Huon of the Horn
Andre Norton
CONTENTS:
ADVENTURE THE FIRST
I. WHICH TELLETH HOW KING CHARLEMAGNE SUMMONED THE PEERS OF FRANCE
II. HOW HUON RECEIVED THE KING’S COMMAND AND AMAURY PLOTTED HIS RUIN
III. HOW AMAURY AND CHARLOT DID LIE IN AMBUSH AND WHAT CHANCED THEREFROM
IV. HOW HUON DID SLAY THE KING’S SON AND RODE TO COURT FOR JUSTICE
V. OF THE EVIL AMAURY WROUGHT WITH HIS LYING TONGUE
VI. HOW HUON DEALT WITH AMAURY IN COMBAT AND THE DOOM LAID UPON HIM THEREAFTER
VII. HOW HUON DEPARTED FROM FRANCE AND GERARD RULED IN BORDEAUX
VIII. HOW HUON MET WITH THE HERMIT GERAMES AND TOOK THE ROAD THROUGH THE FAIRY WOOD
IX. HOW HUON MADE HIS PEACE WITH OBERON AND GAINED THEREBY
X. WHICH TELLETH OF THE CITY OF TORMONT AND WHAT CHANCED THEREIN
XI. HOW HUON DID CALL UP THE ELF KNIGHTS AND OF THE DOOM OF MACAIRE
XII. HOW HUON FARED AT CASTLE DUNOTHER
XIII. OF MALABRON THE SEA BEAST. AND THE GIANT AGRAPUT
XIV. HOW HUON SPAKE FALSELY AND THE EVIL THAT CAME TO HIM THEREFOR
XV. HOW GAUDYS WAS OVERBORNE AND HUON GAINED HIS HEART’S DESIRE
XVI. HOW HUON RETURNED TO FRANCE AND GERARD PLOTTED EVIL
XVII. HOW HUON STOOD IN GREAT PERIL AND GERAMES SUMMONED OBERON FOR THE LAST TIME
XVIII. OF THE TRIUMPH OF HUON AND THE FAIR PROMISE OF OBERON
ADVENTURE THE SECOND
I. HOW HUON WENT FORTH TO BATTLE AND THE LADY CLARAMONDE RECEIVED THE PILGRIMS
II. HOW THE DUKE RAOUL DID PLOT AND OF HUON’S ANSWER THERETO
III. HOW HUON SETTLED HIS QUARREL WITH RAOUL, TRUSTING IN THE EMPEROR’S JUSTICE
IV. HOW THE EMPEROR BROUGHT WAR TO BORDEAUX AND THAT CITY WAS REDUCED TO SORE STRAIT
V. HOW GERAMES WAS BROUGHT OUT OF MORTAL DANGER AND HUON WAS FORCED TO SEEK AID
VI. HOW IT FARED WITH THOSE WHO HELD BORDEAUX AGASNST THE WRATH OF THE EMPEROR
VII. OFHUON’S VOYAGE THROUGH STORMY SEAS AND HIS COMING TO THE CASTLE ADAMANT
VIII. OF THE CASTLE ADAMANT AND ITS LOATHLY GUARDIAN
IX. OF THE COMING OF THE GRIFFIN AND HUON’S ESCAPE FROM ADAMANT
X. HOW HUON DID FEAST UPON THE APPLES OF PARADISE AND HEAR ILL NEWS OF BORDEAUX
XI. HOW HUON VOYAGED UNDERGROUND AND MET WITH THE FAITHFUL BERNARD ONCE MORE
XII. HOW HUON GAINED THE GOOD WILL OF THE SHAH AND MARCHED TO FREE THE HOLY LAND
XIII. HOW HUON WAS FERRIED BY A DEMON ACROSS THE SEA AND AFTERWARDS DREAMED AN OMINOUS DREAM
XIV. OF CLARAMONDE AND HER GREAT DANGER
XV. OF HUON’S RETURN TO FRANCE AND HIS APPEARANCE AT THE COURT OF THE EMPEROR
XVI. HOW HUON MADE PEACE WITH THE EMPEROR AND RECEIVED THE MESSENGER OF OBERON
XVII. HOW HUON AND CLARAMONDE SAILED FOR OBERON’S KINGDOM AND OF THEIR ADVENTURE WITH THE WHITE MONKS
XVIII. HOW HUON AND CLARAMONDE WERE GREETED BY OBERONAND CAME INTO THEIR KINGDOM
ADVENTURE THE FIRST
I. WHICH TELLETH HOW KING CHARLEMAGNE SUMMONED THE PEERS OF FRANCE
Now it chanced that in those grim and sorrowful days which came to the court and land of France after the death of Roland and the other noble dukes and brave lords who fell with him in that last great battle against the Saracens, King Charlemagne was driven to think much of the future of his realm. And sober and stern were his thoughts because of the evil which might befall his people now that these great heroes were gone from amongst them.
Thus he was moved to summon unto his court all the paramount lords and peers yet living, that he might take council with them concerning France in the days to come. But of the mighty Twelve who had once upheld his throne there was left only the Duke Naymes of Bauyer.
To his counsel would the King ever listen, for Duke Haymes had been comrade-in-arms, shield- mate and cup-brother to those who had gone— Roland and Oliver and Ogier the Dane and all the rest of the great ones.
When all the peers and lords were assembled before him, King Charlemagne spoke out that thought which was his constant fear, namely:
“Full sorry and bereft is this kingdom, for its fairest and greatest knights lie ravens’ meat in the mountain passes. No longer doth Roland sit among you, or Oliver lift his voice in wise counsel. And I am an old man, worn thin by hard years.
“What will chance with France and with those within her borders when I lay down sword and crown at Death’s bidding? This is the question I would now have you answer for me.
“Name you now my successor, for time hangs like a heavy cloak about my shoulders and this crown, which was but a featherweight in the days of my youth, is now a circle of lead wearing grievously upon my white head.
“Aye, I have two sons. But neither one can I with a clear conscience bring before you and say, “This is he who shall sit on the throne in my room.’
“For the younger, Louis, is still but a stripling in years, untried and unproven, and so no king for a troubled age. As for the elder. Chariot—a bringer of sorrow has he already been in times past. Did he not give freedom to his red temper and strike down the son of Ogier, thus near calling ruin upon us all? Therefore, if you think it well to set aside Chariot, although I do love him well, I shall not say you nay. For a kingdom is like unto a new-broke stallion, a firm and knowing hand must hold the guiding rein.
“Now among yourselves do you ponder this matter and your words shall be my will.”
Having so spoken the King withdrew into an inner chamber and the peers glanced uneasily at one another, no man wishing to speak before his neighbor lest his words be thought foolish and of small merit.
But Duke Naymes, having reason to fear no man there, arose then and spoke, all listening to him.
“Since our Lord King hath laid this task upon us let us acquit ourselves as becomes peers of France. The King hath spoken truly concerning Prince Louis. He is but a youth who hath never been put to the test, nor has he yet known the weight of mail, or held a full course against the enemy in the open field. Therefore he is no proper leader for knights in war, nor does he yet have the full wisdom of a man.
“But Prince Chariot is of greater years and hath held his place in battle. True, he hath done much that was foolish and devil, but how does a man learn wisdom, save through the sharpness of his own wrongdoing? And perhaps the Prince hath long since learned the errors of his hot-tempered youth and now governs himself as befits a knight of honor. Also, he is of the true blood of kings and if we now set him aside there will be no peace in the land when King Charlemagne is dead. For there will be those who will follow Chariot to the death and we shall have brother against brother and father against son in unnatural war. It will end in the ruin of us all.
“Therefore I now say and urge upon you all, my lords, choose Chariot to come after the king so that our future may be one of peace.”
The peers and lords were well pleased at this advice, for the truth of the Duke’s words was plain, even to the slowest of wit among them. So they sent one of their number to wait upon the King with the knowledge that they had made their choice. And he straightway returned to the council chamber.
Duke Haymes then spake aloud the will of the peers—namely, that Prince Chariot be king after his father. And King Charlemagne was well pleased and more merry than he had been for many a long day. For greatly did he love his son and he was proud that the peers would choose Chariot who, for his sins in the past, was much hated in the land.
Now among the lords in council was one, Earl Amaury, who was of the same black traitor blood as that twice-damned villain Gannelon (he who betrayed Roland and his fellow knights to their deaths). And this Amaury was as foul a rogue as Gannelon himself. But he was also fair efface and pleasant of voice, very courteous to those who could serve him in some wise. So was the depth of his evil soul hidden to most men and Charlemagne had made him governor to Prince Chariot.
Only one of the great lords had ever suspected that it was Amaury who had taught the young Prince much of the wickedness which he practiced. And that lord was Duke Sevin who ruled wisely and well the rich duchies of Bordeaux and Aquitaine. Although Sevin was dead these many years, Amaury’s hate for him was so great that even death could not still it and, since he could not attack Sevin, he planned revenge against the Duke’s two young sons, Huon and Gerard. These youths he swore secretly to bring to ruin and shameful death.