Chapter II: Detachment
That evening, Kaiserpalast hall
“Feel nervous, sir?” Falco joked before entering the hall, the joyful music was flowing from the inside “From now on, we join the world of the people that matter. But don’t flatter yourself, I’m still more handsome than you… and clever, and charismatic, and enthusiastic, and mod-”
“Stop messing around Falco!” I said cutting him short “You should behave as befits one of our rank, the noblemen will never take us seriously if you still act so childish.”
Falco stuck his tongue out, annoyed “Are all soldiers so boring as you? Nevermind, let’s enter…”
The hall was the biggest I ever saw,
Definitely Heinrich keeps himself well, it was a blaze of black and yellow, wide tables had been placed along the collonade, on it a fancy triumph of draperies decorated with the Imperial Eagle, plus the whole thing echoed perfectly with the melodies proposed by the musicians; all across the hall the guests were greeting each other.
“It’s impossible that all this crowd is made up by Heinrich’s vassals… R-Right, Falco?”
“You should behave as befits one of our rank” Falco mocked “By the way, surely the Empire is so huge but not all these high-ranked people are fellow vassals. For example, look over there, Heinrich is talking with the king of the Danes, is the other the Austrian duke? Bho, I can’t understand well from here. Oh, and look on that side near the musicians’ spot, there are some Frenchmen talking with other noblemen, they seem Iberians. And undoubtedly those aren’t the only foreigners but we aren’t here to guess their provenience, you agree with me.”
“But how are we going to take our place in this world? They seem so well comfortable each other, they don’t need to talk with us…” I replied visibly worried.
Falco took me by the shoulders and started pushing me “Just go there, smile and probably they won’t flee from you like a cat from a bath. Or maybe they’ll call the guards, you’ll look like a boring preacher with that grudge.”
“P-Please, don’t exaggerate… you’re embarassing me now…”
“Ohoh heyy Falcooo!!” a deep voice called him from behind, a big man put his arms around Falco nearly choking him “How are you going, my best boy?”
“Heyhey my soon daddy-in-law, what a pleasure to meet you here. I didn’t expect you to remain here and attend the feast.” Falco answered trying to free himself from the man’s grasp.
“Daddy-in-law? What?” I grumbled shocked.
The huge man kept talking “Ohoh forgive my impetuosity boy, usually I’m more temperate but when I see this young guy” another time he squeezed Falco “my heart melts: he’s such a good boy!” almost some tears came out but he composed himself and returned to talk to me, now his voice was so different, calm and heartwarming “I’m Vlatislav II Přemyslid, Korfersst of Čechy
(1), it’s my pleasure to meet you.”
“My name’s Friedrich, Friedrich von Reinerburg duke of… I intended, count of Bärn. So why are you two…ehm, when did Falco…”
“You want to know why are we related? Beh, he asked my daughter Judita’s hand. At first I didn’t want to accept his offer but this guy got guts and kept insisting and then… I’m not that young anymore to sustain a prolonged argument ahahah!! He’s such a wonderful boy, so young yet so firm, and he’s also so handsome and fair ohohoh!” and another time he threw an arm around Falco’s neck laughing loud, I had never seen Falco so red in face (I couldn’t say if due to the embarassment or for the lack of air) and for a moment I could swear seeing him asking help.
“I still don’t understand when you meet but congratulations! When is the wedding?”
Falco got loose and spoke again “I didn’t think you’d be interested in such pettiness, Friedrich you surprise me every day more.” He settled down his clothes “Don’t worry my friend, you’ll be the first to receive the participation. Maybe in 5-6 years.”
“Six years? So do you m-”
“Enough talking!” Vratislav cut it short “Now Falco, I want to introduce you to some
friends of mine. Would you give me the pleasure to come with me?”
“Sure daddy. Friedrich, we’ll meet at the end of the feast. I hope you won’t be afraid to be alone, there are so many people to talk here. Bye-bye!” he winked as if to say
Remember, don’t be shy and throw yourself in and he left with the eastman.
(1) Duke of Bohemia
Who should I start with and what should I aim for? I started looking around myself, the people were so engaged in discussing with each other that I felt rude to put me in their conversations… the hall was so full of people that I was so close to faint (I was so anxious at the time, how sweet) but I noticed a lady wearing a strange hat that was chunking a slice of bread
Ok Friedrich, buck yourself up. Now it’s your round to get a bride!
“Greetings milady, are you e-enjoying the evening?” I pulled out all my confidence, probably I also shouted a bit because the lady gasped but she sudden composed herself. She wiped her lips graciously and reposed her handkerchief in a pocket.
She laughed very gently “Sure my sir, it’s all so nice here. The Emperor, or I should say the Empress, really has a good taste in terms of decors. With whom I have the pleasure of conversation?”
“Just a man who has been dazzled by your beauty.” I tried to perform my best kisshand. In the end the etiquette lessons proved to be useful because the lady slightly blushed and made a naughty smile.
“Do you know it’s impolite to not answer a damsel’s question?”
“I didn’t mean to be unpleasant, my flower. I’m Friedrich von Reinerburg, a vassal and longtime friend of the Kaiser. Can I have the honour to know your name?”
“Matilda di Canossa, the duchess of Toscana. So it seems that we are fellow vassals, what a lovely coincidence…” she began to become interested in me “Are you here alone?”
“Even if I wasn’t alone it would have been a disgrace to let your beauty go unnoticed. But don’t worry my darling, I’m here alone hoping to find a fine woman with whom to spend a pleasant evening and, maybe, the rest of my life.”
“Oh! Such an audacity to say this kind of things to a woman…” she said with a flirty tone “Another time, what a coincidence, I’m searching for a man to marry too.”
It’s my occasion, she’s a nice girl and has a provoking body. And this marry also carries a good alliance for me…
“What a beautiful thing to hear! So… I don’t want to waste any time. Would you like to join a marriage with me?”
Matilda got closer to me, her eyes sunk into the mines, so close that I could feel her breath on my neck, her red lips half-closed in a so damn provoking way.
Oh God, she’s so sexy. At this distance… I really want to bite those lips. Matilda started to whisper, her hand twiddling on my chest:
“You’re such a lovely man Friedrich but, you know, bed-relationships outside of marriage aren’t good things for us Christians. So if you want to enjoy my
presence” she winked “you should take me before Christ at first. Do you agree my fellow vassal of…?”
“B-Bärn… Count of Bärn.” I said charmed.
Matilda stepped back recomposing herself, her voice stopped to be flirty and became serious “Sorry milord, as I said you’re a lovely person but I’m a Duchess and I can’t mix myself with the lower ranks, both for the marriage and for normal acquaintance. See you soon morcel, I’m sure that a man like you won’t find difficulties in finding a good woman…Surely, she won’t give you a good alliance but the people of your rank must be satisfied with the crumbs.”
I was astonished, the anger of responding to her boiled up but her firm presence prevented me from speaking… In a matter of minutes I had found, spoken, flirted and lost a woman
Damn, they warned me that the nobilty wouldn’t see people like me in the best light but I never imagined that it would be so harsh. How did Falco was capable of doing it? I…
I had no idea of how much time I lost brooding and regretting myself but at some point a hand touched my shoulder, it was Heinrich.
“Hey Friedrich, all right? You just stay here staring out into the nothingness, if you won’t move the guests will think that you are a statue and you might get some unwanted gifts.” he joked in a serious tone.
“That’s a good point. It’s just…”
“Did you get a pole? I noticed that at some point you and Matilda were really
close but she left you so…”
“What? How did you noticed it from the other corner of the hall? I thought you were busy with other affairs.”
“Mpf, how much things you have to learn yet… Talking with the vassals is such useless, they make good face to bad game all the times so smiling and postponing their matters is the best thing. Plus, all the Danish king talks about is fighting and I guess that he lacks memory …He told the same story five times in a row, oh my God. I leave them alone, I’m sure they’ll get along with each other, after all they are boring in equal measure.”
Heinrich sighed “But I don’t want to bother you with such things. The dinner table is set, come and sit near me…You’ll think at your marriage once you’ll get to Bern, for this evening just enjoy the feast.”
“And Falco?”
Heinrich looked in the direction of Falco who was talking with Vlatislav and other nobles “Beh, I guess that Falco is getting along well. Don’t think to him, he has always been a sociable guy and you know it better than me. Let’s have a good time!”
“Why am I always left behind? I, I really don’t know how to push on… I believed that accepting your propose was what I had to do, I had long dreamed of this moment but now that I’m in it I feel like this dream’s slipping out of my hands... You shouldn’t have picked me for this role, I can’t live up to it. I feel like… no, I AM useless, I can’t be like you and Falco… I’m not special as you…”
I didn’t even have time to realize what happened, Heinrich slapped me so hard that even now I can remember the hurt.
“Enough! I won’t let you talk to yourself like this. You has always said that you’ll keep moving forward or was I dumb all this time? Where did the grit that distinguished you have gone? The Friedrich I know wouldn’t never cry like that…Am I talking to my friend or to a pathetic shell? Get over it, man! Do you think I chose you only because you’re my friend? Now I’m the one who’s offended. Stop bothering you with such things, humans are strong only when they are together: if I’m the
crown that watches on the Empire and Falco is the
shield that protects it from the dangers then you’re the
sword that will expand it. You don’t need to be someone who never fails to be special, you already are special to me, actually to us, because we have a bond. Now please, pull yourself together and come with me at the table.”
He showed me our seat and together we set out to it.
“Heinrich…Thanks!”
“You have nothing to thank me for. Really…”
Heinrich let me sit near him and his wife Bertha, as he said he was really a lovely woman, and her maidens but apart from some phrases of convenience I didn’t interact so much with them and also I ate little and badly: my mind was still obsessed with Heinrich’s words…Mpf looking back now, if I’d listened to him maybe we wouldn’t have had to go this far but at the time I couldn’t imagined what this cruel world was holding for me. Nevermind, returning to that evening, once the dinner was over I left the hall and I went out to look at the stars sitting on a step: looking at the immensity of the starry sky was something that calmed me since childhood…
While I was lost in my thoughts a sinuous figure approached me:
“Do you feel alright, sir? You ate too little, was not the food of your liking?”
I looked better at her, she was one of Heinrich’s wife’s maidens but she didn’t impress me too much, maybe because she was so silent even in those few conversations I had; honestly though, her traits were delicate (despite I could clearly see she was older than me) and the long plaits falling along the slim chest made his silhouette very elegant.
“Nono, the food was very delicious. It’s my fault that I’m so meal closed.”
“Is there something bothering you?”
“Something? Ahahahah, I wish it was just something…”
There was a moment of embarassing silence but she mustered up all her courage and spoke again:
“So… You are one of the new vassals, right? In the court they all talk about those two guys who were personally nominated by the Kaiser even if not of noble blood.”
“Yeah, I’m one of them, Friedrich count of Bärn. But probably you would have preferred meeting my colleague Falco, he’s a more handsome guy than me and he’s better able to undertake conversations with the women.”
She sat near me and looked me into the eyes “Why are you so harsh with yourself? Maybe if you smile a little more you could be as handsome as him.” She smiled gently, for a second I felt a pit in the stomach “Can I ask why you keep compare yourself to the others? We all have some qualities, even if you can’t comprehend which ones they are. You should focus less on what the others do and more on what you can do to improve your situation… What I’m trying to tell you is that you don’t have to be the best but you should just accept yourself for who you are and try to find peace within you.” she reflected upon what she said and blushed immediately covering the face with her hands “S-sorry sir, I didn’t intend to lecture you. I-I just let myself go too much.” and she got to stand up and flee, instinctively I grabbed her hand and brought her to me:
“You don’t need to excuse…” looking closely, her delicate facial features revealed her sex appeal, I realized I was blushing too. I took courage and asked her:
“Please, marry me! I need a woman like you by my side, now and forever!”
The lady turned even more red in face “What are you saying sir? Have you drunk too much? W-We don’t even know each other.”
“I don’t care. Please, take into consideration my offer. You will be a countess, indeed the most fit countess of the Empire…I feel that without you my life will be useless…”
“But how can you say such a thing? You don’t even know my nam-”
“I don’t need it! Until our hearts beat in unison I won’t need to call you by your name.”
Wow! I didn’t believed I could speak such sweeties… Is this Falco’s inphluence?
Now she seemed on the verge to faint, however she let go of my hand and fixed her dress:
“Are you sure about it?”
“With every fragment of my heart!”
“I can’t say I’m unhappy. From the first moment I was interested in knowing you and I also hoped it would end like this but I can’t tell now if it’s really what’s right for me…”
“But that’s what you want, right? Why should you refuse then? I don’t even care of the alliance you can give to me, actually I want to marry you even if you won’t give me one!”
She thought about it for what I feel like eternal, then looked up at the sky, sighed and said:
“Alright, I accept it! I will be your wife. But please don’t make it crystal clear to the others in the hall…”
I felt a sudden sense of… happiness? victory? Even now I didn’t understand what had happened to me, why it excalated so quickly and why I felt so connected to that woman I just met but, you know, sometimes you just let yourself be dragged by the feelings.
“Uh…Ahahah, I didn’t think I could manage it so fast. I really really need to thank you for giving me this honor. Tomorrow morning we’ll take a chariot to Bern where I’ll take office and then we will officially marry. Ah sorry I almost forgot, the chariot will attend here.” I walked away but before crossing the treshold I heard the lady saying.
“Sibylle d'Ivrea…”
“What?”
“Sibylle d'Ivrea, my name. Sister of the cuens of Besancon…”
“Uh Sibylle, really a beautiful name.”
“Friedrich sleepyhead, wake up or you’ll miss your chariot!” a voice called me out. I opened my eyes, Falco was arraging his things in a bag “Oh God, another second and I was going to call the priest for the funeral services. I understand you’ve already put everything in your bag but at least give me a hand with my robe.”
“How much trouble since early morning.” I turned on the other side of the bed.
“Mpf, as usual. Beh, looks like you had fun last night…”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re treating me as a fool or you’ve already forgotten?” he tapped my forehead “Hey dumb, I’m talking to you… do you think I haven’t noticed it? You left the hall with a woman following you from a distance and even if you returned alone she was too much red in face. It seems that our Friedrich has learned that there are other pleasures besides the sword.” he said winking.
I threw him a shoe who promptly he dodged “Shut up, you dumb. It’s not like you imagine.”
“Oh, you’ve also become aggressive! So I’m right. Congratulations man. Now hurry up otherwise we’ll leave you!”
He continued to laugh “Incredible! One just like you ahahah!”
Once we got to the palace there was the imperial charioteer attending us, Heinrich was there to say goodbye and his wife was talking to Sibylle, probably she was telling her something about marriage duties beside... you know...
“I guess that the day has arrived. I wish you both a safe journey and write me some letters when you are there. Oh Friedrich, I highly recommend you to treat this lovely maiden in the right way or no one will protect you from the wrath of my wife.” the Kaiser said.
“Darling, don’t exaggerate please. I offer you my sincere congratulations!” replied Bertha laughing.
“Don’t worry, your Highness. Between a week this beauty will return to Your service…” joked Falco.
“Very funny Falco! I’ll miss your pricking!” Heinrich laughed “By the way, you should go now. Have a safe trip!”
I and Falco looked at each other and hugged “Don’t cry too much brother, we are like neighbors and we can still see each other sometimes.” started Falco.
“You dumb, you always ruin the mood…I-I don’t know what to say. I can’t imagine to live without you…”
“Hey honestly, I’m not going to die. I’m literally on the other side of the mountains. Surely I’ll miss the moment you become a man but I can pass on it. Write me when you arrive. Have a good trip!” he said a little misty-eyed.
“Do the same brother!”
We broke up the embrace and got on the chariot, I said goodbye and turned to hide the tears: it was the first time that I separated from Falco, Sibylle held my hand to comfort me. This was the moment where my story started, this was the moment which marked the real beginning of what I’m writing, this was the moment that led me to know what the real hell is…
About a week after, Bern
“Good morning sir, I guess you’re our new lord Friedrich.” a guard stopped me before entering the centre.
“Yes, I’m Friedrich von Reinerburg.” I gave him the Imperial Seal.
“Perfect! My lord, I beg you to go straightforward to the main hall of the castle, the council was waiting for you and there are some urgent issues to address.”
“Ok, I assign my soon-wife to you. Led her to my quarters, if they exist.”
“Sure my lord, to your orders.”
I entered the main building of the city (later I discovered that it was also my residence) and entered the council hall: four men and a woman were sitting at a table visibly nervous, an armoured man came inviting me to sit at the biggest throne.
“Welcome to home my lord, we wanted so much to celebrate your arrive but the actual state of the things prevent us to do it. I’ll make a quick round of introductions: I’m the Marshal, Alarich mayor of Thurn and they are Friedrich the Chancellor, Hupold the Steward, Katharina the Spymaster and Eudes the Suffragan Bishop, these are the most important details. Now I introduce the situation: the counties of Neuenburg and Aargau rebelled and a bunch of peasants took control over them, now we rule only above the lands surrounding Bern. We need to reconquer them as soon as possible!”
“Ok then, that will be my priority. After my marriage I’ll draft our army and re-establish my rule over th-”
“My Lord, I beg to differ. Maybe you don’t know how it works but let me explain: the population doesn’t care about who rules but the usurpers have gathered support between the neighbors, mainly as a payback to the Kaiser who appointed you as a vassals, and so now they can propose him to be recognised as the rightful rulers of those lands. In normal conditions, the Kaiser won’t accept at first because he just appointed you and at second because you two have a nice relationship but the other influential vassals could lean to give them the permissions. I have already gathered an army, indeed I planned today to start the military campaign but luckily you’ve arrived: surely the soldiers will be more motivated to fight if the count is with them, plus I heard you have been trained to be a good commander.”
“Ah... And with the marriage? Even if I’m without a wife my position is unstable.”
“For that issue, there are no problems.” intervened the bishop “I can officially declare you husband and wife now.” he took a scroll and scribbled above it “Toh, now you’re officially married. You can perform the ceremony and your duty as husband after the war, I’m sure it won’t last long…”
It seems that they are capable of running a county alone…
“Ok then, I guess I can close this reunion and we can leave with the army. Now I must deal with my new wife hoping that she won’t kill me before the war does.”
All the councillors left besides the Marshal who called me in private:
“I’m sorry for my vehemence but the situation is really on the verge of the disaster. Also, I’m sorry that I didn’t give you the opportunity to express your views but we were used to run the politics alone while the previous duke was living the good life.”
“Don’t worry, I can understand. So you will help me leading the war, I hope we can get along with each other…”
“Of course my Lord, I’m sure we will. During the campaign I will inform you better about the other councillors and the general situation of the domain.”
!
