Nimue may be Morgan le Fay's cousin, but she wants to learn scholarly subjects from Merlin not magic from Morgan. To prevent trouble, Merlin has requested that Nimue disguise herself as a boy named Colin. It's a good thing that Nimue is working hard to understand Merlin's teachings as his reasoning and deductive skills are about to be tested by friends and enemies alike.

After Percival finds the Stone of Bran, reputed to bring peace and good fortune to whomever owns it, Arthur has it brought to Camelot hoping to make his Kingdom stronger. When the Stone of Bran is stolen from Arthur's study, along with Excalibur which was used to kill the young squire sent to fetch the relic, the number of possible suspects is as large as the King's guest list. Courtly intrigue and complicated personal relationships only muddy the water more. Who would take such precious and recognizable objects? What could they possibly hope to gain?

It's an unexpected, but appreciated, surprise to find these legendary figures taking on new lives and personas. In bringing a fresh view of old legends, the author has given accepted lore a strong twist. It may not be to everyone's liking that Arthur doesn't seem as bright as is his usual reputation, but it makes the story possible. Merlin's characteristics are tweaked into a jaded view of magic and a firm defense of logic. Guenevere, Lancelot, Mordred, Percival, and more are also present in the story but radically different from what the reader might be expecting. A challenging mystery for Merlin and friends ties the action and adventures together nicely.