These demands were granted, peace was concluded, and Aymon, having married Aya, led her to the castle of Pierlepont, where they dwelt most happily together, and became the parents of four brave sons, Renaud, Alard, Guiscard, and Richard.  Inactivity, however, was not enjoyable to an inveterate fighter like Aymon, so he soon left home to journey into Spain, where the bitter enmity between the Christians and the Moors would afford him opportunity to fight to his heart’s content.

Years now passed by, during which Aymon covered himself with glory; for, mounted on Bayard, he was the foremost in every battle, and always struck terror into the hearts of his foes by the mere flash of his blade Flamberge.  Thus he fought until his sons attained manhood, and Aya had long thought him dead, when a messenger came to Pierlepont, telling them that Aymon lay ill in the Pyrenees, and wished to see his wife and his children once more.

In answer to these summons Aya hastened southward, and found her husband old and worn, yet not so changed that she could not recognize him.  Aymon, sick as he was, rejoiced at the sight of his manly sons.  He gave the three eldest the spoil he had won during those many years’ warfare, and promised Renaud (Reinold) his horse and sword, if he could successfully mount and ride the former.

[Sidenote:  Bayard won by Renaud.] Renaud, who was a skillful horseman, fancied the task very easy, and was somewhat surprised when his father’s steed caught him by the garments with his teeth, and tumbled him into the manger.  Undismayed by one failure, however, Renaud sprang boldly upon Bayard; and, in spite of all the horse’s efforts, kept his seat so well that his father formally gave him the promised mount and sword.

When restored to health by the tender nursing of his loving wife, Aymon returned home with his family.  Then, hearing that Charlemagne had returned from his coronation journey to Rome, and was about to celebrate the majority of his heir, Aymon went to court with his four sons.

During the tournament, held as usual on such festive occasions, Renaud unhorsed every opponent, and even defeated the prince.  This roused the anger of Charlot, or Berthelot as he is called by some authorities, and made him vow revenge.  He soon discovered that Renaud was particularly attached to his brother Alard, so he resolved first to harm the latter.  Advised by the traitor Ganelon, Chariot challenged Alard to a game of chess, and insisted that the stakes should be the players’ heads.

This proposal was very distasteful to Alard, for he knew that he would never dare lay any claim to the prince’s head even if he won the game, and feared to lose his own if he failed to win.  Compelled to accept the challenge, however, Alard began the game, and played so well that he won five times in succession.  Then Charlot, angry at being so completely checkmated, suddenly seized the board and struck his antagonist such a cruel blow that the blood began to flow.  Alard, curbing his wrath, simply withdrew; and it was only when Renaud questioned him very closely that he told how the quarrel had occurred.