The Excalibur Vow - Paperback

by Charlotte E. Bennardo (Author), Grady E. Earls (Illustrator)

Wystan, an apprentice blacksmith, dreams of becoming a master craftsman but he does the unthinkable while sharpening Excalibur; he breaks off a piece. King Arthur rushes off to battle and dies before Wystan can rectify his mistake. The 18-year-old inadvertently makes a blood vow to return the sliver to the next rightful king but Excalibur's magic transports him to modern day England.

Waking up at a Merlin festival, Wystan doesn't know how to fulfill his quest in this unrecognizable England divided by civil strife between democrats and monarchists. He can't imagine Britain without a king as people clash over whether the monarchy should be dissolved. He meets a group dedicated to all things Arthurian, among them Heather, a scholar, and Ana, an intriguing witch with her own secrets who promises to get him home. Wystan learns that Arthur may have descendants, possibly a young woman named Jenna. If she is a true heir, Wystan must help her find and claim Excalibur, fulfilling his vow so he can go home, and she can unify the people once on the throne. Ana and a secret society of knights both want to find Excalibur. It's a race through mobs, hidden passages, and mythic sacred sites across Britain before Parliament dissolves the monarchy. If that happens, tearing the nation apart, will make it so Wystan is unable to get home, and Excalibur is forever lost.