In the following tournament, Adhemar and William are both assigned to tilt against Sir Thomas Colville, but they learn that he is actually Edward, the Black Prince
. Adhemar withdraws, but William continues the match, further earning Edward's respect. William continues to achieve victories as Adhemar is called to the battlefield. He proves his love for Jocelyn by complying when she first asks him to deliberately lose (in contrast to the countless knights who promise to win tournaments in her name), and then, just before he would be eliminated, to win the tournament in her name after all.
The group travels to London for the World Championship. William recalls leaving his father to squire for Sir Ector and learn to become a knight hoping to "change his stars". Adhemar has also arrived in London and announces that he is in negotiations with Jocelyn's father for her hand in marriage. William dominates at the tournament and he returns to visit his father, now blind and living alone in Cheapside
, but is discovered by Adhemar, who alerts the authorities as to William's false identity. William is placed in the pillory
but is defended from the hostile crowd by his friends. Just as the mob reaches its frenzy, Prince Edward emerges from the crowd, noting that his friends' dedication to him reflects an ability to inspire others that is in the best traditions of knighthood. In acknowledgement of William's decision to continue to joust with him, Edward declares that William is in fact descended from a noble lineage and knights him "Sir William."
William returns to the tournament to face Adhemar in the final match, but Adhemar cheats with an illegal sharpened lance, piercing William's shoulder and seriously injuring him. Entering the final pass, William is losing by two lances. He demands to be stripped of his armour and tilts against Adhemar, Chaucer buying time by performing his introduction of William that he omitted earlier. With Jocelyn and William's father in...