Soft morning light streamed through the narrow windows of Allistor's flat. It illuminated the pages of the books that were carelessly scattered across the coffee table. The strong scent of coffee wafted through the mid-sized apartment. Both Allistor and Merlin sat on the couch, engrossed in a book they had found only two days ago.

The book was an English translation of a Latin text that was written approximately 1500 years ago. The translator believed that the text was a written copy of Celtic and Anglo-Saxon history that had been passed down verbally for generations. Because of this, many of the stories were ambiguous and convoluted. But in a few stories, the text spoke of the Saxons conquering a wandering people that they referred to as the "Drutes".

Allistor had hoped these people could possibly be the source of his mystery language. When Merlin found out about the Drutes, he could hardly contain himself. This could be a sign of the Druids, but he knew he could not tell Allistor of his knowledge of them.

Tomorrow they would embark on their journey. But today they were cramming in as much reading as possible.

"Oh," Allistor stood up, taking the book into his large, calloused hands. He looked elated and yet intrigued; his hazel eyes were bright with excitement. "Merlin, listen to this, 'the Saxons spent three days walking inland from the southern shore of Great Britain when they ran into a group of seemingly peaceful people. These were the Drutes, a race that the Saxons had defeated once before. The Drutes were angered when they discovered the Saxons' intent to conquer their land. They warned the Saxons that should they choose to take over the land and slaughter the Drutes as they did before, the wrath of the Drute gods would one day take vengeance, and a balance would return to the earth.'"

Allistor set the book back down on the coffee table and began to pace around his living room. His brows were furrowed in thought.

Merlin's hands rested firmly on his thighs. Ever since they found this book, he was in constant turmoil about whether to tell Allistor about the Druids or not.

"I think this settles it. We need to focus on the southern border on England. I know we were planning on starting in Plymouth, but that may be a mistake." Allistor rounded about the room twice more, than sat back down next to Merlin.

"Where do you suggest we start then? The south-eastern coast?" Merlin asked irritably. Allistor had already changed their plan three times in the last week, and it was starting to get tiresome.

Allistor's enthusiasm, however, was not thwarted, "That's exactly where I want to start! Since the Saxons' involvement with these Drutes started in the south, and the Saxons were coming from the east, I would think that starting there would be our best bet!"

Merlin let out an exasperated sigh. For someone who had already waited over two thousand years, he was growing entirely impatient. But Merlin forced a smile and nodded in agreement. "Well we should probably decide on a specific dig site then," He paused before deciding to add, "it's a good thing I haven't bought the train tickets yet."

Allistor waved off Merlin's snarky comment as he bounded off the couch. He happily treaded over to his laptop and pulled up a map of dig sites the two of them had been working on. "How about.. Framlingham castle?"

It was hard for Merlin to be mad at someone with such uncurbed eagerness. "That sounds fantastic."

That was the last change of plans they made. They packed up, and prepared themselves to find anything and everything. Of course, to Merlin, that was a whole different realm of possibilities. He hoped, at the very least, he would find out what happened to the Druids.

Merlin often wondered whether or not any people with magic other than himself survived to this day. Or if maybe there was a magical community, like the Druids. He knew, at least, if there were people with magic, they were well hidden or completely silent about their abilities. And if they were hiding, Merlin didn't blame them. His only living friend was a man who only knew one true thing about him: his name was Merlin.