Wheel of the Fates: Book Two of the Carolingian Chronicles

by J. Boyce Gleason

  Trudi clouted her on the head with the butt of her knife and the woman dropped like a sack of flour. She lay on the floor without a twitch.

  Again, something crashed into the door. Trudi heard shouts in the hallway and scuffling outside her door. The fighting continued for a minute and then abruptly ended. A voice called through the door.

  “Milady? Are you well?” It was Hans. With a groan, Trudi lifted the wooden beam from its brackets and opened the door.

  Hans and a dozen soldiers behind him crowded the door. He looked from the two women on the floor to the blade in her hand. “Milady?”

  “I’m fine, Hans. Arrest her.” She pointed to the unconscious nursemaid. “And get Eta to help the other. The doctor is dead.”

  “But-

  “I said I’m fine.”

  He was staring at her shift. Trudi looked down. From the waist down her shift was wet. It took her a moment to process this newest development. “Oh, Christ! I'm having the babe.”

  ✽✽✽

  Theudebald had had enough of Regensburg. He had planned to bury the Frankish whore and be on his way. He didn’t count on needing a siege to do it. She had surprised him by anticipating the attack. And now, he was running out of time. Sooner or later either Odilo or Carloman would return and he couldn’t afford to be in Regensburg when they did.

  He had had high hopes for the midnight raid. He had been sure that one of the two attacks would have succeeded. Yet, here he was, another day dawning and the bitch was still alive. He took a company of men and rode to the palace to inspect his blockade. As he drew near the square, he was surprised to see crowds of people surrounding the palace.

  He was even more surprised to find his siege abandoned. In its place were a hundred men lined up in formation.

  “What is this?”

  An elderly knight rode forward. “Lord Theudebald, I am Helig of the Agilolfings. These men are the household retainers of the noble families of Regensburg, all sworn subjects of Duc Odilo. We will allow no further attacks on the palace.”

  “And you think one hundred men can stop me?”

  “Perhaps not, but we won’t stand aside. The Duchesse is giving birth to the heir as we speak.”

  A murmur rose from the crowd as it digested the news.

  “Helig, I’ll give you one chance to stand aside before I cut your tongue from your head.” As Theudebald spoke, one of his soldiers broke ranks and ran to join Helig.

  Before he could react, a dozen more had followed.

  “Bavarians, my lord.” One of his captains said.

  “You’ve run out of time, Lord Theudebald.” Helig turned to join the column of men. “Reports have been received that Odilo has been defeated and that Carloman and Pippin are coming. I doubt very much that they will appreciate your plans for their sister.”

  Doubt stabbed through Theudebald. Perhaps it was a bluff. Perhaps the old man was playing a game with him. But if Helig wasn’t bluffing, he didn’t have enough time to tarry. Moving an army was a slow business.

  Damn that bitch! He felt a trickle of sweat roll down his back. That cunt!

  It would take days if not a week to take the palace, even without Helig’s men to guard it. He would have to leave Trudi for another time. And he would have to find some way to prevent the Franks from giving chase. The crowd was growing reckless with shouting and shoving. Men with rakes and shovels made a great show of leaving the square to stand with Helig’s men. It was a pathetic display of bravery. Such men would be the first to die and they would die quickly at the hands of trained soldiers. They mistook his deliberation as a weakness.

  But he didn’t have time. He turned his horse to leave, thinking through the steps he’d take to get away. A cheer went up in the crowd and Theudebald stopped. Ten years earlier such a response would have provoked their slaughter. But he was wiser now. He didn’t have time to spare for it.

  A man in the crowd spit in his direction. Theudebald considered him. I could still kill them, he thought. It would take half a day and I could leave before sunset.

  The crowd started to taunt him, whistling and laughing derisively. Theudebald drew his sword and rode into the crowd, straight at the man who had spit. He took off the peasant’s head with one blow. The panicked shouts of the crowd sent a thrill of joy jolting through him, but he knew better than to waste his time on them. He turned his back on the crowd and rode away.

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  Regensburg

  Pippin was glad to finally break camp. It had taken two full days to bury the dead. Drogo had insisted that two sets of graves be dug, one for the Christians and one for the pagans so that the Christian soldiers could be properly buried. He had assigned the grisly task to Odilo’s men, who laid out the bodies, head to foot and foot to head. Once the corpses were covered, a priest provided extreme unction and blessed the ground where the Christians were buried. No one spoke over the massive pagan grave.

  The battle seemed like a distant dream to Pippin. He had spent so much time worrying about the rebellion and planning for it that it seemed impossible that it could be over so quickly. Once he had arrived at the battle, it had taken only a day to overwhelm the rebel army. His men had tipped the scales and won the day, but they had paid little of the ultimate cost. He had to remind himself that Carloman had battled for days before he arrived.

  And the toll to his brother’s army had been heavy. Of the six thousand who had started out on the campaign from Paris, fewer than three thousand remained. An entire swath of Carloman’s commanders had lost their lives, including many of his Knights in Christ.

  Pippin escorted Odilo and what was left of the Bavarian army back to Regensburg. He wanted to provide a lasting image of their victory over Odilo, insisting that Odilo ride between him and Drogo. The Duc had barely spoken to Pippin since offering his hands in acclamation. He looked furious with humiliation and refused to meet Pippin’s eye. As long as he did what he was ordered to do, Pippin left the man alone.

  They carried Carloman’s unconscious body in a cart accompanied by his doctor. Color had returned to his brother’s face and his heartbeat was strong, but nothing could rouse him.

  As they drew near Regensburg, a scout arrived at full gallop, his eyes wide in alarm. “An army just vacated the city. They’ve set it on fire!”

  “Quick march!” Pippin shouted. The shout was repeated down the line and the army surged into a faster pace. Pippin turned to the scout. “What army?”

  “Theudebald.”

  Drogo spat at the mention of the name. “What is that bastard doing here?”

  The answer hit Pippin and Odilo at the same time. They both shouted, “Trudi!” Odilo spurred his horse forward. Pippin turned to Drogo. “Take charge of the fire!

  Drogo shook his head. “I’m chasing Theudebald?”

  Pippin frowned. The boy had a point. If they put out the fire, Theudebald would get away. “Not today. We’ll have to chase him later.”

  Pippin said, “Save the city.” With that, he gave his warhorse a kick and took off after Odilo for the fortress gate. If anything had happened to Trudi, he swore he would hunt down Theudebald and flay the bastard alive.

  ✽✽✽

  Trudi was exhausted. She had nothing left to give. The pain had been overwhelming, far worse than anything she had imagined. She had screamed and screamed, holding onto Eta’s arms. When the babe’s head finally pushed through, she nearly lost consciousness from the pain. The rest of him followed in a liquid rush that seemed to take her with it. It was such an overwhelming release that she found herself laughing and crying at the same time.

  Eta cut the cord and took the baby from her while the rest of the nursemaids stayed to await the afterbirth. They prodded Trudi’s stomach and gently pulled onto the cord until a spasm shook her and the cord gave way. There was so much blood! For a while, she lost consciousness.

  When she awoke, the nursemaids were cleaning her up, changing her sheets and leaving a rolled-up towel between
her legs. They made her drink a glass of ale for strength before Eta brought the baby to her. She showed Trudi how to hold her nipple to help the baby suckle. Trudi did as she was told, wondering how much more of her there was left to give.

  “Theudebald?”

  “He’s gone, milady.” She could tell there was more news but didn’t have the strength to ask.

  When the babe had taken its fill, Eta took him from her and informed her that Odilo and Pippin had arrived. She tried to sit up but couldn’t quite find the strength. Two of the nursemaids propped her up in bed. Eta waited for her to nod and then opened the door to let her husband and brother in.

  No one had to tell Trudi that Pippin had won the battle; he wouldn’t have come if he had lost. No one had to tell her that Odilo had offered his hands to Pippin; Odilo wouldn’t be alive if he hadn’t. She had known this would happen before he left. The only question had been: would her husband return alive or dead?

  When she saw him, a sob took her unexpectedly. She was so relieved. All the grief and pain and fear she had suffered in his absence came pouring out of her. She didn’t care that Pippin was in the room. She held out her arms to Odilo and he came to her and buried his face in her shoulder. A new fear struck her, and she shook him off, frantically searching his body with her hands. “Are you wounded?”

  “I am whole.”

  “Thank God.” It was all she could manage to say. Her emotions cut off her words. She gathered him into her arms and wept.

  Eta brought the baby beside the bed, wrapped in a blanket.

  “It is a son, Duc Odilo.” Eta pulled back the blanket to display the baby’s genitals. “The future Duc of Bavaria!”

  The baby wailed at the indignity.

  “We have a son,” she whispered.

  “An heir.” Odilo said. He let out a grunt of a laugh when Eta handed him the child. He cradled it carefully, holding it in the crook of his arm. And then he smiled; it wasn’t much, but it was a smile. Trudi wiped the tears from her eyes, trying to contain her emotions.

  Pippin reached out his hand to stroke the baby’s head. The gesture startled Odilo, and he pulled away defensively; but after a moment he held the baby out for his brother-in-law to caress. Pippin pushed what little hair the boy had away from his forehead. And then his face grew serious. “I need to have a moment with my sister.”

  “This is hardly the time.” Odilo protested, but Pippin’s face brooked no argument.

  Trudi interceded. “It’s alright, husband. He’s no threat to me.”

  Odilo looked furious but took the babe with as he left the room.

  Trudi waited until the door was closed before holding out her hand to her brother. “Come sit beside me on the bed.”

  Pippin took off his sword and sat.

  Trudi hugged him, holding on as if her life depended on it. “Thank you for not killing my husband.”

  Pippin laughed and kissed her on the forehead. “That was never my wish.”

  “I know.” Trudi frowned, suddenly. “Where is Carloman?”

  “Alive, but unconscious. He was wounded on the battlefield. Hamar gave his life to protect him. We can only hope Carloman will awaken.”

  Pippin seemed reluctant to speak. When he finally did, his voice was full of restrained fury. “Why was Theudebald here?”

  She wanted to tell him everything. She wanted Pippin to chase down the bastard and torture him to the farthest edge of sanity before killing him. And if she told Pippin of the rape, he would do it. Of that she had no doubt. But she couldn’t tell him. The shame of it was too great. It would never leave her.

  “He wanted to kill my baby,” she blurted. It was some of the truth, but it would suffice. Pippin would make the bastard pay. Her brother had always protected her…even when they were on opposing sides. She felt safe with him, just as she had felt safe with Charles. It took her a moment to realize she hadn’t felt that way in a long time, even with Odilo. A wave of shame and gratitude washed over her. And again, unable to help herself, she started to cry.

  Pippin held her in his arms. “I will find him.”

  All Trudi could do was nod against his chest. She let him hold her until she had gained some measure of control over herself and sat up to wipe away the tears on her face.

  “I did my best to stop the war, but it happened anyway. Even the church couldn’t stop it.”

  “The Church was wrong. Further delay only would have made Odilo stronger and a greater threat. He wouldn’t be turned away from his rebellion.”

  “You could have made peace with him. He only wanted Gripho’s claim satisfied.”

  Pippin shook his head. “Carloman was right about Odilo. Your husband wanted more than that. He wanted a pagan state, as did Gripho. Charles would never have allowed that. and neither would Carloman.”

  “And you?”

  Pippin shrugged. “Like Charles, I’m happy to let the pagans have their religion as long as it doesn’t divide the kingdom. But Odilo used it to sow the seeds of rebellion. He made paganism his rallying cry. He made it our enemy.”

  Trudi took Pippin’s hand in hers. “What did you really want to talk about?”

  He seemed to be weighing his words as if they were precious. “Carloman already has a son. And now, so do you. One day, God willing, I will as well.”

  “Of course, you will.”

  “As grandsons of Charles, each of our children will have a claim to succession as mayor. Each of them will have a base of power to assert their claim. If left alone, they’ll destroy each other and everything that Charles has accomplished.”

  “Surely, you exaggerate.”

  “The events of the past year prove that I’m not.”

  “What is it that you want from me?”

  “I want you to promise me that your son will never claim to be mayor of the palace.”

  “Are you saying he can never rule?”

  “He can rule Bavaria.” Then Pippin shook his head slowly. “But he can’t be mayor.”

  “Odilo will never agree to that.”

  “That’s why I’m asking you.”

  ✽✽✽

  Carloman awoke the next day and had a hard time believing he was alive. He felt disoriented, had trouble standing up, and was prone to lapses in concentration. His initial relief that Pippin’s arrival had turned the tide of the battle was short-lived as accounts of Hamar’s loss were relayed. The death of his champion so grieved Carloman that he wept openly in front of his men.

  As he regained his equilibrium, Carloman came to the realization that something profound had changed within him. For one thing, he had a hard time holding in his emotions. His passions and fervency were so strong that they unnerved him. He also saw the world around him with renewed clarity. He had always been calculating – playing out every scenario before making a move – but now he possessed a sense of surety that infused him with great confidence.

  He tried to tell Pippin about his last charge, how he had been prepared to die, and how, for a time, the touch of God had made him invincible. He wanted to tell Pippin that the outcome of battle was never really assured and that they only thought it was because Charles had always won. He tried to say that they could lose, and that he almost did.

  His brother had listened, but it was obvious that Pippin was only humoring him. Carloman knew he sounded daft, even to himself. He wondered if his newfound surety came from being so close to death, but soon became convinced that it was the hand of God upon him. He, Carloman, was blessed…in a state of grace…holy in the eyes of God.

  He gathered the remaining Knights in Christ together in the church that Boniface had consecrated in Regensburg and together they held a vigil for their fallen brethren. He prayed all night, and in the morning announced several decisions. He elevated Drogo to be mayor of Thuringia, Alemannia, and Bavaria. He vowed to chase down Theudebald and hold him accountable. But his final decision required a conversation with Pippin. He waited until he and his brother were alone.

&
nbsp; “We must elevate the Merovingian.”

  “No.” Pippin’s face was resolute.

  “The Church is behind him and it will end the rebellions. We have to elevate him.”

  Pippin grunted derisively. “We just finished ending the rebellion.”

  “The eastern rebellion. We can’t rule by military force alone. It’s the Church that gives power to the king. And he, in turn, gives us power to rule. Without the king, we are nothing.”

  “Without us, the king is nothing. Childeric isn’t who you think he is. He isn’t even a man of God. He’s dangerous and cruel. He should never be allowed to rule.”

  “It’s we who should not rule! We’ve gone too far, Pippin. We are Knights in Christ, not kings.”

  “No.”

  “At least, consider it.”

  Pippin shook his head. “I won’t hear any more about the Merovingian. I won’t discuss it. Now or ever.”

  Carloman was stunned. Pippin could be difficult but never this obstinate. “It is God’s will.”

  “You have not met Childeric. I have. I’ve looked into his eyes. The man is mad. I won’t elevate him.”

  ✽✽✽

  Pippin left the next morning for Chelles and Carloman wasn’t sorry to see him go. His brother’s absence made things easier. With his newfound surety, Carloman wanted to move quickly to put the kingdom in order and Pippin’s interference would only slow him down.

  Fortunately, Boniface arrived in Regensburg. The bishop had ridden for days after receiving a pigeon from the papal legate and was delighted to find the rebellion ended and all of Charles’s children among the living.

  Carloman cornered him soon after his arrival. “I’m going to elevate the Merovingian.”