Ayla and Jondalar have reached home: the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii, the old stone age settlement in the region known today as south-west France. Jondalar's family are initially wary of the beautiful young woman he has brought back. After the rigours and dangers that have characterised her life, Ayla yearns for peace and tranquillity.

Forced to leave the Clan and her young son, Ayla sets out to travel the frigid steppes until she finds the valley of horses. Unable to find people like herself, the Cro-Magnons, she settles there and seeks friendship. Far to the west, two young Cro-Magnon brothers have begun a journey. One of them is Jondalar, whose destiny is bound with Ayla's.

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Spans the creation of Avalon itself, right up to the birth of King Arthur. This novel presented through the successive lives of its three powerful priestesses: Caillean; Dierna; and finally Viviane, high priestess of Avalon and Lady of the Lake who safeguards the Grail.

The Roman grip on their empire was slackening; the Druidic Order - far stronger that the tiny Christian sect - was itself in turmoil. Caught in the centre of the conflict is a young British girl of druidic family, chosen to be a priestess, and a roman tribune, ambitious for power but - as the son of a British mother - torn between two cultures.

A tragic tale of the rise and fall of Camelot seen through the eyes of Camelot's women: the devout Gwenhwyfar, Arthur's Queen; Vivane, High priestess of Avalon and the Lady of the Lake; above all, Morgaine, possessor of the sight, the wise, the wise-woman fated to bring ruin on them all.