The Once and Future King

Content Warning: Both the novel and guide reference sexual assault, incest, child abuse, and suicide.

Sir Ector, lord of a large estate on the edge of the Forest Sauvage, seeks a tutor for his sons, Kay and Art (i.e., Arthur, nicknamed and in this section referred to as “the Wart”). Kay, the elder, constantly reminds Arthur that he is adopted, and that he, Kay, is superior. The brothers take their hawk out to hunt rabbits, but the bird flies into a tree and refuses to come down.

Frustrated, Kay stalks off, but Arthur, unwilling to abandon the bird (Cully), sits by the tree and waits. As Cully moves deeper into the wild forest, Arthur follows. The Forest Sauvage is home to dangerous animals and even more dangerous humans, including outlaws and magicians. As night falls, Cully settles into a tree for the night, and Arthur waits below for the bird to fall asleep. Suddenly, an assailant fires arrows at him, and Arthur retreats for cover. He escapes the attack but becomes lost. He wanders the forest until he comes upon a clearing, where he sees a fully armored knight astride his horse. He approaches the knight and asks for help, but the knight, who introduces himself as King Pellinore, claims to be lost as well.