In the year of our Lord 510, when Great Britain sat leaderless in the shadow of the Anarchy, it befell that a grand tournament was cried at the city of Londinium. There did gather the noble companions Sir Avalloc, Ser Cwenhild, the squire Cadwallon, and the stalwart Sir Cerdic. In the courtyard of St. Paul's, they did witness a miracle passing strange: a backcountry squire named Arthur did draw the sword Clarent cleanly from the stone and anvil.

That selfsame night, it pleased the young prince Arthur, who was not yet High King of the realm, to appoint these companions to stand a vigilant watch over the Sword of Peace. In the dead of midnight, half-naked Pictish thieves covered in blue sigils did crawl from the shadows of the cathedral to steal the holy blade; but the companions fought right hardily, striking down the wild men and saving the relic from dishonor. Soon after, they rode unto the bloody Battle of Carlion, where with the aid of Merlin's craft they broke the first rebellion of the northern kings. Following this glorious triumph, the squire Cadwallon—having won great renown and being utterly smitten with the transcendent beauty of the young Lady Guinevere—was formally dubbed a knight by the hand of King Leodegrance of Cameliard. Thereafter, all four companions were received as household knights into Arthur's own service.