The Sword in the Tree

The Sword in the Tree (1956) is a children’s chapter book by American author Clyde Robert Bulla. Set in medieval England, this book tells the story of Shan, the young son of Lord Weldon and Lady Marian. When Shan’s nefarious uncle Lionel claims that Lord Weldon died in a hunting accident and claims the Weldon title for himself, Shan and his mother flee the castle and find refuge with a farming family. Helped by an array of new friends, Shan travels to Camelot to ask for King Arthur’s help in defeating his evil uncle and reclaiming his title and castle. Bulla wrote several other novels for children, including A Lion to Guard Us and The Chalk Box Kid.

This guide refers to the 2013 HarperCollins Kindle edition.

Plot Summary

Shan, the son of Lord Weldon and Lady Marian, is surprised to learn that a wounded man at the castle gate is Lionel, Lord Weldon’s brother and Shan’s long-lost uncle. Shan’s mother tells him that Lionel sold his estate, spent the money, and then spent years traveling abroad. She feels that Lionel was never kind-hearted like his older brother, Lord Weldon. Lionel begins to heal from his injuries and offers to advise Shan on his knight training. When Shan ignores his advice, however, Lionel yells at him and insults him. 

Lionel begins to make himself at home at Weldon castle, going for long rides and inviting his rough, strange friends to come stay with him. Lord Weldon goes out hunting with Lionel and his friends—but only Lionel and his company return, claiming that Lord Weldon died in an accident during the hunt. In the following chapter, Shan confronts Lionel for replacing all the servants in the castle and taking his father’s sword, which was Shan’s to inherit. After Lionel insults him and questions his position as heir, Shan steals the sword back and hides it in the hollow of an oak tree.

Nappus, one of Lord Weldon’s servants, visits Lady Marian and Shan in their room, writing them a message in the ashes of their fireplace. He reveals that he has read the lips of Uncle Lionel and his friends and that he knows that they intentionally killed Lord Weldon. Marian knows that she and Shan are in danger of being Lionel’s next targets, so the two flee the castle in the night. Marian and Shan travel through the woods, hoping to avoid Lionel’s men. They are soon robbed and left with nothing but string, a tinderbox, and a loaf of bread. 

Shan encounters a baby goat in the woods and soon meets the shepherd boy it belongs to, Magnus. Magnus is surprised to meet Shan and his mother and invites them to stay with his family. Shan and Marian continue to stay at Magnus’s house as winter passes. Shan and Magnus work the herds and go hunting together. A passing hunter tells them that in Camelot, anyone can consult the king with their problem. Shan desperately wants to travel there to ask for King Arthur’s help.

Marian allows Shan to travel to Camelot with Magnus. The two boys set off downriver on their neighbor’s hay raft. Shan and Magnus arrive in Camelot and wait for the right day to consult the king. Though one of King Arthur’s knights is dismissive of young Shan, Shan confidently insists on meeting the king. Arthur agrees that a knight should ride out to Weldon Castle with Shan. A kind knight named Sir Gareth volunteers for the task. 

Shan and Gareth arrive at Weldon Castle and confront Uncle Lionel, who pretends to not know Shan and says that his nephew is dead. However, Shan proves that he is the heir to the castle by retrieving the sword from its hiding spot in the hollow oak tree. Gareth says that he believes in Shan and duels with Lionel on Shan’s behalf, defeating him. Shan gratefully offers Gareth his sword, but the knight refuses to accept this precious gift. 

In the novel’s final chapter, Nappus leads Shan down to the dungeon, where he finds his father, Lord Weldon, in a cell. Lord Weldon and Shan are astonished to see each other. They follow Nappus out of the dungeon and back into their family’s castle.