Almost everyone has at least heard of King Arthur and the Sword in the Stone, Excalibur. Many even know of Sir Lancelot and Lady Guenever, and their betrayal of Arthur. Few however have even heard mention of Sir Galahad, Mordred, or Morgause. All of these characters had important impact on Arthur's life.
             The novel itself is actually divided into four "books", The Sword in the Stone, The Queen of Air and Darkness, The Ill-made Knight, and The Candle in the Wind. In truth, for the most part, this division has no relevance to this report, except that the first "book" is truly the exposition.
             Arthur lives with Sir Ector and his son Kay, and is treated as this kind man's own son. Both the boys are taught all the things a young noble boy should know. Hawking, Archery, and Tilting (commonly called jousting) are a few examples. One day while out hawking, Kay improperly prepares to release their prized hawk, Cully, and the raptor flies off into the woods. Arthur knows that Old Hob, the person who cares for their birds, would be heart broken if Cully were not returned, so he heads off into the woods in search of him. Arthur becomes hopelessly lost in the search for Cully, and falls asleep in the forest. In the morning he comes across cottage of Merlyn. Merlyn helps Arthur catch Cully, and they return to Arthur's home together. Sir Ector hires Merlyn as the teacher for Kay and Arthur. For the next seven years Merlyn teaches Kay and Arthur. Arthur he teaches using unconventional methods, such as turning him into a fish, a merlin, an owl, a goose, an ant, and a badger on different occasions. From these excursions Arthur learns much about life, and about what it is to be a good leader.
             At the end of his seventh year under Merlyn's tutelage Arthur learns that Kay is to be knighted soon, and Merlyn was leaving. King Pellinore, a man Arthur had met several times in the past, arrives...