With this deep in his snake-brain, he arose now and, smiling as he ever did, addressed the King, saying:
“Lord King, young men must learn many things in this hard world and he who would rule a kingdom hath doubly much to master. Therefore, while you are yet amongst us to advise and oversee him, let Prince Chariot be given a dukedom to hold, that he may learn to govern the larger in the smaller.”
The King nodded at the wit in this, as did the other peers. But Duke Naymes drummed with his nails upon the broad arm of his chair, for he had been friend to Duke Sevin and had heard much from him concerning the foulness of Amaury. So that now he suspected a wrong in the making.
“There is,” Amaury, encouraged by the King’s smiles, continued, “a fair duchy, rich and mighty, meet for any prince, which is forfeit to Your Majesty because of the rash rebellion of its natural lords. Let this be given now to Prince Chariot for his testing.”
King Charlemagne showed open surprise, for he could not remember any rebel duchy. And he asked:
“Name you this Duke who is rebel against us.”
Amaury replied readily and openly enough:
“My Lord King, I speak of Bordeaux which is forfeit to Your Grace, since Huon and his brother Gerard who now rule there have not come to your court to do homage for their lands—as is your will and the law of France. Duke Sevin, their father, is long dead, and yet never have their faces been seen among your lords.”
Then did Duke Naymes rise up in such haste as to nigh overturn his chair of state. Black with anger was his face and hot his voice as he made answer:
“The truth of this matter is otherwise, Lord King. When Sevin, who was much loved amongst us and for good cause, departed into Paradise, his sons were but green youths, untried in judgment or battle. And in their names the Duchess Aclis hath ruled these many years. Greatly did she love Sevin and greatly does she love these sons of his who are much like him as he was in the days of his first youth. Therefore she cannot bear that they go from her or that they be placed in any risk. So have they not yet come to court by reason of their tender years and their mother’s great love for them—and not because of any willful rebellion against Your Grace. In proof of my words—send now to Bordeaux and summon these two!”
As Naymes spoke, King Charlemagne remembered well Duke Sevin and bethought himself that the sons of such a worthy father could not be judged rebels without good cause. So he called to him two trusty knights and laid these commands upon them:
“Go you now to the city of Bordeaux and there seek out the sons of Duke Sevin and his lady, the Duchess Aclis. And in my name bid them come to court that they may do homage and be confirmed in their father’s lands according to the laws of France. Mark you well how they make you welcome and whether they pay you the full honors becoming those who carry the king’s words. A then return hither at all speed and report how; were received.”
And the knights rode with their men for Edeaux but Earl Amaury’s hate grew even hoi against Huon and his brother and he went to plot in secret for their undoing.
II. HOW HUON RECEIVED THE KING’S COMMAND AND AMAURY PLOTTED HIS RUIN
When those knights who played herald at the order of the King reached the fair and pleasant city of Bordeaux they rode straight to the Keep of that city where lived and held court the Duchess Aclis and her sons. And these same youthful lords had but that hour returned from the chase so that they stood yet in the courtyard, each bearing upon his wrist his gerfalcon, hooded and jessed.
But when the King’s men made known their presence Huon did come forward to greet them in great eagerness and with his own hand did he hold the stirrup of the eldest knight for his dismounting, showing him the courtesy which he would have paid to the King himself. Right pleasantly too did the Duchess Aclis and Lord Gerard welcome them, receiving them with all honors, so that the knights were much pleased, saying privately to one another:
“Were our Lord King here these lords of Bordeaux could show him no better greeting than they have given to us.”
When they had refreshed themselves from their journey and could want no comfort, then did Huon ask of them their business and why Charlemagne had so sent them to Bordeaux. And the eldest made reply for them all:
“It is the will of our lord and dread master, King Charlemagne of France, that the sons of Duke Sevin come unto him and join his court that they may be made known unto their brother peers and confirmed in their lands as is the law.”
The Duchess Aclis hastened to make answer, saying:
“If our Lord King hath now any fault to find with my dear sons because they have not sought his court before, let the full weight of his just anger fall upon me. When my gracious lord. Duke Sevin, departed from me into the realm beyond our stars, he left me desolate and fearful, with but infants to comfort me. In their childish faces I saw ever my lord and I could not bear that they should go out of my keeping, even for the space of an hour. But now that they are men grown—though still of tender years—I can no longer rule their lives by a woman’s jealous fears. Let them but wait until after the Easter season so that once more we may celebrate together the Rising of Our Lord Jesu, and I shall surrender them to the King so that they may become his men in all things, even as was their noble father.”
Huon arose then, his comely face shining with pride and pleasure, and said to the King’s messengers:
“Go then to our Lord King and say unto him that we are much honored by his commands and shall speedily set forth to appear at his court, obeying only this last wish of our lady mother, that we celebrate the Rising of Christ by her side. Take you also, in remembrance of this meeting, these coursers of the Orkney breed—may they bear you faithfully and well into the heart of battle or over the roads of peace—and with them take also the knights’ cloaks which hang upon their saddles and the purses looped therewith. For to the messengers of a King no man can do too much honor.”
Then were the King’s knights indeed amazed, for such costly gifts were the largess of a great lord. And with great joy they did put on the fine silken cloaks of deep crimson and mount the war stallions. Many thanks did they say before they rode again through the gates of Bordeaux.
And when they returned to the King’s court ! they spoke together and severally concerning ,;
Huon and his brother and the open-handed Duchess. Too much praise they could not give to the lords and lady of Bordeaux.
“Lord Huon,” said the eldest knight, “is even yet but a slender stripling but he is prince-like in his courtesy and fine speaking. He is the most comely of face and person, the finest lording, that I have seen within the borders of France since our beloved Roland was a youth. And his brother Gerard is like unto him, though not as mighty a warrior as yet, being slighter of person and younger of years. Greatly do the twain of them honor Your Grace and much eagerness to come to you do they show, staying only with their mother until after the Eastertide that they may obey her last request.”
His messengers then showed the King the princely gifts which had been made them and he was astonished and greatly pleased to see such honor shown to his knights. So he did vow before the assembled lords and peers:
“In the days which are now long past Duke Sevin of Bordeaux was cup-brother and swordmate to us and he was loved even as a brother of our own blood. Worthy was he of all good will and high honor and now it seems that he hath left behind him on this earth two sons bred of his spirit as well as of his flesh. For as this young Lord Huon hath treated my messengers, so did his father render homage in the old days to those to whom honor was due.
“Such young lords will be ornaments to our assemblage. And I do swear that when they come hither Huon shall be proclaimed a peer of France, even as he will be confirmed in his holding of Bordeaux and Aquitaine. And Gerard shall be made a member of our own household to his advancement.”