The second magnificent volume in the Arthur trilogy

Medieval life meets Arthurian magic in a novel that transcends boundaries of time and age, appealing to children of 9+ and older readers alike. This second book in the trilogy from the winner of the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and the Smarties Prize bronze award is a timeless novel, stunningly reissued for a new generation.

Arthur de Caldicot arrives at Holt to be squire to Lord Stephen and accompany him on crusade. It is an exciting and bewildering time for him as he finds a warhorse, is fitted with armour and improves his fighting skills. And meanwhile these events are reflected in his seeing stone, in stories of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

Packed with incident, wonderful characters, and fascinating historical detail, and interwoven with brilliant retellings of Arthurian legends, this is a glorious follow-up to THE SEEING STONE.

"Rich, evocative storytelling." - Financial Times, 13 July 2002

"This is storytelling of subtlety and nuance and, for the reflective reader, all the more satisfying for that." - Books for Keeps

"¿a glorious panorama of medieval life, packed with incident and colour, brave deeds, passion , deception and even murder¿and is surely destined to be become a classic." - East Anglian Daily Times

"¿an impressively multi-layered book, beautifully written, and a terrific piece of storytelling. I was impressed as much by Crossley-Holland's way with words as by the story itself." - The Historical Novels Review