1. In your opinion, is Cooper more successful in her scenes depicting the daily life of her characters or those involving mythological characters?

2. What is the role of the Welsh countryside in this book?

3. John Rowlands is not an Old One, but he is different from the other workers. How?

4. Is Caradog Pritchard a villain in the usual sense? Why or why not?

5. Queen Guinevere, Gwen in this book, was known in later Arthurian legend for her affair with the greatest knight of the Round Table, Lancelot.

Does Gwen in this story seem to possess the capability of deep romantic love? Of betrayal?

6. Would you like to be a pupil of Merriman (Merlin)? Why or why not?

7. In which role is Will Stanton most convincing, as an average twelve-yearold boy, or as an Old One?

8. If you had Will's special powers, what would you do...