Bernard Cornwell · 1996 · overland

The second Warlord Chronicle. Arthur has secured Mordred's throne and now has to hold Britain together while the old gods and the new fight for it - and Derfel is sent north on Merlin's Cauldron quest, and comes home to find Lancelot crowned in Dumnonia and the Christians hunting pagans in the streets.

1. 1
   Lindinis

   Ilchester, where Mordred is kept under guard and given every honour and no power - and where Arthur governs Dumnonia in his name, having sworn an oath to Uther that he will not take the crown himself.

2. 2
   Ynys Mon

   Anglesey, the old druid island the Romans burned - Derfel and Ceinwyn go north with Merlin and Nimue on the quest for the Cauldron of Clyddno Eiddyn, through country held by the Irish and worse.

3. 3
   Cadair Idris

   The mountain in Powys where Merlin and Nimue perform the rite - and when Derfel asks who the sacrifice was, they tell him it was no one he knew, which is not the same as no one.

4. 4
   Isca

   Caerleon in Gwent, and the politics: Meurig's Christian court, Tewdric turned hermit, and the alliances Arthur needs and cannot quite keep - the second book being about the peace failing rather than the war.

5. 5
   Durnovaria

   Dorchester, and Lancelot invades Dumnonia while Arthur and Derfel are away, has himself proclaimed king, and the Christians rise and start burning pagans - which is where the title comes from.

6. 6
   Ynys Wydryn

   Glastonbury, and the temple of Isis - where Arthur discovers what Guinevere has been doing with Lancelot, and the marriage that has held the whole enterprise together comes apart in one night.

7. 7
   Caer Cadarn

   South Cadbury, the royal hill of Dumnonia. Lancelot's rebellion is put down and Arthur takes command of Britain in fact if not in title - Emperor Arthur, and still not king, because of an oath.