Maugis, with an escort, then rode on in advance to the city of Dordogne, where, when they learned of his arrival, the inhabitants came out to meet him, with cheers and cries of joy. The enthusiasm soon penetrated throughout the city and its environs, and that day, at least, everybody was rejoicing. The next day Maugis received the oaths of fealty of the lords from all the surrounding country. For eight days nobody had appeared on the ramparts of Montaubon, visible to the camp of Charlemagne. The emperor decided that everyone must have succumbed, that the fortress could be entered without danger, and when a short time afterward Roland, Olivier, and the Duke de Naimes rode in, having battered down the great gate, they were greeted everywhere with silence. Everywhere in the city and the fortress decaying bodies were lying about, unburied, emitting the most pestilential odors, which finally became so great they were forced to retreat. In vain they searched for Maugis and his brothers. It was impossible to find them. Maugis was very soon apprised that Charlemagne had occupied Montaubon and was sorely tempted to besiege him in retaliation and submit him to the same tortures he had suffered. But in this he was deterred by the conscientious Yolande, who said: “While thine oath of fealty might permit thee to defend thyself, if attacked by him, it will surely be a violation of it if thou dost attack him.” Meanwhile, the principal lords of the court could not conceal their joy at the escape of the sons of Aymon, and later, when the scouts sent in all directions to discover their whereabouts reported to the emperor that they had retired to Dordogne, where they had raised a formidable army, the emperor at once gave orders to raise the camp. He directed the march of his army to Montorgueil, a few leagues from Dordogne, persisting in his vindictiveness in attacking the sons of Aymon anew. Learning of this movement, Maugis would not this time suffer himself to be besieged the way he was at Montaubon. He mounted his horse and set out to meet the enemy, having first said to his soldiers in a proclamation that personally he would not enter a fight against Charlemagne, but for the fact he desired to give them an opportunity to avenge those dear ones they had lost. Arriving at a short distance from the imperial army, Maugis stopped and sent forward his esquire, bearing a piece of olive branch to demand peace of the emperor. This envoy was badly received by the emperor, who greeted him with harsh words and insults, and gave orders to commence the attack.