The defeated company descends from the mountains, surviving thanks to Nimue's magic. They trudge south in silence, mourning their losses and the broken Lance. Crossing a familiar meadow, Bedivere identifies a weathered shield as that of Sir Bleoberys of the Wilderness, and Collum confesses he was the knight who killed the uncouth stranger he buried there. They pass the Two Moons inn, where two cheerful young liverymen in red and white announce that King Galahad rules Britain, allegedly returned from the dead, and demand the knights present themselves at Camelot.

At Camelot, disarmed and led to a bare audience chamber alongside a sullen Sir Melehan, the company discovers that 'King Galahad' is in fact Lancelot, whose true baptismal name was Galahad. He explains that Constantine convinced him to leave the monastery, that he allowed the kingdom to believe he was the resurrected perfect knight, that he killed Rience in trial by combat, and that he made Melehan king of Orkney to settle the succession. They share food while Dinadan recounts the failed quest.

Lancelot questions Collum about the chapel, then suddenly attacks with a fire poker, intending to murder them all. He reveals his vision: a pure, wholly Christian Britain, achieved by erasing pagans and standing stones, which will compel God's return. Melehan attempts to defend the knights and Lancelot snaps his neck instantly. Lancelot offers Nimue her life if she frees Merlin; she refuses. Lancelot overwhelms them with breathtaking martial skill until Nimue animates the hearth fire to envelop him, allowing the company to batter down the door and flee.

Pursued through the castle, they emerge onto a high parapet trapped between Lancelot and archers. Lancelot reveals Constantine is dead. As Collum, sensing his end, cries out for Arthur, a flying boat crashes onto the parapet. Its pilot, shooting arrows at Lancelot, urges them aboard. They leap in; Bedivere fends Lancelot off and hurls himself over the battlements, caught at the stern. The pilot tacks away to safety: it is Queen Guinevere.