Part 1: The Dark Road, pgs. 1-55 Summary

On the Druid New Year's Eve, Derfel Cadarn, an aged Christian monk, longs for the company of long-dead comrades-in-arms, while Bishop Sansum scoffs at pagan holdovers. Sansum would forbid writing about Arthur if Queen Igraine did not conceal the project. Derfel resumes: he and Arthur stroll among the countless dead at Lugg Vale as Arthur decides Britain's political fate. Lancelot, whom Derfel hates, will become King of Siluria and marry Princess Ceinwyn of Powys, whom Derfel loves. Derfel says nothing about this but asks to join Chief Druid Merlin's quest for the Cauldron of Clyddno Eiddyn. It is Britain's greatest treasure, and is needed in order to restore Britain to its rightful Gods. Arthur doubts that it survives 400 years and can spare no men from the final battles against the Saxons that will...