Wheel of the Fates: Book Two of the Carolingian Chronicles

by J. Boyce Gleason

  Regaining his tent, he even changed into a clean set if clothes. He felt as if he had been made anew. He took a few moments to say a short prayer of thanks and then he sent for Hamar.

  His lieutenant had also bathed and acquired clean clothes. He had not, however, lost his scowl.

  “The Hessians are encamped east of us, just over the horizon.”

  Carloman ordered a servant to bring food and the two sat down for the meal. “What are they doing?”

  “Same thing we are, gathering supplies. Our foraging teams ran into each other.”

  “Bloodshed?”

  Hamar shook his head. “They’re just as tired as we are.”

  “Won’t stay that way for long. How many men do they have left?”

  “They have more men than they used to.”

  Carloman arched an eyebrow.

  “It’s the fire. The chieftains are using it to recruit anyone able to carry a spear. We burnt them out of their homes. And the men who have lost everything – their homes and families – they have nowhere else to go. The forest was their life. We likely have created a generation of enemies with that fire.”

  Carloman nodded. “Yet, they’ve learned the consequence of rebellion. We are the swords of God here on earth. The sooner they understand that the less likely they’ll be to revolt.”

  “We should attack the Hessians now while our numbers give us a clear advantage,” Hamar stood to pace inside the tent.

  Carloman waved for him to take a seat. Hamar’s pacing was always a distraction. “I would rather not lose half our men in combat before we reach Regensburg. That’s where the real fight will be.”

  Hamar shook his head. “But here we face a smaller, poorly trained enemy. If we wait, we risk a two-front battle between Odilo and the Hessians. They’ll have us surrounded. If we attack the Hessians now, we eliminate that advantage.”

  Knowing in his heart that Hamar was right, Carloman nodded. “I suppose waiting for Pippin isn’t much of a strategy. Tomorrow we’ll break camp, make our way south, and choose our ground. Then all we have to do is wait for the Hessians to arrive.”

  Carloman sent pigeons meant for Pippin, hoping they would find his brother already on his way.

  The next morning, they broke camp and headed south towards the Danube. It wasn’t long before their scouts brought word that the Hessian army was mirroring their movement.

  Three days later they reached the river valley and Carloman ordered his army to make camp. Regensburg was a seven-day march from their position and his scouts put the Hessians less than a day to the north.

  Carloman chose a field where his army would have an advantage and waited for the Hessians to arrive. When they did, they would find themselves fighting up hill and facing into the sun.

  Unfortunately, the Hessians had their own plans. Carloman’s scouts reported that the Hessians had formed ranks on a nearby field. It wasn’t long before a messenger arrived from the enemy camp. Hamar took a scroll from the man and opened it.

  “What is it?” Carloman said.

  “They want to parley. They ask to meet on neutral ground.”

  “Where?”

  “A bridge just to the north. We passed it on our way here. They asked for no more than five knights apiece.”

  “When?”

  “The day after tomorrow at noon.”

  “They’re delaying – giving Odilo time to arrive. Tell them I’ll meet them at noon tomorrow or not at all.”

  ✽✽✽

  Carloman waited at the bridge with Drogo and three of his Knights in Christ. The silhouette of five riders crossed the ridge to their north. Even from a distance, Carloman could see they weren’t all Hessians. One of the knights carried an Alemannian banner. Carloman swore under his breath.

  “What is it, father?” Drogo shifted nervously in his saddle.

  “We had planned on fighting poorly trained Hessians. Alemannians are another factor altogether. They’re professional soldiers and much more disciplined. It will be a far more difficult and costly battle.”

  As the riders approached the bridge, Carloman cursed again, this time much louder.

  “Father?”

  “It’s Theudebald.”

  He was older than Carloman remembered, but the bastard was anything but aged. The Alemannian exuded power and malevolence on a scale that few men could, and the scar on his face did little to belie the effect. He rode his warhorse casually to the end of the bridge and spat.

  “Why if it isn’t Carloman the Weak.”

  “I seem to remember that you were banished, Theudebald. Yet here you are – with an army no less.”

  “Charles is dead. My vow to him is dead. And by this time tomorrow, you will be as well.”

  Carloman had always thought such banter childish. “Tell your men that I will pardon them if they leave now and go home. Otherwise, I’ll destroy your army and hunt them down. You are vastly outnumbered and half your men are farmers and children with sticks in their hands. Why should they be sacrificed for your vanity?”

  Theudebald laughed. “Your arrogance is your undoing, Carloman. You thought the Hessians would never ally with Alemannia. Yet here we are. And in such great numbers!”

  Theudebald snort with derision.

  “They’re here because of you, Carloman. You gave me these men. You burned their villages. You destroyed their homes. They have nowhere else to go. Thanks to you we have twice the number of Hessians ready to fight. And they despise you more than anyone alive – more than the Saxons. More than me! And they’ll fight you with their bare hands if need be.”

  Carloman shrugged. “Then they will die.”

  Theudebald pointed at Drogo. “Who is this? You bring boys to fight your battles?”

  “My son Drogo.”

  “Where’s your younger brother, the real warrior? Why isn’t he here alongside you? Is there trouble at home? Without him, you won’t defeat me let alone Odilo.”

  “I’m not worried about you, Theudebald. You’ve always believed you’re a better general than you are. Charles knew it and so do I.”

  “You are not your father, Carloman. Not half the man. And Drogo is half of your half. Charles would have engaged days ago. Weeks! But you? You cower with your army waiting for the perfect ground. I will choose the ground on which we fight and I will have the upper hand. Why? Because I can afford to wait. Time is my ally, not yours. Every hour you delay brings Odilo closer to us and you know you can’t afford to fight on two fronts. Time is running out. Attacking me is your best bet. You will have to come to me. And I will be ready.”

  Carloman smiled. “I doubt that. Hamar is leading the attack as we speak.”

  Theudebald looked shocked. “You violate parley?”

  “Our parley is still unbroken. You are under no personal threat from me. It’s your army that’s under attack.”

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Regensburg

  Within a week, Kovrat had organized the men into three units of forty men each. Each unit was made up of eight squads with a designated leader. He drilled them first on defensive tactics using spear and shield to hold positions against a superior force. He was ruthless in his assessment of weakness and drilled the men to the point of exhaustion to shore up their vulnerabilities. In the way of good commanders everywhere, he gave them names based on their size, looks and ability and although they complained, Trudi was sure they secretly enjoyed his attention.

  Kovrat drilled the men in defending the palace, setting defensive line after defensive line for them to protect as they retreated. He established teams of five to guard her person and set rules for how they were to position themselves and how to enter a room. Trudi insisted on being present during his instructions to learn as much as she could about how the guard was supposed to act. If she had questions, she asked them and, the most part, Kovrat answered.

  Satisfied that her guard was being shaped into a lethal force, Trudi turned her attention to stopping the war between her husb
and and her two brothers. There , she found no easy answers. Odilo had refused to budge on the question and Trudi had no means to reach out to either Carloman or Pippin. After a week spent pondering the dilemma, she sent for Tobias.

  The former wine merchant entered her chambers, nervously eyeing the guards outside her door. Even after months in her service, he was still uncomfortable being a commoner surrounded by nobility. She gestured to the chair beside her and took his hand in hers to put him at ease.

  “I have one last task for you to undertake.”

  “Last? Have I failed you, milady?”

  His distress touched her deeply. For too long he had been her only friend in Regensburg. “You’ve more than paid your debt, Tobias. You took care of me when no one else would. But I’ve kept you from your family far too long.”

  Her voice caught in her throat. She was sending him home, sending him away. Even a month ago, that would have been inconceivable to her.

  Tobias made light, easing her emotion. “I’m not sure my family would see it that way. I think they’ve enjoyed my time here.” His face grew serious. “We didn’t come here by accident. The Fates intervened in both our lives and I for one am not sorry they did. You escaped the Prince of the Lombards and I was given a chance to pay my debt to my commander, Bradius. I was glad to make good on it. It had weighed heavily on me for years.”

  He leaned forward, his voice falling to a conspiratorial whisper. “I am honored to have known you. It’s a rare thing to befriend a Duchesse, milady. I begrudge none of my time serving you. I only worry that with me gone, you will be alone amongst the wolves.”

  Trudi patted his hand, to distract him from the tears crowding her eyes. “I’m no longer alone, Tobias. I have a husband to protect, a newborn to raise, and a guard to defend me. But I will miss you.”

  “I will always be yours to command, milady.”

  She nodded in acknowledgement and they stood. “Unfortunately, this assignment will require a further delay in your family’s reunion and pose some danger as well.”

  “Have I yet turned from hazard, milady?”

  Trudi smiled and handed him a sealed letter. “This is addressed to Sergio, Legate to the Holy See in Rome. I want you to personally hand it to him and no other.”

  The color drained from Tobias’ face. “It is a Christian city, milady. I’m a pagan. They’ll kill me.”

  She handed Tobias a ring. “This should be enough to protect you and to give you entry to see Sergio. You’re there as my messenger. Nothing more or less. I’ll send men with you for protection but speak nothing of religion. It will only draw attention to you.”

  Some of the color returned to Tobias’ face. “When am I to leave?”

  “Tomorrow morning. Tell anyone who cares that you are going home to be with your family in Donauwörth. In two days, my men will meet you there to take you south to Rome.”

  Tobias bowed to take his leave. “As milady commands.”

  “And Tobias? Take this.” She tossed him a bag filled with denarii.

  He looked at the bag as he weighed it in his hand. “A minor fortune, milady. Far less would be enough for the journey.”

  “You’ve earned far more in my service. The rest is yours. You saved my life and put yourself at risk for me. You’ve kept my secrets. But, most of all, you’ve been a friend when I sorely needed a friend. I am forever in your debt.”

  Tobias bowed and took his exit.

  ✽✽✽

  It was late in the afternoon when Trudi with two guards in tow mounted the western wall to watch the sunset. It was a cool evening, and she drew a shawl around her, shuddering at the cold breeze off the Danube.

  She used to wait for her father back home at Quierzy on nights like this, standing on the rampart, hoping to catch a glimpse of the army’s return. Now she was awaiting Carloman’s army. He would come from the west and God help them all if Pippin was with him. She could imagine Odilo strutting before his men, dressed in armor that reflected the sun’s light. He would shout out commands and the army would advance, confident in their numbers and their passion to protect their homeland.

  But they would be mistaken. Carloman’s army was well blooded and Carloman well versed in tactical advantage. Odilo was no match.

  That was, of course, assuming Carloman’s army survived the journey intact. She had heard rumors that the Hessians had greatly weakened his army.

  “He who waits for death, soon finds it,” a voice called out from behind her.

  Trudi turned to find Kovrat striding across the rampart. Her two guards gave way before him, allowing her sword master to stand beside her.

  She chuckled. “Then why are you here?”

  “I had heard you took your evening hours on the wall. I thought I might join you.”

  Trudi nodded and turned back to the sunset.

  “Are your brothers as good as Charles in battle?”

  “No one is as good as Charles in battle. But they are good.” She turned back to look Kovrat in the eye. “They’re better than Odilo and his generals.”

  Kovrat frowned. “They will be far from home and weakened before they arrive.”

  “They will still be better than Odilo and his generals.” She couldn’t keep the anger from her words. “Our only hope is keeping Pippin from the field. If we fight the two of them, we’ll fail.”

  Kovrat played with his beard. “Strange things can happen in battle. The outcome is never assured. All you can do is to be prepared to take advantage if the Fates show you the way.”

  “What if the Fates don’t care?”

  “Then you must trust your guard’s preparedness to protect you from the Frankish horde.”

  Trudi grunted. “That’s not who I worry about. I worry about the Alemannians, the Hessians, the Slavs, and even the Bavarians. If Odilo dies – and right now that looks like a strong possibility – I’ll be a woman alone with only my child’s birthright to protect me. I’m not afraid of our enemies, Kovrat. I’m afraid of our friends.”

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  West of Regensburg

  Carloman had sent Hamar through the woods to mount the attack. It would be a difficult journey, especially for the warhorses, but they hoped the element of surprise would make it worth the effort. They had planned for Hamar to reach the enemy’s chosen field just as the parley was supposed to commence.

  Using heavy cavalry to lead the attack, they hoped to catch the Hessians off-guard, before the pagans could form a decent shield wall. If they succeeded, the Hessians would be too disorganized to defend themselves and Hamar would take their army in a rout. With any luck, the battle would be over before sunset.

  With trained Alemannians, however, it was less likely to work. By the time Carloman arrived, he saw that his initial plan had been partly successful. The Hessian infantry was in disarray, unable to form a wall against his cavalry. It was hardly a fight among equals as much of the Hessian infantry was without armor or sword. Boys with sticks fell in droves before Carloman’s seasoned warriors.

  But Theudebald’s return changed the direction of the battle. He ordered archers into the field to harass the Frankish cavalrymen and shouted for his Alemannian regulars to form a shield wall behind the Hessian front line. He then sent them forward. Caught between Frankish cavalry and the Alemannian shield wall, the Hessians had nowhere to go. They died in droves.

  It was a desperate tactic to sacrifice so many men, but the shield wall stabilized their line. Despite his hatred for the man, Carloman was impressed. He had no choice but to recall his cavalry and send forward his own shield wall. Once the two lines met, the fighting slowed to the stabbing and hacking of the lines while the cavalries retreated to protect their respective flanks.

  It was grim work and the screams of the men in the wall pierced the air. Carloman’s line was at a disadvantage pushing uphill, but his men were more seasoned fighters and the line held. For hours the line of engagement didn’t move more than a few feet in either direction as e
ach side reinforced their shield wall.

  In time, darkness overtook the battlefield and the Alemannian horns blew, calling for an organized retreat. Both sides fell back to encamp. Carloman sent teams out to recover the wounded and the dead. Theudebald did as well. They would wait until the morning to re-engage. The battle would now be a war of attrition that could take days to decide.

  Carloman wasn’t sure he had that much time.

  ✽✽✽

  “The Hessians are the weak point.” Hamar had drawn a map of the battlefield in the dirt outside Carloman’s tent. “We almost won the day using our heavy cavalry to disrupt their line.”

  “It won’t work again.” Drogo brushed out the line for his cavalry. “We took them by surprise. We’ll have to find some other way to break their line.”

  Hamar shook his head. “Fighting uphill? That’s asking a lot of our shield wall.”

  Carloman frowned. He had to find a quicker way to win. “We have the advantage of numbers. We’ll spread thin their line and exploit their weakest point.”

  “Their cavalry will be held in reserve.” Hamar said. “We won’t get far.”

  “Then perhaps we can outsmart them.” Carloman drew up the plan he had been considering. Although Hamar and Drogo agreed to it, they didn’t look pleased.

  Carloman slept, but was up before the dawn, surveying the battlefield. Theudebald had chosen well. The Franks again would be fighting uphill as well as into the sun. The field was also narrower than Carloman had remembered, putting into jeopardy his strategy of spreading thin the enemy line.

  At the crest of the hill, Theudebald’s army formed their ranks just below the edge of the forest line. They were a display in contrasts. The Hessian infantry dressed in animal skins their faces painted to look like demons. They shouted obscenities across the battlefield and exposed their genitals in a display of contempt. By contrast, the Alemannians stood quietly at attention, dressed in uniform armor and tunics.