- Merlin gives us a bird's eye view of history in this chapter. We learn that Ambrosius kicks Vortigern's butt.
- It takes about two years to do it, but Ambrosius' troops were well prepared with all those years of drilling.
- Ambrosius enjoys pretty wide popular support from Britons who were tired of Vortigern's shenanigans with the Saxons.
- Ambrosius did have a lot of work getting the local warriors to fight nicely together against the enemy. It was a lot like trying to get hostile relatives to sit at the same table for a family wedding.
- Ambrosius did Merlin proud, being the awesome leader that he was. His major priority? Get Vortigern.
- Ambrosius avenges himself on Vortigern pretty spectacularly, burning him and his family to death in Vortigern's stronghold.
- Merlin, however, doesn't think his dad acted so brutally out of vengeance. He believes Ambrosius just wanted it to be over with quickly. And hey, Vortigern wasn't a nice guy.
- Turns out that Vortigern's queen sent Ambrosius' messenger back with his two hands cut off. Vortigern had no intention of backing down, even though Ambrosius had a strong army.
- While the fortress burned, Ambrosius watched—with his red dragon banner flying. Vortigern's white dragon, just as Merlin predicted, went up in smoke.