[1] Britain is a land divided into small Celtic kingdoms in the process of being conquered by the more united Saxon invaders.

When Uther, the Pendragon or High King, dies without legitimate sons, any semblance of a unified defense vanishes.

When the Saxon King Cerdic of Wessex invades Dumnonia, Arthur realizes that the only way to protect Britain is to end the civil war.

The remaining contenders then unite against him, but Arthur wins a decisive battle and forces them (including Lot) to swear the Threefold Oath of Allegiance to him.

When he learns that a human sacrifice is required, Gwalchmai kills the bound victim to spare him an agonizing death and flees.

He makes friends, among them Bedwyr, Arthur's most trusted advisor, but the High King remains distrustful and the warband is strongly divided regarding him.

At the outskirts of Arthur's camp, he tries to save a peasant woman's badly wounded husband, but the man dies.

Even though Gwalchmai is tempted by the Darkness, once he meets the deity-like figure Lugh, he promises to work instead for good.

[2] Kirkus Reviews offered a mixed opinion of the book, stating "The blend of sword-and-sorcery with highly unsystematic history and borrowings from Celtic legend works pretty well but would work far better if Bradshaw's prose could rise a bit higher than 'The cold anger in his stare had become white hot.'

"[3] The Publishers Weekly review is more favorable: "Written when the author was a teen, this engaging and enchanting retelling of the Arthur legend will appeal to adults and younger readers alike.