"Well and knightly spoken," said Tristram. "Hard blows is what we court. Your counsel is well given."
"So think we all," said the others.
On the morrow, when day had broken, they arrayed themselves in green trappings, with shields and spears of green, while Isolde and her three damsels wore dresses of the same color. For the ladies Tristram found seats in a bay window of a priory which overlooked the field, and from which they could see all that took place. This done, they rode straight to the party of the king of Scots.
When Arthur saw this he asked Lancelot who were these knights and the queenly lady who came with them.
"That I cannot say for certain. Yet if Tristram and Palamides be in this country then it is they and La Belle Isolde."
Then Arthur turned to Kay and said,—
"Go to the hall and see how many Knights of the Round Table are missing, and bring me word."
Kay did so, and found by the roll of knights that ten were wanting,—Tristram, Dinadan, and eight others.
"Then I dare say," remarked Arthur, "that some of these are here to-day against us."
The tournament began with a combat in which two knights, cousins to Gawaine, named Sir Edward and Sir Sadok, rode against the king of Scots and the king of North Wales and overthrew them both. This Palamides saw, and in return he spurred upon these victorious knights and hurled both of them from their saddles.