The Captain ordered Barberouge to send some of the men in his lance out to reconnoiter the countryside through which the army is passing. After an hour's ride, they come to a silent hamlet, which raises Sieur Ethelmant's interest. Sieur Jerome orders the squire Jean Patric to break down the gates of the village, at which he makes an ineffectual attempt. After a while, Jean Patric having done little more than scratch the planks of the gate, Ethelamant and Sieur Miquondor are alerted by Miquondor's companion raven of an approaching lance of cavalry, six riders in all, who soon thereafter lower their lances and charge, shouting "For Avation!".
Sieur Ethelamant readies his matchlock, bracing it on his horse's neck, and taking careful aim. He shoots the enemy leader (marked by his plate armour) in the hind leg, wounding it and causing it to fall onto its hindquarters, but the other attackers avoid it gallantly and charge on. The other knights, having mounted their horses in the meantime, begin flanking to the left, while setting their lances to recieve the charge. Three of the knights charge into them. Jerome's lance glance's his attacker's hand, and Jean Patric's shield is broken through. Miquondor is struck in the right thigh, while wounding his attacker through the right calf with sufficient force to make him drop shield and reins. A heartbeat later, the two other charging knights strike serjeant Arduin, man-at-arms to Sieur Ethelmant, whom is covering his master's retreat. One lance strikes him in the eye, shattering it and his brain beside in a fountain of blood and gore, while the other takes him through the right shoulder. Thus died Serjeant Arduin.
Meanwhile, the two knights and the squire have readied their weapons, as have their opponents. Sieur Jerome meets mace with mace, and neither man manages to breach the protection of the other's armour The young squire is dumbstruck with the horror of the battle, and his attacker hews at him with an axe. However, his fine plate armour lets him sit unmolested, abeit in a shower of gilt and enamel. Sieur Miquondor is struck full in the chest, with enough force to unhorse him, though his armour protects him well. Miquondor's horse trots off, while his attacker urges his horse to attack the prone Miquondor. However, Miquondor rolls away, and the bloodlusty horse overextends its reach, falling prone and trapping its rider's leg beneath its flank. Miquondor runs to get his horse, and remounts. Ethelmant has spread large caltrops to cover his retreat, but the two knights follow him avoid them, and spur their horses on, gaining on him.
Ethelmant heads for a nearby copse, and leaps off his horse at speed, falling and rolling, readying his gun as soon as he stops rolling. The two knights head past him, following the hoofbeat of his horse, and Ethelmant holds back, beginning to camouflage himself. Following the horse tracks, he finds and orchard where he sups upon an apple, and some time later he spots the two knights returning, having gained possession of his horse. Sieur Ethelmant tries to draw the knights into attacking with infantile insults and by baring his buttocks at them. However, their sole response is disdain, shouting that not all men share his warlord's tastes, and riding off. Sieur Ethelmant cuts a rudimentary lance from a sapling, and begins following them back.
Meanwhile, the knights of Gronne-Base are badly set upon by their opponents. Two knights now fight Jerome, while Jean Patric remains ineffectual. Sieur Miquondor sets out to aid his companions, but despite his raven's attempts to warn him, he is struck by his opponents lance unaware, though the raven's effort cause him to put his shield between him and the lance by accident. The lance belongs to the enemy leader, whom has charged into the fray. The two draw their warpicks, and hack ferociously at one another. The Giquellan knight has the worst of it, and flees from combat with a bleeding hole in his stomach. Jean Patric is unhorsed by a blow, and falls insensate. Jerome is quickly set upon by four knights. Stubbornly he refuses to surrender until their blows lay him low. The enemy knights tie up Jean-Patric and begin to help themselves to the armour of Jerome and Arduin.
However, about that time, Sieur Balthazar, having recalled evil dreams of the fate of Jean Patric, has led the remainder of his lance - Arnoul, Bespin, Sentain and Garon) northwards. He comes upon Sieur Miquondor, whom has just staunched the flow of blood from his stomach. Directed by him Balthazar and the other knights come upon the four enemy knights resting and looting. The enemy remounts and meets the Ramorosean lance charge bravely. The nine knights drop their lances and draw their melee weapons, and a churning battle ensues. Jean Patric is caught helplessly in midst of the melee, and Jerome lies senseless beside him.
The two leaders meet, and hew mightily at one another's shields. The enemy gets repeatedly stuck, both in Barberouge's armour and his shield, and both the sky blue shield of Balthazar and his enemy's golden and brown shield are badly effaced. After some time, the enemy begins to strike repeatedly at Balthazar's helmet. After a cruel wound to his right shoulder, Barberouge slips hold of his mace, and it flies wide. The red-bearded knight draws his sword, but it does little against the enemy leader. In the meantime, the two knights who pursued Sieur Ethelmant have returned, and the enemy now has the numerical advantage.
Barberouge takes advantage of a lull to break off, and pull his bound squire, caught helplessly in midst of the melee, with him away from it. He orders Miquondor, whom has watched at a distance, to help him, and said knight frees Jean Patric, and rides off with him. Sieur Garon and Sieur Sentain have both fallen, as has one of the enemy knights. Barberouge rides off with Sieurs Bespin and Arnoul. Escaping southwards, they come upon Sieur Ethelmant, whom is on foot. He charges and fires at the enemy, and bolstered by this gesture, the three turn upon four pursuers, one having been left behind to guard the fallen and the three masterless horses. In the ensuing battle, Barberouge is vindicated, when his sword point pierces his enemy's visor. After this the nameless adversary loses heart (and possibly an eye), and retreats with his men. Garon is found dead before the village, but Jerome and Sentain are alive, abeit badly wounded. An enemy knight, Sieur Aleume, is also taken hostage, and Sieur Ethelmant recovers his horse.