[austintorn@aol.com]

And so we continue to fill our heads with the best from nature, from adventure, from winter, spring, summer, and fall; from the world of sights, sounds, and natural urges; from fantasy, magic and mysticism, folklore and legend, from science and astronomy, and from romance—mixing it all together into a book for all seasons, that is, into this Almanac!

Another mainline theme of the Almanac is that of life with nature. For my education in this matter I can only thank John Burroughs. In his great literate style he has brought the revelations of nature to us. But if the Almanac is many things, perhaps even a hodgepodge, then so is life—and if we are to be persons for all seasons, then we must become well seasoned in all the areas of the Almanac, for all seasons are interrelated and woven of the same basic universal thread.

As for Percevale, though he has become rather a pater familis to us, he remains the focal point of the Almanac, for he has finally come into his own, a King for all seasons.

Several Impossible Challenges

Our Story: Summer is warm but not yet indolent; it is the lovely month of June, perhaps the greatest month of all since many are free now and still excited about the upcoming summer. Victorious knights return from both the Asia frontier and from the great Unknown sea. But sadly, St. Patrick has died, and all Ireland is in mourning. King Percevale receives a summons from the Avalon Lady of the Lake.

Avalon Calling

A King may receive a summons from but one person and place: the high priestess of Avalon—the Lady of the Lake herself, the distant power behind the fables and fortunes of Britain—the Mother Goddess who reigns wholly and supreme, with the assistance of “The Merlyn”. If “The Merlyn” be the power behind the throne, then the High Priestess of Avalon is the power behind “The Merlyn”.

And so our Percevale again takes the shield of the White Horse and slips unnoticed out of Camelot during the height of the summer festivities.

Percevale rides to Avalon, a land forever shrouded in the mist that separates it from the world of mankind. Many have been lost trying to cross Avalon’s impenetrable swamps, so Percevale waits patiently at the edge of the foggy lake. He brings the Crimson Spear, for this is surely a gift from Avalon, as was Arthur’s Excalibur and Price Valiant’s Flamberge (the Singing Sword, or “Flame Cutter”.)

Avalon is flooded with water during summer, and with treacherous ice in winter. And there is always the fog, which only the priestesses can wave aside, for they, and they alone, know the underwater paths for the horses. Many adventurers have fallen into the gloomy depths of despair and death trying to find these trails, so Percevale awaits his guide.

Only once in a great while is a King summoned to Avalon, for most of Avalon’s effects are not direct, but long range, and even so, are often carried out by “The Merlyn” or “The Taliesin”, the only residents of Avalon who are allowed to mingle with those of the mortal world.

The guide arrives, and Percevale, without a word, steps into her canoe, for she is a novice and is not allowed to speak. She waves the mist aside and they approach a castle in the water and then enter the Lady’s mysterious secret chamber.

The Story of Avalon

The Lady of the Lake appears, old now and perhaps dying. “Thank you for your rescue of my daughters, Eve and Melody. They are my second and third born, respectively, and may someday have to rule this isle if for any reason my first-born cannot. Now, Percevale, name your pleasure and it shall be yours! Anything you want.”

Percevale replies: “I ask no pleasure but that of continued life. There is one thing, however—I should like to gain the power to destroy a witch, to free those poor souls who are enslaved by her! For I swore an oath to return there one day with the power to succeed.”

The Lady of the Lake, Mother Goddess, now finally growing old with age after many centuries, first speaks to our hero about age and the ancestry of the Round Table before answering him: “Here in Avalon, the Royal Line consists solely of women. Soon, my first-born daughter will take over for me, as someday, her first-born daughter will take over for her. Only a women can be sure of maternity—paternity is never certain; who knows who one’s father might be! Thus, a royal line of first-born sons of Kings really does not make much sense for us here, but we tolerate it in your world. Here, we seldom even keep track of paternity, but, in your case, and in the case of many of the knights, an exception was made in order to try and save the wretched world. When I was young four hundred years ago, I played with Merlyn, who was also a child at that time. I happen to know that he and I are the great great great grandparents of yourself and of many of the knights, making most of you third and fourth cousins—indeed, Lancelot was born here as my last son, thus his full name, Lancelot du Lac. And so in this way we passed our holiness on to man in a last desperate hope of ending the many centuries of the Dark Ages. “Merlyn” is not really a man’s name, though it has come to mean his name—it is actually a title, “The Merlyn”, of our only male officeholder, a position that Taliesin will soon inherit and hold. The office of “The Merlyn” is the only link between our two worlds aside from the rare summoning of a King. I am the power behind “The Merlyn”—But I cannot interfere in everyday matters, for then man would not have his freedom, would he? We can only do long range planning, thus your throne and your bleeding spear. We of Avalon are not actually gods, but Druids descended from the many supposed gods of old. We are all that is left of the great Atlantis! Avalon is soon to be forever removed from the world of mankind—this we have known and feared—so, we have passed our legacy of love and goodness to you and your knightly cousins. As for your witch, she was once one of of us, but has since gone astray. That’s how she knew about your bleeding spear and why she fears you. As we may not interfere directly, we may not slay her. But, you have asked for the power to destroy her and so we will see that you have it in the form of your spear and in the strength of yours and Taliesin’s minds when combined. This but makes you her equal. Success or failure will still come from within your own strength and goodness. But bring the Crimson Spear! Indeed, you would be doing us and the world quite a favor if you were to succeed in destroying her. And beware, she once held the high title of Death-Crone, and she will undoubtedly place a curse upon you. Just remember this: never give up hope, and know that every curse has an escape! But how sad that she was once one of us and is now out of control!”

The Curse of the Death-Crone

(posted previously so not repeated here)