In Soria with its splendid keep Bertrand treated the Marshal with honour that day, seeing him served with a lavish dinner. Then all agreed to set off without delay for the great land of France. Bertrand prepared for the journey at once.

He now had a company of only five hundred, but they pressed on as it pleased the Creator until, one very hot Thursday, they reached the county of Foix with its many towers. They found the good count296 at Ventadour. He was at that time waging war, unwisely, on the count of Armagnac. Armagnac was demanding battle, and when the count of Foix heard that the noble warrior Bertrand was coming to those parts, to his domain, he went and greeted him with honour!

‘Bertrand! By the Saviour!’ said the count. ‘I hold you in esteem and love, and so I should: there's no finer man than you in all the world! But your younger brother Olivier's another matter. I've cause to complain on his account: he serves the count of Armagnac, and day and night he does me damage and dishonour!’

‘In faith,’ Bertrand replied, ‘he's acting very properly considering the count's his master and his lord: he takes his money so he owes him service! He'd be a traitor if he did otherwise.

‘Noble count of Foix,’ said Bertrand, ‘if my dear brother's chosen to side with the count of Armagnac and is taking his pay, he owes him service. By all the saints, I'd do the same for you! If I were taking your gold and silver I'd support you, even against my brother!’

‘By God, Bertrand,’ said the count, ‘I'll give you a packhorse-load of gold and silver if you'll promise to support me against all men.’

‘Let me answer that,’ said Bertrand. ‘I'll undertake indeed to bear my sword for you against all – except the fleur-de-lis. I must never do harm to that: you'll never see me bear arms against the fleur-de-lis, no, I'll do all I can to elevate it: nothing else beside it do I value. Listen: I'll broker peace between you and Armagnac, and if he refuses to accept your terms I'll call my brother back to me.’

So Bertrand made a pact with the count of Foix, and then set off and pressed on swiftly, not stopping till he reached Languedoc.