Fearing for the life of his nephew Arthur when an assassination attempt goes awry, Merlyn Britannicus takes his young charge to embark on a journey that will take them to the ruins of a long-abandoned Roman fort -- far from Camulod and the only place where Merlyn feels they will be safe. It is there that Merlyn will enlist the help of a close-knit group of friends to help Arthur learn the skills of a warrior and the tough lessons of justice, honor, and the responsibilities of leadership. Arthur is just a boy, but the day is not far off when he will claim the sword that is his birthright: Excalibur.

But how can Merlyn prepare young Arthur to be a ruler of men if he continues to train him in isolation? Does the advantage of taking him back to the world out-weigh the threat to his life from those who would stop at nothing to see him dead? The life of young Arthur Pendragon is at a crossroads for new forces are rising to threaten the tenuous peace the countryside.

In the end Merlyn must decideto risk the dream -- and the life of his young charge -- if a united Britain is ever to be made real.