The Oath Breaker: A Novel of Germania and Rome (Hraban Chronicles Book 1)

by Alaric Longward

  She poked me. 'Ermendrud serves me now. She spoke to your father. Go in or suffer, you womanizing bastard. Or you will be roasted indeed. Do it for me, please.'

  I was less arrogant as I walked in. I obeyed her, but I did not wear the blue tunic.

  Inside, the mood was somber. The Chatti and the Cherusci were sitting, their mead horns out. Segestes had wine. Women were tending the fire, others were serving delicious meat and vegetables, and fine, rich food and some dogs were lounging on the rugs. I saw Balderich's shield and spear on the wall. Maroboodus turned to me as he eyed his guests. 'Hraban, serve Gernot boar, mead, and then sit at his feet.'

  I did not move, sweating in humiliation. Ermendrud be damned.

  Eyes turned my way, interested in my response. 'You will not, Hraban?' Maroboodus said with deceptive calm, sipping mead, his eyes glinting. I saw Armin grimace slightly, and his head nodded slightly, with respect. For that reason alone, I took a shuddering breath and obeyed. I shivered and walked towards the side where steaming food and drinks were heaped. I saw Tudrus the Older nearby, seated with scowling Isfried, both speaking gently. Tudrus saluted me, his eyes mischievous. I joined the women, who avoided my eyes. Then I poured ale, not mead in a horn, and took a plate full of venison, not boar, resisting the urge to spit on both. I took them to Gernot. He pretended not to notice, taking perverse joy in my humiliation.

  Tudrus grunted from the side. 'Take it, you sniveling, dog-bitten weakling.' Gernot's eyes flickered that way and then to Maroboodus, who said nothing, enjoying the confrontation and my humiliation. I stood still, his eyes on me, judging my patience, gauging my strength. I stiffened, resisting the urge to heap the food on Gernot’s head.

  Armin nodded at me. 'Bring it to me, then. If the boy does not want it.'

  I was about to, but Gernot snatched the plate and the horn, angry at the meddling by the mighty lords, at being called a boy, but I was grateful for it. 'Sit at his feet,' my father said evenly, and I did, my soul on fire. 'Now that they know their place, let us eat,' Maroboodus said, eyeing Armin. 'You are Armin, no?'

  Armin grinned at my father, bowed, and spoke to him. 'I have heard a lot about you, Lord,' he said with a smile, and he stroked his blond, plaited beard. 'It was a surprise to us when your couriers found us and told us that a wayward exile had turned into a high lord of the gau, after Balderich, of course.'

  Maroboodus tore off a chunk of venison with his perfect white teeth shining. 'I was never an exile, I just had to remove the man who thought so,' Maroboodus told him, and Armin bowed again, respectfully. My father's eyes went to slits. 'I have not heard anything of you, but I am sure I will. Please, some ale, mead? Slaves!' My father clapped his hands and more food and drink appeared. There was something shrewd playing behind Maroboodus's eyes as he regarded Armin, and I think Armin saw this, for he also looked at my father, gauging the lord of the hall.

  It was an awkward meal.

  The guests ate well enough and drank moderately. No great poems were recited, no toasts called. After an hour, I saw Ebbe smirk. I turned my head to see my father stop Gernot from drinking any more, for the fool was already too drunk. I ate nothing, and Gernot leaned his foot on my back, intentionally tapping it, being quarrelsome. I resisted a very basic urge to pummel him again, trembling with the effort. Segestes was fuzzing over the best cuts of meat, tasting wine, his face dripping juices, and he reminded me of the Roman trader, Antius. The lanky Inguiomerus ate little, but measured the wealth around him greedily.

  Maroboodus gestured at the seated men. 'Now, if you are pleased with the fare, we have things we need to discuss. A Sigambri was here two days ago.'

  Inguiomerus laughed. 'Sigambri, Bructeri, Marsi, others. All dying slowly to foolish greed, stubbornness, and Roman spears. They are fools. Why listen to him? It was Varnis?'

  Maroboodus agreed. 'Yes, it was Varnis. His cousins Baetrix and Maelo are leading the warriors, and he is travelling to raise help. He has a honeyed tongue, to be sure.' I smirked to myself, wondering how much his help had cost Maroboodus.

  Father fidgeted, and made a generous arch with his hand. 'However, is he wrong to say that Rome will pacify the northern tribes? Then, the rivers are open for Rome to rape us all. North first, then the war-torn and greedy middle Germania is next, you, the Cherusci with them. After that, us, Chatti, Marcomanni, Quadi. Is he wrong?'

  Segestes was wiping his curly black beard and smiling arrogantly. 'You speak like the Romans. Germania? We do not see these tribes as kinsmen, but foes. Of the northern tribes, we know not. This Drusus is still in their lands, making his way through the bright rivers and small hills there, but can he pacify them? I know not.'

  'They will crumble easily,' said Inguiomerus with relish. 'Rome takes them as a frog eats docile flies. They have no deep woods to fight in, nor hairy bull's balls to die as men. We will see them marching with the enemy yet, speaking Latin.'

  Segestes shrugged and pointed a finger at Maroboodus. 'Enemies? My gau is not an enemy to Rome. The gau I govern is prosperous and very happy, yet free. I am not at all surprised that you wish to talk about alliances, considering you have a large price on your head by the vengeful Romans. I know what you did, and you don't need to get the head of Agrippa, I'm not impressed.'

  Silence fell on the hall. My father was scowling mightily and breathing slowly, and Tudrus the Older was looking down. Ebbe shrugged, embarrassed. 'You would have more to discuss by suggesting a sensible peace treaty with the mighty Rome, Maroboodus. There is no consensus to fight them, never has been. That is likely what Bero had in mind too. I have heard he, in fact, planned to do more than ally with them.'

  'He was a traitor and tried to sell us to them,' Maroboodus growled. 'Not something true Marcomanni can stomach.'

  They seemed embarrassed by the meeting, ready to leave. Father stood up. 'Raise your strong arms, all of you.' They looked at him incredulously. 'Do this.' He put his powerful hands in front of him, fingers stretched, and they followed suite, mystified, except for Segestes who just glared at him. Maroboodus rumbled. 'Look at your fingers, see them, all strong and useful. Think a thousand such fingers and imagine that each such finger is a nation, each joint a gau. Imagine hundreds of tribes with their many men, all happy and born blessedly free, women less happy, but that is the way of the world.' They laughed. 'Imagine that each finger houses tens, even hundreds of thousands of people, with their ancestral homes, their gods, their possessions, their people's graves, and ancestors looking on, all the important history of their kin, the memories, and their achievements.' They looked at him in curious silence.

  Segestes grunted irritably. 'You have forgotten, Maroboodus, that they cannot count to a hundred. The dolts are beyond your figures.' He nodded at the Chatti.

  My father raised his voice, curbing any response. 'Imagine the bright stars then, lords. Just see them in your mind's eyes. For they are there, no matter if you count or not.' They still kept their hands and fingers up. My father made a fist. 'And then imagine they are no more, all they were, forgotten, everything that they have lived for, their very long history gone, forever. All that replaced by strange, foreign ways, by odd rules and inhuman laws that, at first, seem sweetly sensible and new, beguiling like the best of lovers. You hear your lips speaking of submission, convincing everyone how change is a good thing, how things must progress, and the Romans, how much better they are than us, rude people of the backward woods.' They lowered their hands. 'Imagine these ancient nations, all across the wide world, who now have forgotten their many songs, their fame and honor, even their very names, and how they now speak Latin, and live in controlled poverty. Such is the way and glory of Rome, and yea, I have seen it. Noble people forget whom they are and live a lesser life.' My father clenched his fists.

  They looked at their fingers, stretching them. Segestes snorted. 'Those people were not Germani. We will not forget our ways, our lives. But we can take the best …'

  Oldaric interrupted him and looked at Maroboodus. 'The C
hatti are the greatest and most feared warriors in the land. You Cherusci claim otherwise, yet you know the truth. The tribes that leave us are all strong, and we keep our old ways, ever to fight those who would enslave us. However, we will not break our alliance. We have given our word to Rome. I see what you are saying, Maroboodus, but we cannot change what is. But we will fight if we are attacked, and we will win.'

  Sigimer spit out a bone that clattered on the floor. 'You cannot win against them alone. Nor could we. That is what Maroboodus is saying. We should prepare. How much is enough? What is needed for you to believe that they want our lands? How many tribes to do their bidding, how many to bow to them? At some point, Oldaric, they need not send negotiators to Mattium anymore, they'll just send spears.'

  Segestes laughed. 'All fine and well, lords. Prepare for war. So where are the other Suebi nations? Where are their men, their chiefs? We plan, plot, and then suffer the losses of war. Greedy tribes of the east see us weaken ourselves on Roman shields and swords, and they will march to finish us. Will the opportunistic Hermanduri and seething Semnones let us grow strong again when our clans and tribes, weak and destitute from the war yell for the victory? No, they will take us, kill us, and have our wives as playthings. Though they will not do so to Maroboodus and the Marcomanni, who are their kin, Suebi.'

  Maroboodus spat. 'It happens, Segestes, that even Suebi seek advantages over their kin. Hermanduri are friends to no one. If they do try to betray us, we fight them. However, will they come for the conquerors of Rome, each man of ours armed and armored from the Roman dead? No. Moreover, you forget, they want such plunder, too. Do you think the Suebi youths from the east will ignore our success and beguiling strength? They live in terrible poverty there. They fight the destitute Sarmatians, and each other, growing poorer with every silly little war. Here, there are true riches. They will flock to us, to join us, not to conquer us. But if you worry, I have ways to keep the Suebi peaceful.'

  'You? How?' Segestes asked, but my father said nothing. The famed ring. Armin was inspecting my father's hand.

  Ebbe was nodding, carefully, taking up my father's exhortation. 'Will not the young men from the deep woods run to us in search of plunder and glory? Even now, many a restless Suebi lives with us. Or we can sit, drink fine wine and become docile Romans, and die as they wish, giving our dishonored children to them.'

  'I ask again, how will you keep the Suebi peaceful?' asked Segestes with a sneer.

  'I have my ways, Segestes. Gothoni are the key, and I have a key to the ancient Gothoni families as well as the ancient Semnone clans, and some Langobardi. They are men who respect the old stories, but it is my key,' Maroboodus growled.

  Segestes shrugged, anger playing on his face. Armin smiled, fingering a silver ring on his finger, absentminded. Could he know about the Gothoni ways and the old stories? He noticed my look, his blue eyes pierced me, and soon, he was smiling thinly. I stared back. He was no fool, and he knew I was not one either.

  Inguiomerus shrugged, taking a deep breath. 'If the Chatti agree to help us, we agree to help them in war against Rome, should it come. Moreover, I promise the same to you, Maroboodus, though we are not neighbors. Our fat brother will come along.' He nodded at Segestes who looked uncomfortable. 'He is too rich to risk our ire,' Sigimer growled. The two brothers controlled more than half of the lush land of the rich and famed Cherusci, but Segestes was rich in Roman goods.

  The Chatti were quiet, then they argued silently. Ebbe got up after many heated words. 'We will agree to this, but only if we are attacked first. Our gods are watching, and to break our holy word would be a road to terrible misfortune.'

  Oldaric spat and looked unhappy. He was evidently careful with Rome and guarded the simple treaty they had with them. Oldaric sighed, after swallowing some mead, thinking deeply, and raised his hands in a conciliatory way. 'I agree a prudent man sees what the ally is doing, and if there is a danger of being the last free people amongst dead tribes, we shall not remain so, next to die.' The Chatti brothers while disagreeing on Rome were still close family, and they clasped hands, grudgingly.

  'What say you, fat one?' Adgandestrius said, smirking.

  Segestes was red-faced, angry, and sputtering. He waved his hand uncertainly. He was a shrewd man. Ridiculous in appearance, fat in belly, vain and easy to anger, yet Segestes was a rare Germani, one who put little stock in martial achievements, and such men have the luxury of thinking deep and scheming easily. He looked at his scowling brothers and the equally scowling Chatti, and finally at the dangerous Maroboodus, and an unspoken discussion seemed to be going on between him and Segestes until Segestes relented. 'This is agreed. If Rome is a threat, we will work together. Cautiously.'

  Maroboodus struck the table with his fist, grinning. 'Fine! Excellent. Isfried and I will get ready for war, and the Quadi have promised some help, as well. Next year, Rome will come for the heartland of our realms, the Luppia River, that is certain, and by Woden's one eye, we will be there.' I saw Tudrus the Older squirm uncertainly, not looking anyone in the eye. Maroboodus was speaking for him, but Maroboodus smiled. 'We will make the plans, and each have men at hand. We will crush the Roman slugs under our heels.'

  Oldaric smiled, his tattoos stretching. 'Only if they plan to stay there, and we are threatened.'

  Maroboodus grinned. 'You will see, lords. They will come with such armies you will see they intend to stay. They will build permanent forts and lay enduring roads. In the meantime, though, we have a problem. Hengsti the Matticati.'

  The Chatti looked at each other. 'You wish us to stay put while you fillet our ancient brethren?' asked Oldaric tiredly. The Matticati were offspring from the Chatti.

  Maroboodus pointed a finger at the Chatti. 'They are your brethren, once of the Chatti, but they are not your comfortable friends. They are an evil cousin to the Chatti, bent on being Roman. Your silly agreement with Rome is like the kiss of a maiden in comparison with what Hengsti is doing. The Matticati host a huge Roman fort in the middle of their formerly free lands. Castrum Luppia, the Wolf's Fort. Something you should think about, anyway. That fort will stop us from aiding each other.'

  Oldaric scowled. Adgandestrius shot up. 'I know of it. I think we should help Maroboodus with …'

  Ebbe pulled him back. 'Silence. Again, you want us to turn from them if you attack them?'

  Maroboodus nodded and reclined on his seat. 'The only way for us to reach the war in Luppia is to have more peaceful Matticati, with fewer men and far fewer dangerous chiefs. I cannot leave my lands to war elsewhere if they are a threat to our flank and hopes. Hengsti must fall hard, so hard, he will not get up. They are lost to the Germani. Like the Vangiones and the Ubii.'

  They talked. The Chatti were an old nation, but they were not blind to the dangers of the Matticati, and the famed horsemen had grown very close to Rome. Oldaric got up, looking like a man about to sell his loved son. 'We will let you deal with them, Maroboodus and Isfried. However, we will want assurances. What your messenger told us.'

  Maroboodus smiled. 'Marriages, ties between our nobles, as I suggested.'

  Armin stirred. 'I have not heard of this.'

  Segestes rolled his eyes. 'You are not a lord of the gau. Well, Maroboodus, I have a daughter.' Segestes sneaked a look at Armin, enjoying the startled reaction on the adeling's face. Armin stiffened like a corpse. We all witnessed his handsome, happy face turn from rosy into a pale, dead color. I noticed his hand quivering in anger, and his tongue licked his suddenly dry lips. Sigimer noticed his distress and made an inconsequential gesture with his hand. Maroboodus saw it all, and he smiled. Your father Armin, my Lord, was in love with the daughter of Segestes, his famous cousin, and your beautiful mother. Segestes looked at his fat hands. 'She is Thusnelda, Lord. A fair, willful girl who could use someone to keep her in check, eh?'

  Armin could not keep quiet. 'All well, lords, but the fact remains that the Suebi, valiant as they are, are few and far from us. Far from Luppia. They will still be
far from war if the Matticati are beaten, and no matter if they ride there, it is us who should deal with the issue. It is our home. I say we ally with the Chatti, and if Maroboodus wishes to join this alliance, let him come. We do not need to bind him to us. Let them marry into the Chatti, if they wish, and we have enough common ground.'

  Maroboodus said, 'No.'

  'No?' Armin said, harshly.

  Inguiomerus looked incredulous. 'Shut up, Armin. This is needed indeed. And decided. If Maroboodus has a way to free my men from our wars with the wild Suebi of the east, then one simple marriage is more than worth it. We need him.'

  Maroboodus nodded his head. 'Yes, Armin, listen to him. We will create marriage ties across our lands. I have what you need to make the northern Suebi peaceful, and I will trust you better if we have this deal.'

  Sigimer sighed and glanced over at Inguiomerus. 'It is agreed. Which one will marry her? One of your young sons?'

  Maroboodus glanced at Isfried. 'I will marry her. I have no wife currently, and I need a young, willing woman to remind me of other things than the war and harshness of life.'

  Armin shuddered in anger. Sigimer spoke carefully. 'Surely one of your sons? You are old. Lord?'

  Father smiled, but I saw he was hurt by the insinuation. 'If there is a man willing to test my tottering hand in battle, I am ready.'

  Sigimer and Inguiomerus conferred, looking resigned. They nodded. 'We know your high worth, Maroboodus,' Sigimer said, shifting his eyes worriedly at Armin, who was stone-faced, but apparently cursing under his breath.

  'It is settled then,' Maroboodus said. 'She can bear many children?' Armin made a voice of distress.

  'She is able; I am sure. She looks healthy, and I see no reason why not,' Segestes said with a lavish gesture. 'I will ask the gods to bless her.' Never has a man been tortured so as Armin, your father, Lord. His lips were white, and he held his peace only with Sigimer's arm squeezing his shoulder. He would be a great champion of the free people, but the mystery of love is a force to divert even the noblest men from the straight path. Armin, I saw, would fight this decision, and Father saw it, as well.