Peter is about to embark on a series of TESTS, set by the Elves, which may, or may not lead to his being apprenticed to Anir, the Guardian of Arx Emain.
Imperator Arthur of the Britons is fighting Goths in Roman Gaul, in the 490’s A.D. His desperate need for an invisible spy brings together; not only Peter, Merlin, Anir and Arthur, but also Sarah and Aunt Myf, who with the aid of the Ring of Gyges, join in this great adventure.
It all began with a stone from St. David’s, a large volume in Ancient Welsh from Aberystwyth University, and Peter and Sarah, who have been wanting me to tell their story for at least the last thirty years. My two shadow children had been with me ever since I began writing stories at school. They came into being properly during the family holidays in Wales.
It was Sarah’s birthday. Sarah had looked forward to her special day for weeks. She had hinted at the presents that would please her most and nods and winks from Mother, Father and Peter her brother gave her confidence that all her dearest dreams would be fulfilled. As her birthday fell this particular year upon a school day, a treat had been mooted for her return home. Father had said the magic words Burger Restaurant. Yes, for the last several days excitement had risen to fever pitch, only to be rewarded with the present, huge disappointment.
“That was the best Christmas ever!” sighed Peter, as he pushed a very empty plate away. They had just finished dinner on Boxing Day. “Not forgetting last year!” interrupted Mother. “Or next year!” said Father. “Well, it’s been very, very good,” Peter said again. “Brill!” agreed Sarah. For so it had been. Pre-Christmas they had all gone up to the University one evening for drinks and nibbles, as Sarah put it.
Peter and Sarah stared at the personage who continued to peer at them from behind the tree. It seemed like hours, but must only have been a few minutes. Eventually, Sarah thought that they might appear rude if introductions were not made shortly! She got up from the ground and walked forward, her hand outstretched.
The weather had turned cold and wet. Peter and Sarah just stood where they were for two or three minutes before they recovered themselves and their wits. “Good golly!” said Peter at last, “If that’s a demonstration of how the stone works, it’s more like something out of a science fiction movie.”
It was dark. In fact, it was very dark. For a moment, Sarah wondered if the Miraculous Stone of Gardar had not made a mistake and put them out somewhere in outer space. Peter wondered if he had been suddenly struck blind. It was rather annoying.
As they sat outside Arthur’s tent, Peter and Sarah could hear Arthur talking to Osric. It was nothing exciting. He just ordered lunch, or Prandium, as they called it in Roman times, for himself and his guests. Peter and Sarah gathered that luncheon was going to be similar to breakfast, with the addition of hard boiled eggs, fish and vegetables.
“Nothing,” Peter thought as his feet passed over the very threshold of Langres, “nothing could be quite so terrifying as this! Wondering, as you pass by the men guarding your enemy’s town, if by any chance you actually are COMPLETELY invisible to them.”
Anir placed Peter in front of him on the horse, as before, and Merlin took Sarah. They just had time to pluck their belongings off the floor before being swept off to ride behind Arthur and his Golden Dragon.
Early next morning Arthur’s army began to prepare to go back to the camp by Autun. The battlefield was cleared. The wounded were placed on wagons and the dead laid to rest. All except Kai and Bedwyr, who were to be buried in their own home towns in Britain and northern Gaul. Solemnly, their followers left Arthur’s army with their sad burdens.
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