Gerad was free of anything but ambition - he felt cheated out of his birthright when Rashid was chosen solely (in his eyes) because he was the eldest son; the old Patriarch wanted to honor the traditions of Anuire, but in so doing he set aside Elinie's traditions of choosing the most able child. Rashids actions did also little to appease him; him letting guilders run the realm, the attempted assassination of Gerad (which he blamed Rashid/PETG for). Plus of course Gerad's claim to the throne was a nice excuse for invasion for his master-in-exile, the Duke of Osoerde.