The Bright Sword: A Novel of King Arthur

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death and death by suicide.

After the battle is over, the knights and their allies—such as King Cador of Cornwall, the father of Constantine—discuss who to next appoint king. Collum had expected Cador to support his son, but Cador seems intent on tearing Constantine down. Unexpectedly, Sir Melehan, the 11-year-old son of Mordred, walks in, announcing that he has an army waiting nearby. If Melehan does not return crowned as king in the next three days, the army will attack Camelot. The feast is abandoned.

Collum is unable to sleep, thinking of the six men he killed that day. He goes out into the garden, where he finds Nimue working on a spell to protect the borders of Camelot. Collum helps her out. Nimue tells Collum that though she practices sorcery, she also believes in God. She thinks that God will send them a sign about who should rule Britain when the time is right. Nimue hands Collum a silver shilling that she stole from Dinadan, telling him that he’ll need it more than her.