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
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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
peersўnamely, 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 Charle-
magne 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
