When Vyvian du Lac dies, Morgen le Fay-mysteriously bereft of magic-is transported to the forest of Brocéliande. Her daughter Llachlyn flees jealous Queen Mawra to her cousin Sir Gawain's home, dragging Gawain and Hwyfar back into the politics of Carelon. Merlin's darkest prophecy looms, and the battle for Arthur's legacy has just begun?

“The first born of Arthur will bring his end.”

When the high priestess Vyvian du Lac dies, Morgen le Fay—acolyte to the priestess, midwife to queens, apprentice to Merlin—is left mysteriously bereft of magic. She finds herself transported to the wild, ancient forest of Brocéliande, which she must cross—and survive—to save Carelon from disaster. And death itself, it seems, is close on her heels.

Morgen’s daughter Llachlyn, her cousin Sir Galahad and their friend, the squire Percival, share a vision of the mysterious graal. Mawra—Arthur’s jealous, spiteful queen, with ambitions on the graal of her own—threatens to send Llachlyn to a nunnery, but with Galahad’s help she and Percival escape north to her cousin Sir Gawain’s home.

Gawain and Hwyfar, who have spent ten peaceful years away from court in a forbidden marriage, are now swept back into the secrets, lies and politics of Carelon. Merlin’s darkest prophecy looms, the Council of Nine – Morgen’s secret council of sorceresses – is broken, and the battle for Arthur’s legacy has just begun…