Merlinnus the magician devises a way for King Arthur to prove himself the rightful king of England -- pulling a sword from a stone -- but trouble arises when someone else removes the sword first.

When the orphaned Guinevere is twelve years old, living with Queen Alyse and King Pellinore of Gwynedd, she fearlessly helps rescue her cousin from kidnappers who are plotting to seize the palace and overthrow the king, even as the queen despairs of Guinevere's rebellious nature.