Now the masked knight was Prince Chariot, the King’s son. But he was not minded to speak to Gerard his rightful name. Instead he answered the boy despitefully and with much anger, saying:
“Rash youth, know you that I am son to Duke Thierry, he who hath many times been injured by those of your house. And now I am here to end all his wrongs upon your bodies—doing to death you and that proud cockerel who sits yonder daring to name himself Duke of Bordeaux. The lands of Bordeaux are by all rights mine!”
Gerard being warned by the anger of the knight’s speech would have then fled. But his mount stumbled and Chariot bore down upon the helpless youth, his lance in crouch.
Deep into Gerard’s tender flesh struck the steel so that he was borne from his horse and fell heavily upon the packed earth of the road, and from his side there poured a thick flood of rich blood so that he swooned. Thus he did not hear Chariot’s loud shout of:
““So do I serve mine enemies. As you lie, so shall fall that other dog of Bordeaux!”
But Huon heard that shout and his heart was white-hot with his rage for he believed his young brother dead—foully slain without defense by this masked murderer. And his temper broke all bonds so that to him the whole world was as red as the blood still flowing from Gerard’s slight body.
IV. HOW HUON DID SLAY THE KING’S SON AND RODE TO COURT FOR JUSTICE
When Huon saw his loved brother Gerard lying as one dead in a spreading pool of his own blood, his rage did so rise within him that he took no heed of those about him or of aught else in the whole world save that villain who had struck down the unarmed boy. Drawing that good sword which had so long served his father, Duke Sevin, Huon rode down the hill to meet the unknown knight.
And Chariot, seeing his enemy coming so wildly and recklessly upon him, unarmed save for a sword, with no mail upon his body or helm upon his head, looked forward to an easy battle. He set ready his lance and urged his mount forward to the kill.
But Huon was no untried swordster and, seeing how this stranger meant to spit him cleanly upon lance point, he gathered his cloak about his arm and flung it at the lance—at the same time throwing his body to one side. Thus did Chariot’s lance become entangled in the folds of cloth and Huon passed unharmed by the charge although the sharp point of steel pierced his tunic and bruised the flesh beneath.
As Chariot strove to throw away his lance and free his sword from its scabbard, Huon struck. And so sharp and heavy was the blow that the Prince fell from his charger and was dead even before his body rolled in the roadway.
Huon troubled not to lift the visor of his dead enemy or look closely upon him whom he had killed. Rather did he busy himself with searching out the deep wound in Gerard’s side and binding the yet-welling slash with linen torn from his own back. Having so rudely stanched his brother’s hurt he lifted him up, still a-swoon, into the saddle of his horse and walked beside him out of the valley, leaving the dead Prince in the road alone.
Speedily was Huon joined by the knights and men of his following. And they urged that all must travel without pause lest the companions of the dead knight come out of the wood to cut them down. And all armed themselves for such an attack.
But when they reached again the party of the Abbot of Cluny, he bade them take heart for he had seen, from the hilltop, men come out of the wood to bear away the stranger. And none of these had set out on Huon’s trail.
Huon’s anger was still hot and his heart was dark with misgiving as he looked upon the white face and drooping body of his brother. And out of his deep foreboding he spoke to his men:
“Cursed be King Charlemagne if this deed was of his planning! If it was his secret purpose to so put an end to the line of Sevin—then has he lost. For while I live and stand upright on my two feet and have an arm strong enough to swing my father’s sword, I shall avenge this foul deed. Even in the very beard of the King shall I speak my mind concerning this. For such treachery there is no pardon—that we should be so enticed to our deaths!”
And naught that the Abbot could say would abate the great rage of Huon which was ever freshly kindled by the sight of Gerard who now and again moaned and cried aloud upon the name of Our Lord Jesu for reason of the keen pain of his hurt.
Meanwhile the Earl Amaury did issue forth from his ambush in the wood to speak sharply to those about the body of Chariot, ordering them to take up the dead Prince and tie him across his own saddle. Then, leading the burdened charger with his own hand he, too, rode to the King’s court, followed by his men and those of Chariot’s household. On the way he thought much of the ill he could now do to Huon because of this slaying and how he might best arouse the King’s full wrath against the youth from Bordeaux.
First to reach the court of Charlemagne was Huon and his party. And straight into the King’s presence they strode, bearing with them on a litter, fashioned of cloaks and lances, the swooning Gerard.
All those assembled there—peers, nobles and King—were much astounded at such a coming but Huon went boldly to the foot of the throne and cried aloud so that all fell silent to hear him:
“Is this the justice of King Charlemagne?”
The pride of his bearing was such that anger arose in the King’s throat for no man had so fronted him since the days of his youth. And he would have made swift return to such insolence but he was minded to know the wherefore of this strange entrance. So he made reply in more moderate voice than those of his following expected to hear, saying:
“How now, stripling. Why comest thou hither in such clamor demanding to know of our justice? Who are you and who is this youth you bear on a litter?”
“Know you, Lord King,” returned Huon, still proud of bearing, “I am that Huon of Bordeaux, son of Duke Sevin, whom you by royal decree did summon to you. And this be my brother Gerard who lies here sore stricken because, though wearing no sword or armor, he was set upon most foully by a full armored knight.
^ “Was it by your pleasure that we were so waylaid and attacked? If it was—look you now upon your handiwork and rejoice, noble King!”
Quickly Huon stooped and tore away the cloak which was wrapped about Gerard so that all might see the stained linen about his wound and how the rising blood made it like unto a corselet of ruby.
Then did Huon draw his sword and set it before him. And the torches and cresslights picked out the shining steel save where the blood of Chariot, now dried, dimmed the gleam.
“Look you here also, Lord King. These stains are the blood of the murderer who now lies dead himself—and by my hand. For so do we of Bordeaux pay just debts!”
King Charlemagne looked upon Gerard even as Huon had bade him and his heart was moved to see so fair a youth lying in such extremity. No longer was his anger turned against Huon, but rather against those who had wrought so ill a deed. And when he made answer it was a firm promise.
“Hotly do you speak, Lord Huon. But if I stood so, doubtless my words would also be aheat with just anger. Know you that this deed is as foul in my eyes as it is in yours and he who did it shall be searched out—if he who planned it was not the same who struck down your brother and was so fitly punished! Listen, all ye assembled here, it was by my will that these youths were summoned hither and what touches them, touches also me. Therefore they shall be as my sons and do you so receive them.
“Bring hither those skilled in leechcraft and let them look to the wounds of the Lord Gerard that he may be comforted.”
So was it done as the King commanded and the leeches did say that Gerard would be healed of his hurt.’
But for Chariot there was no healing in this world and Amaury thought only of how to turn the Prince’s death to his own account.