- Merlin and Uther get ready to head out to Cornwall. It's time for Uther to hook up with Ygraine.
- Merlin tells Uther that the only thing he can predict at this point is that Ygraine will have a child from this little date. He has no further info on the subject, including what will happen to Gorlois.
- Merlin can say that Uther will get out of it all right, even if there are risks that must be taken to fulfill the commands of Fate. Heavy.
- Uther tells Ulfin to go to Carleon to shake up the troops and send them out to Cornwall. They've got to front a little bit to force Gorlois out of Tintagel.
- Merlin tells us that he can't believe how well Ygraine is playing her part. At the coronation, she acts like a woman who wants nothing to do with Uther.
- Merlin says that seals it for him: he has no idea what women are thinking, despite the fact that he's got second sight.
- But Merlin also says something chilling—that the Brits would have forgiven Uther for publicly taking off with Ygraine because he was a popular leader. So politically, whether Ygraine is into it or not really doesn't matter.
- Merlin plans to pull off these shenanigans with some everyday sleight of hand—no real magic at all. He wants to disguise Uther, himself, and the servants to look like Gorlois and company. Then, they'll sneak in through a secret entrance that is only used by Gorlois to visit his wife without others knowing.
- Uther, of course, plays Gorlois, and Merlin disguises himself as his right-hand man, Brithael. They are led into the castle by Ralf, one of Gorlois' servants. The weather is rotten, and the path to the back door of the castle is truly frightening: the sea crashes up against the wall of the castle.
- Cadal takes the horses and shelters with them under an overhang while Merlin and Uther go on up to the castle.
- Uther asks Merlin if he really knows what he's doing, especially since the High King's life is at stake. And what for? One night with a beautiful lady? Merlin tells him to chill. It's all good.
- It won't matter, Merlin says, if the High King is killed that night, as long as Uther takes Ygraine to bed first—remember that the wondrous King Arthur is about to be conceived.
- In fact, neither the awesome Uther nor the uppity Ygraine are worth anything at all, in and of themselves. They are only important because of the king to come.
- But Merlin is equally harsh on himself: he's helpless to do anything but this right now. He's Fate's minion.
- Merlin leaves Cadal with the promise to return one hour before sunrise.