in a cave in a forest, the devil summons lucina and the fates to attend joan as she gives birth to merlin. the clown catches up, to meet his sister and his new-born nephew, a fully grown merlin the magician. merlin introduces his clown-uncle to his devil-father; the devil predicts a dramatic future for his newborn son. in the british court, the saxons are plotting treason; artesia manipulates uther's romantic interest and aurelius's jealousy to bring about a fissure between the two, though her plans are partially frustrated by the british nobles. the two factions separate and prepare for war.