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smiled at his regent. “Thank you, Merlin. Sometimes I wonder if I’m anything like him.”

      “You are,” Merlin assured him. “That’s how I know you’ll make a great king someday.”

      One of the guards on the wall shouted. “Riders approaching!”

      Arthur looked down the causeway and saw mounted soldiers surrounding two boys.

      “Is that them, Merlin?”

      “I believe it is, my Prince.”

      Arthur was already halfway down the stairs before Merlin and Galerius realized that he was gone. They followed him, and the three of them waited at the gates with Galerius’ captains for the riders to reach the top of the causeway.

      Merlin and Galerius both recognized the leader of Bedwyr’s escorts. “Welcome to Din Eidyn, gentlemen,” Merlin said.

      Greetings, Lord Merlin, General Galerius,” Bedwyr’s lead escort said. Looking at Arthur, he added, “Do I have the honor of addressing Prince Arthur?”

      Arthur nodded, but he kept his eyes on the two boys.

      Bedwyr’s lead escort gestured for his prince to come forward. “My Lord, King Nudd-Lludd of Bryneich conveys his best wishes to his northern neighbor, and he is pleased to present his son Prince Bedwyr.”

      Bedwyr dismounted and walked up to Arthur. “Good to see you again, Arthur.”

      “Good to see you again, too, Bedwyr,” Arthur said, grinning.

      Cai’s lead escort spoke up. “My Lord Arthur, Lord Merlin, General Galerius… King Cynyr of Gwent also conveys his best wishes and has commanded me to present his son Prince Cai.”

      Cai dismounted and joined the Arthur and Bedwyr. “I’m pleased to meet you, Arthur.”

      Arthur nodded to him. “Welcome to Din Eidyn, Cai. I look forward to getting to know you better.”

      Merlin looked up at the escorts. “When do you return south?”

      “Tomorrow morning, if we may impose upon your hospitality for the night,” Bedwyr’s lead escort replied.

      “Certainly,” Merlin stated. Turning to Galerius, he said, “General, please have someone look after these men while I get the princes settled in the great house.”

      Galerius motioned for one of his captains to lead the escorts to the stables. Merlin pointed to the wagons, and two servants ran forward to collect Cai and Bedwyr’s belongings, which were packed in several large trunks.

      Merlin walked to the great house with the three princes. “My Lords, I assume that you’re hungry. Allow me to show you to your chambers, and then I’ll have lunch served.”

      Arthur was unable to hide his enthusiasm at having guests his own age. He ran to the great house, followed by the two princes.

      “Galerius, why don’t you eat with us?” Merlin asked as the princes disappeared through the main doors of the great house. “The lads should get to know both of us before the lessons start.”

      Galerius nodded and followed Merlin.

      Sunlight streamed into the great hall from the windows just below the roof, creating pools of light that accentuated the colors of the flagstone tiles.

      Cai grabbed a chicken leg from the platter in the center of the table. “I can’t wait to learn how to rule my people. A king needs to know how to tax the people to pay for things.”

      Merlin stared at Cai. “Ruling has nothing to do with taxes. Any thug can collect taxes, and most tax collectors are thugs. Ruling is about leading the people.”

      “Leading where, Merlin?” Bedwyr asked. “We aren’t nomads. We stay in the same place all year.”

      Merlin smiled. “I didn’t mean ‘lead’ in the literal sense. I mean that to rule is to serve your people, to lead by example and show them how to live a good life.”

      “Is that what you’re going to teach us?” Arthur asked.

      Merlin nodded. “I’m going to teach you about being a king. We’re going to look at the Kings of Britain, the Emperors of Rome, and the Kings of Ireland, the Anglians, and the Saxons.”

      “Why are we learning about our enemies?” Cai demanded. “What can they teach us?”

      “Everything,” Merlin replied softly. “Let’s look at the Saxons…”

      “I’d like to be looking at dead Saxons,” Cai muttered.

      “So would I,” Merlin said. “But you need to understand them if you’re going to fight and defeat them.”

      Cai looked at Merlin with an expression of disbelief.

      “OK,” Merlin began. “Here’s your first lesson. What is Britain’s goal with the Saxons?”

      “To drive them out of Britain and back across the channel,” Bedwyr answered.

      Merlin nodded. “And then what?”

      The three princes gaped at Merlin.

      “What do we do once the Saxons are gone?” Merlin asked.

      The boys shook their heads.

      “That’s what I mean by leading. We’ve been so busy fighting off invaders, that no one has ever stopped to consider what we’ll do if the invasions ever stop! A true leader not only leads men in battle, but he leads his kingdom to greatness after the battles are over.”

      “So what makes the Saxon leaders so great?” Cai asked.

      “They have a goal,” Merlin replied. “And raiding along our coasts is not it. Their homes were destroyed by storms, forcing them to find a new place to live. They’re looking for a land to call home, and they’ve selected Britain. Every skirmish, every invasion, is part of a larger plan.”

      “You sound as if you like them, Merlin,” Arthur said. “How can you like the enemy?”

      “I think that Saxons are pure evil,” Merlin stated. “They’re like rabid dogs who need to be sent straight to hell. But I can still admire them even though I hate them. Their strategies and tactics make them a formidable enemy, and it’s by understanding them that we learn how to defeat them.”

      “I don’t understand,” Arthur said.

      Merlin smiled. “The Saxons attack, and we defend. Who has the advantage?”

      “We do,” Cai said.

      “Why?”

      “Because we’re fighting on our own land,” Cai replied.

      Merlin shook his head. “The one who attacks has the initial advantage.” Merlin looked at Galerius. “Right, General?”

      Galerius nodded.

      “That’s not to say that the one who attacks will always win,” Merlin continued, “but they have the advantage because we don’t control what’s going on. We have to react to whatever the Saxon dogs are doing. Once we determine their plan and get ourselves organized, we stand a chance against them. But while we’re trying to figure out what they’re doing, they have the advantage, and if they can exploit our confusion, then they can win the engagement before we’re ready.”

      “I never thought of it that way,” Bedwyr said.

      “The Saxons have proven that they’re very good at attacking, and Britain’s kings have proven that they are very good at defending,” Merlin said. “But we’re always reacting to whatever the Saxons are doing. Why doesn’t anyone attack the Saxons?”

      “Has no one ever done that?” Arthur asked.

      Merlin nodded. “Two men have. The first was

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