With that the knight departeth, and the King remaineth at Cardoil. He
sendeth for Briant of the Isles, his seneschal, and a great part of his
knights, and demandeth counsel of them what he may do. Messire Ywain
saith that he killed Meliant in the King's service, as one that warred
upon his land, albeit the King had done him no wrong, and had so made
common cause with the King's enemies without demanding right in his
court. Nor never had Meliant appealed Lancelot of murder nor of
treason, nor required him of the death of his father. Rather, Lancelot
slew him in open war, as one that warred upon his lord by wrong.
"Sir," saith Messire Ywain to the King, "Howsoever Lancelot might have
wrought in respect of Meliant, your land ought not to be called to
account, for you were not in the kingdom, nor knew not that either had
done other any wrong, and therefore say I that King Claudas will do
great wrong and he bring plaint or levy war against you on this
account."
"Messire Ywain," saith Briant of the Isles, "matter of common knowledge
is it that Lancelot slew the lord of the Waste Manor and Meliant his
son after the contention that was betwixt King Arthur and me. But,
after that he had slain the father, he ought of right to have taken
good heed that he did no wrong to the son, but rather ought he to have
sought peace and accord."