This chapter opens with commentary on the world in which the story takes place: it is a world largely ruled by lack of motivation and mediocrity, but perhaps some “diluted will” was enough to accrete and merge with an empty suit of armor, creating Agilulf. The narrator then reveals herself to be Sister Theodora, a nun of the Order of Saint Columbia, who is attempting to record these events as a kind of penance. She feels that she will be unable to recount the battle as she has never experienced war, but she proceeds to describe a number of instances that suggest she does, in fact, know a great deal about war.

She then describes Raimbaut waiting for the signal for battle. He is disillusioned with his quest for vengeance given the lack of pomp associated with battle. Theodora describes the great chaos of the battle; soon the two sides must resort to insulting each other rather than physically fighting, because all the bodies on the ground and dust in the air make movement and visibility impossible. Neither side can understand the other, so translators are employed during the battle to convey insults to the other side.

Raimbaut charges into battle and clashes with a Moorish fighter. Raimbaut strikes a deal with the fighter: Raimbaut will let him pass if he discloses the location of Isohar. The Moor points, and Raimbaut gallops off. Raimbaut unintentionally begins fighting Isohar’s spectacle bearer and shatters Isohar’s glasses at the same time that someone else plunges a lance through Isohar, killing him. 

Raimbaut feels conflicted, unsure if breaking Isohar’s glasses led to Isohar’s death, but he is filled with resolve and rides off to find another living opponent to fight. He finds himself in a valley and spots a Moor who leads him on a chase and into an ambush. After Raimbaut fights with the attackers briefly, another Christian knight wearing periwinkle joins to help him. They eventually rout the enemy, and Raimbaut thanks his savior, who does not reply and rides away. 

Raimbaut attempts to follow, feeling insulted by the rebuff, but he realizes that his horse is dead on his feet. He dismounts and kisses his dead horse’s snout, then attempts to pursue his savior. He stops to get a drink from a stream and finds the periwinkle knight’s horse tied to a tree. Upon further investigation, he finds that the knight, naked from the waist down, is actually a woman. As she squats to pee, Raimbaut decides that he is madly in love with her. She sees him peering at her, throws a dagger at him, and runs away.

At the end of the day, Raimbaut describes to his fellow knights the lady knight that he has fallen for, and they laugh and inform him that she is Bradamante, who is only interested in generals and grooms. Raimbaut wishes he could find Agilulf, sure that Agilulf will understand him.