A year has passed since Excalibur chose Arthur, a peasant, to be Camelot's new king.

Though threats to his life are at bay, Arthur has little to celebrate as his fifteenth birthday arrives. The renegade druid, Aulric, and his scheming mother, Morgause, are still at large, prowling the dangerous woods known as the Wilds. Arthur must do something to quell the threat they pose to the people of Camelot, though doing so requires leaving on a perilous journey into the Wilds, where he hopes the druids will be able to help.

All seems safe as he sets out with his beloved Mordred at his side. He has his knights, Lancelot and Tristan, to protect him, and his mage, Merlin, is endlessly resourceful. But matters grow more complicated as it becomes clear the powerful sorceress, Morgan Le Fay, might be more of a threat than Merlin is willing to admit.

Under the thick canopy of the woods, Arthur is faced with dangers unimaginable. Amidst it all, Arthur's relationship with Mordred is changing, and the enigmatic, handsome Merlin is only adding to the confusion.

Arthur cannot deny the call of destiny, even if he must go deep into the Wilds, where trials of the heart will test him, and betrayal has many faces.