The Sisters and the Sword

In the second in the Pendragon Prophecy series, Sam Davey plunges into the heart of the Camelot story and the fraught relationships between grown siblings Morgause, Morgan, and Arthur. A dark and mesmerizing retelling of Camelot—where magic and destiny entwine with sibling rivalries, forbidden love, and looming rebellion. One year after the death of Uther Pendragon, High King of Britain, a lavish tournament is held in his memory, and as an opportunity for the nobles and allies to swear another year’s fealty to King Lot of Orkney and his wife Queen Morgause. At the tournament, Arthur, an unknown youth, is seeking a replacement sword for his foster brother. He succeeds in pulling a mysterious sword from a stone anvil in the courtyard at Caer Lundein and is proclaimed King of all Britain. Merlin prepares the bewildered Arthur for kingship and reveals to Morgause that Arthur’s reign will end if he faces in battle a noble knight born at Beltane (May 1) in the first year of his reign. Morgan, a powerful priestess and sister to Morgause and Arthur, becomes Lady of the Lake– and she and Morgause, who blame Arthur for their violent and traumatic childhood, plot against him. Morgan, who has concealed her identity from Arthur, seduces her brother and becomes pregnant. At a grand Tournament and celebration in Caerleon, Merlin finally tells Arthur of the prophecy of the Beltane child, and Arthur is horrified to learn that Merlin can see no solution but to kill all of the noble children born on Beltane that year. Arthur tells Lot he will not follow Merlin’s advice, but when he discovers Morgan is actually his sister, he believes Lot has helped to deceive him and turns back to Merlin’s guidance. Lot joins the rebels, his four sons remaining loyal to Arthur, as the Once and Future King seals his fate.