- Merlin now remembers the day his Uncle Camlach returned home to his grandfather's "palace" in a place called Maridunum. Merlin's gramps is King of Wales.
- Merlin is six years old when this happens, and he's sitting with his mother and his Breton nurse, who is called Moravik.
- Merlin's surprised that he's going to be introduced to Camlach, because he is a "bastard" born to the unmarried Princess Niniane. Grandpa doesn't like him much.
- Uncle Camlach returns because his brother Dyved, who was heir to the throne, has died.
- Merlin thinks Camlach will marry a young girl called Keridwen. He won't, but she comes into the story later, so hang on to that.
- When Grandpa and Camlach finally appear, it's clear that the king hates Merlin. How do we know? He introduces him as "your sister's bastard," and calls him "the devil's whelp."
- Okay, then.
- Camlach wants to know who the father is, but Niniane won't tell. She's already been tortured for this info, and she still kept silent. People say she was raped by a demon.
- We learn that Merlin's full name is "Myrddin Emrys"—"Emrys" means "child of the light." Not so much demonic. His mom calls him "Merlinus" after a type of falcon.
- Merlin is a sulky brat, according to the king. He's hoping that Camlach will get married and have some sons who will be good warriors.
- But Camlach seems to be kind to Merlin, and he asks the boy to keep him company.
- Young Merlin uses an old heating system that runs under the crumbling palace to hide in. He also gets a lot of info about the family from creeping under the rooms and eavesdropping.
- But Merlin doesn't go down there to collect secrets. He just wants to be alone in the dark. He's got a little cave down there, and he can be king of it with no one to bother him.
- One night, Merlin overhears Camlach talking about his mother to a Cornishman called Alun. He's sure that Niniane will go to a religious house to live out her life there.
- The point? Camlach doesn't have to worry about Niniane claiming the throne of Wales for her illegitimate son.
- Camlach tells Alun that he should leave the boy alone, since he likes him.
- After hearing this, Merlin follows Camlach around everywhere. He's never been liked before—it's a pretty cool feeling.