The young Arthor is a brutal warrior, a Dark Age killing machine who seeks - and finds - in slaughter his sole satisfaction. Sent by his stepfather, the Celtic chief Kyner, on a mission to return a Saxon hostage to the battle-lord Aelle, Arthor becomes entangled with some dangerous magic too potent for even his lethal combat skills. Reaching the new castle-fortress at Camelot and the astounding destiny that awaits him there becomes a perilous quest indeed...