- We learn that Sir Ector (and Wart and Kay) live at The Castle of the Forest Sauvage. Best castle name, or best castle name?
- On the downside, we also learn that these are some troubled times, so when tyrants attack or there's a raid of any kind, all the people in the nearby village flock to the castle for protection.
- The castle is still standing, and you can go visit it if you're ever over in England.
- We get a long and quite detailed description of the castle. Its architectural niftiness is mostly for protection (or for offense—like pouring boiling hot lead or oil onto invaders' heads).
- Today, Wart is hanging out in the kennel.
- There's a boy who lives in the kennel, called (wait for it) the Dog Boy. He takes care of the dogs and acts kind of like a dog, and is missing his nose because it was bitten off by a crazed guy named Wat.
- No time to remain in the kennel, though, because today's the day Wart will start his lessons with Merlyn.
- Wart, like most medieval boys, isn't interested in being cooped up in a stuffy classroom. He wants to swim in the moat.
- Wish granted. Merlyn summons Neptune, who gives permission for Wart to be turned into a fish. Merlyn is also turned into a fish.
- Not surprisingly, he enjoys being a fish. Swimming as a fish is kind of like flying.
- A little fish comes up to Wart (a roach, not the insect but a type of fish) and wants help for his mother. She swims upside down all the time, and needs someone to straighten her out.
- Merlyn sings a song to Mama Roach, and by the end of it, she's straightened up and swimming right.
- The pair hang out for a while in the moat, just watching the various water creatures doing their thing. It seems safe enough.
- Not so fast, Merlyn points out. There are dangers here Wart hasn't considered. For instance, it's kind of like the forest, which was a scary place initially to Wart.
- Merlyn introduces Wart to the King of the Moat—a fish named Black Peter. This will give Wart the chance to see what it's like to be king. Hmmm… more prophecy?
- Black Peter looks horrible. His expression conveys the bad aspects of kingship, such as pride, selfishness, loneliness and cruelty.
- He kind of looks like Uncle Sam (anachronism alert!)
- Black Peter tells Wart that there is nothing except power. Power of the body is the ultimate thing. Might is Right.
- Wart should leave right now, the King of the Moat tells him, otherwise he might gobble him right up.
- Merlyn turns them back into humans, and they're out of the moat, now lying on the drawbridge.