandfathers.

The saga continues for the colony known as Camulod and the descendants of those brave Romans who forged a new way of life for the Roman peoples when the legions departed Britain. Colony leader Caius Merlyn Britannicus is responsible for their safety and together with his cousin, Uther Pendragon, the man who will father the legendary King Arthur, the colony knows few enemies until a vicious crime is committed and a wedge is driven between the two cousins that could be fatal.

As the the Dark Ages begin for Roman Britain, King Arthur's great-grandfather, Publius Varrus, and his British-born wife, Luceiia, struggle to build a crude hill-fort which they hope will help people survive these times. Known as Camulod, it will develop into Camelot. Publius has also crafted a one-of-a-kind sword called Excalibur, which will one day belong to his great-grandson, King Arthur.

The fourth installment in Whyte's retelling of the Arthurian legend follows the efforts of Caius Merlyn Britannicus as he attempts to prepare the young Arthur for his role as king and continues to keep the colony of Camulod healthy and thriving. Merlyn also notices that new people, Angles and Saxons, are beginning to colonize Britain and he worries about the future of the Roman-Britons.