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1. Describe the opening of the novel.

The novel opens as the aged Monk Derfel describes how he is writing the tales of Arthur for Queen Igraine of Powys, the benefactor of his monastery. He works under the pretense of preparing a Saxon language Gospel, so that Sansum, Arthur's enemy, will not find out.

2. Describe the baby that is born at the start of the novel.

Mordred is the heir to Uther. His birth is engineered by Uther to keep the family line going after Uther's son, the first Mordred, is killed. The second Mordred has a minor deformity, but, as he is male, it is overlooked.

3. Describe the religious focus of Chapter 2.

The second chapter is dense with background information on Merlin's hereditary realm, Ynys Wydryn, also known as Avalon and the Thorn, on the coming to Britain of the Roman legions and, in their wake, Christianity, and the ongoing struggle of faiths. It is clear that restoring the right religion tot he area will be a key theme of the book.

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