All these have gone away. I shall dispose of my men as My Lady instructs me. She shall see how ready I am to serve her. No need to thank me for my service, either. After all, we are related! Her dashing knights are now all yours, If, like mine, they were Christians, and their skins were of the same colour, the king has not been crowned who would not find them a handful! But, I wonder, whatever brought you here? Tell me how it all happened.’

‘Yesterday I came, today I am lord of the realm. The Queen took me prisoner with her own hand, and I, yielding to discretion, defended myself with love!’

‘It seems to me that you owe your double victory over the opposing armies to the charming way you fight.’

‘You mean because I ran away from you? You challenged me at the top of your voice – what did you hope to force from me? Only now is the time for parley.’

‘Your Anchor there meant nothing to me: my mother’s brother-in-law Gandin never took it to the field.’

‘But I knew your Ostrich, and the Serpent’s Head on your shield. Your Ostrich perched high, it was not nesting! I could see from your behaviour that my capturing those two men had annoyed you. They gave a very good account of themselves.’

‘I fancy I should have fared no better. I must say that if the most loathsome devil had triumphed over the brave as you have done, the ladies would have eaten him for sugar-candy!’

‘You overpraise me.’

‘No, I cannot flatter – ask me to help you some other way.’

They summoned Razalic. ‘My cousin Gahmuret took you prisoner with his own hands,’ said Kaylet courteously.

‘That is so, my lord. In him I have recognized a warrior to whom my land of Azagouc will never deny allegiance, seeing that lord Isenhart can never wear a crown there. He was slain in the service of the lady who is now your cousin’s wife, he gave his life to win her love. Yet I have forgiven her with my kiss. I have lost a lord and kinsman. If your cousin will follow chivalric custom and make amends for Isenhart, I will fold my hands to him in homage. He will have wealth and honour, then, and all that Tankanis bequeathed to Isenhart, whose body lies embalmed out there with the army. No day has passed when I have not gazed on his wounds, since this spear tore through his heart.’ The gallant knight drew it from his bosom by a silken cord, then slipped it back next the bare skin. ‘The day is far from done. If my lord Killirjacac will bear my message to the army as I ask him, the Princes will ride back in company with him.’ – and he sent a ring to them.

Soon they were passing through the town on their way to the Palace, all those that were of princely rank, their faces black as Hell. Then by the taking and giving of pennants Gahmuret enfeoffed the Princes of Azagouc. Not one but was happy with his fief: yet the better part remained in the hands of Gahmuret, their lord.

These had been the first. But then the lords of Zazamanc approached him. At their mistress’s bidding they received their lands and revenues from him with great ceremony, each according to his due. Poverty had fled their lord! Prothizilas, who was of princely line, had left a duchy, and this Gahmuret gave in fee to one who had never failed in battle and had won great honour there – Lahfilirost schachtelacunt! He received it with pennant there and then. The noble Princes of Azagouc took Hiuteger the Scot and Norman Gaschier and.went before their sovereign. At their request he set these prisoners free, for which they thanked him.

‘Make our lord a present of the Pavilion, as a reward for his rare exploit,’ they urged Hiuteger. ‘Isenhart was snatched away from us as the result of his giving Vridebrant the proudest possession of our land: there was nothing on earth to compare with that Helmet of hard, thick adamant, that trusty friend in battle! The victim of unrequited love, he staked his whole happiness, and now pays the price in person on this bier!’

Hiuteger promised with his hand on it that when he returned to his country he would try to recover the Helmet from his overlord and return it in good order. This he did without being pressed.

The assembled Princes all crowded in to take leave of the King, and then left the Palace. Although his lands had been sadly ravaged, Gahmuret continued to shower such bounties on them, you would have thought the trees bore gold! He doled out lavish gifts. Vassals and kinsmen relieved the hero of his property, for such was the Queen’s pleasure.

Prior to these happy nuptials there had been many and great dissensions.