The Keys of Time

The story in The Keys of Time by Luísa Villalta is told by Silence, not for her contemporaries (who are busy with other things), but for those who have yet to be born. There is in Galicia a good king named Arturo, a descendant of King Arthur, under whom the kingdom prospers. But he is troubled by skirmishes on his borders and a dwindling army. He has two sons, Afonso and Pedro, but is unsure who should succeed him. The mythical King Arthur comes to him in a dream and tells him to make two keys that look alike, one of gold, the other of iron. The gold key will ensure that prosperity continues, but the iron one will usher in chaos and destruction. King Arturo dispatches his sons to deal with his enemies and gives them each a key, saying that the one who returns first will become king in his stead and must exile the other. But neither of them will know which key he has. Afonso is so noble he can be cruel and selfish; Pedro is the king's favorite because of his kindness and skill in the arts. The two sons go off to war, Afonso accompanied by the best knights at court, Pedro by plebeians with no training, but who are fervently loyal. The stage is set to see who will return first, each believing they hold the key to the kingdom's future.
Luísa Villalta (1957-2004) was a Galician writer, professional violinist, and schoolteacher. Her life and works were celebrated on Galician Literature Day in 2024. The Keys of Time is her best-known title. Kathleen March is Emerita Professor of Spanish at the University of Maine and an honorary member of the Royal Galician Academy. She has translated numerous Galician authors into English.