The Once and Future King Book 1, Chapter 22

King Pellinore arrives with big news: King Uther Pendragon is dead, and he has no children to take his place. A sword has appeared outside a church, stuck in an anvil which is placed on top of a stone. The sword passes through the anvil into the stone, and written on it are the words, "Whoso pulleth Out This Sword of This Stone and Anvil, is Rightwise King Born of All England." Book 1, Chapter 22, pg. 201 No one has been able to pull the sword out. There will be a tournament held in London, where anyone who wants to can try to remove the sword. Kay and Sir Ector decide to go, so that Kay can make an attempt, and they tell Arthur (who was with Merlyn during the whole discussion of Uther's death) just as he is saying good bye to Merlyn. Arthur wants to go to London, but he is more concerned about Merlyn's departure-he has to leave the room once Merlyn is gone, because he is so overcome with unhappiness.