He tells them a story, but quickly becomes annoyed with the boys and threatens to hit them with his shillelagh if they refuse to leave him alone.

As the boys are walking on the beach after visiting St Toirdelbach, Sir Grummor Grummursum and King Pellinore arrive on the shore in a magic barge.

Along with them is a Saracen knight named Sir Palomides, who has apparently befriended them between the previous book and their arrival in the Orkney islands.

The knights had entered the boat and had been unable to turn it around, causing Pellinore to become so lovesick that he no longer wishes to hunt the Questing Beast, his lifelong passion.

He announces to Merlyn that he plans to put down Lot's rebellion and then use his power to enforce justice throughout his kingdom.

The boys consult St Toirdelbach and then attempt to catch a live unicorn to present to their mother.

Merlyn angrily informs him that there is a certain Austrian who shares Kay's views, and "plunged the world into bloody chaos."

Gareth rushes to the stables to tell his brothers that she loves them, and finds that Gawaine and Agravaine are having a heated argument.

Early the next morning King Pellinore is walking alone on the beach when he spots Palomides and Grummore stuck on the cliff, with the Questing Beast waiting for them below.

He explains that the Beast has fallen in love with them, as she thinks that they are her mate when they are in disguise, and he refuses to slay the creature.

Contrary to the code of chivalry (or at least White's version of it) he also attacks the enemy knights first rather than the foot soldiers.

Arthur realises that it is wrong to slaughter peasants for the fun of knights, as Merlyn had insisted in his lessons.

The defeated Lot returns home and the three English knights are shocked to learn that Orkney has been at war with England.

Morgause heads south to England in order to reconcile with the English, and brings with her her sons and the three knights.

The general outline is similar, but the tone is darker and more violent and many of the details are different; Sir Palomides is the tutor to the boys, for example, and the satire of Queen Morgause is longer and less comical.