The Fort at River's Bend (The Camulod Chronicles) Book

Merlyn Britannicus, leader of the Colony known as Camulod, is faced with the task of educating his young charge, Arthur, future King of the Britons. Fearing for the life of his nephew when an assassination attempt goes awry, Merlyn takes Arthur and his boyhood companions Gwin, Ghilleadh, and Bedwyr, on a journey that will take them to the ruins of a long-abandoned Roman fort--far from Camulod and the only place where Merlyn feels they will be safe. It is there that Merlyn will enlist the help of this close-knit group of friends to help Arthur learn the skills of a warrior and the tough lessons of justice, honor, and the responsibilities of leadership. Arthur is just a boy...but the day is not far off when he will have to claim the sword that is his birthright: Excalibur. Beyond their idyllic retreat, forces are coming together to threaten the tenuous peace of Camulod. In Cambria, the death of Arthur's father, Uther, has left his people leaderless and vulnerable. And in Cornwall, Merlyn faces the greatest threat yet from the gathering forces of his enemy, Peter Ironhair, and his monstrous friend, Carthac--men who have sworn to destroy Merlyn and all he holds dear. How can Merlyn prepare young Arthur to be a ruler of men if he continues to train him in isolation? Does the advantage of taking him back to the world outweigh the threat to his life from those who would stop at nothing to see him dead? The life of young Arthur Pendragon is at a crossroads. In the end Merlyn must decide to risk the dream--and the life of his young charge--if a united Britain is ever to be made real. The Fort at River's Bend is the first part of The Sorcerer, the fifth novel in Jack Whyte's compelling Arthurian cycle.Read More