Wheel of the Fates: Book Two of the Carolingian Chronicles

by J. Boyce Gleason

  “Why?” Bertrada insisted.

  Miette’s handwringing grew intense. “I’m no killer and…I couldn’t do that to Pippin.”

  Bertrada was dumbfounded. It didn’t make sense. “Do you even know Pippin?”

  A wan smile stole across Miette’s face. “So it has been rumored.”

  Bertrada had to walk away from the woman to avoid slapping her. The idea that that Miette had some sort of relationship with Pippin infuriated her. When did that start? Before the Ragomfred ball? After I went missing?

  Either way, it was an insult. Here she was carrying Pippin’s child while he was out flirting with the first woman who threw herself in his direction. It was disgusting! Worse, it was embarrassing.

  ✽✽✽

  After asking some of the noble women at court, Bertrada found out that there were rumors circulating about Pippin and Miette during the time Pippin supposedly was searching for her. The idea made her want to retch. She tried to find out as much about Miette as she could but was hampered by being locked away in the palace until Pippin returned.

  The only person who seemed to know about Miette in any detail was Lady Hélène. Bertrada went to visit her rooms and found her protector in the company of an elegant older woman.

  “My sister Catherine,” Hélène explained. “She was taken hostage by Pippin after he sacked her husband’s castle at Loches.”

  “I’m pleased to make your acquaintance, my lady,” Catherine said.

  “At this point, I’m a postulant. Calling me Sister will suffice.”

  Catherine raised an eyebrow but nodded her acceptance. “Then Sister it is, although, I must say I’m surprised. I had the distinct impression at the Ragomfred ball that you were in love with our mayor.”

  Bertrada felt her face flush with anger. “Not that it’s any of your affair, but much has happened since then.”

  Hélène reached out to her, laying a reassuring hand on her arm. “Catherine is the reason I followed to protect you. She saw the danger Childeric presented and asked me to watch out for you.”

  Bertrada flushed even further, this time with embarrassment. “Then I must thank you. I believe you saved my life.”

  “I believe it’s Hélène who saved your life. I just saw the danger.”

  “How did you know I was with child?”

  Catherine shrugged. “I have a good eye for details. I hope you recognize that you are still in grave danger, my lady.”

  “Sister,” Bertrada corrected. Although she hadn’t yet taken her vows, she wasn’t about to let this woman patronize her.

  Catherine again nodded, although Bertrada had the distinct impression she was being humored. She turned to Hélène. “What do you know about Lady Ragomfred?”

  “She’s a merchant’s daughter. She married Lord Ragomfred for his title. He married her for her dowry. An intelligent young woman, anxious to be accepted at court.”

  “I would say she has succeeded,” Catherine said. “She’s been the talk of the court since I arrived.”

  “Did Pippin sleep with her?”

  Catherine frowned. “That’s a question for the mayor.”

  “But surely you’ve heard the rumors.”

  “I have.”

  “Are they true?”

  “I don’t know. It was clearly in Childeric’s interest to spread them. She made her supposedly secret visits to the palace very visible.”

  Bertrada was growing frustrated. “Did he sleep with her?”

  “I don’t know.” Catherine said.

  “You could tell across a crowded room that I was with child but can’t deduce whether or not Pippin seduced Lord Ragomfred’s wife?”

  Catherine sighed. “I must admit that he’s quite an enigma to me. That he loves you, I’m certain. Just as I can see that you love him.” She waved away Bertrada’s protest. “Please, my dear, I may be old but I’m not blind. But as to Lady Ragomfred, I really don’t know. Your Pippin is ruled by emotions so strong that sometimes he’s lost to them. I watched him nearly kill a man for having the audacity to interrupt our conversation. I also know that Lady Ragomfred is a very attractive young woman and quite aware of her power over men…a dangerous combination. And you, my lady, as I recall, abandoned him. What claim can you make on his affections if you released him from his commitment?”

  “He might have waited more than a month.”

  Catherine frowned. “It’s been several months since you severed the relationship. And…he is without an heir. Whether you know it or not that makes him vulnerable. Carloman has a son. His sister is with child. Without an heir, Pippin’s rule will eventually come into question.”

  “That won’t matter for years.”

  “Childeric certainly thought it did. The game of kings is a long one.”

  “But Lady Ragomfred? She’s already married.”

  Catherine scoffed. “Have you met her husband? Hardly one to consummate a marriage! I doubt Pippin would have difficulty getting it annulled.”

  Bertrada didn’t like the way the conversation was going. If she didn’t want Pippin herself, then why was she arguing? What was to be gained?

  “You’re right.” Bertrada said, angry with herself. “Who am I to question what Pippin does?”

  “You’re going to be the mother of his child. That will never change. I’m sure that will be enough to ensure your safety. In all likelihood, that will mean you have to remain part of his household, so you had best resign yourself to being present for his future indiscretions.”

  Bertrada shuddered at the thought of such an arrangement.

  Catherine stood. “Speaking of children, it’s time I checked on mine. They don’t like being cooped up in this palace all day.”

  Bertrada waited for the older woman to leave before addressing Hélène. “Is she always so blunt?”

  Hélène laughed. “Always. She sees things from a different perspective. And she’s usually right. She has had her way with me since birth.” Her face grew serious. “I suppose I should have listened to her years ago.”

  “About what?”

  Hélène shook her head as tears welled in her eyes. “She told me that I was choosing the iron path for the wrong reason.”

  “Why did you?”

  “Because I was afraid to love Agnès.”

  ✽✽✽

  Time slowed to a crawl inside the palace. Bertrada tried to rededicate herself to a life of God, emulating her days at Chelles and using the daily masses to keep time.

  But instead of quieting her mind, the solitude only sent her thoughts raging down corridors of doubt. Why was she really abandoning her life? Was she right to condemn Pippin’s use of violence? She had felt thankful for Hélène’s protection when the king’s men had attacked and would be forever in debt to Agnès, so why did she judge Pippin so harshly?

  Round and round her thoughts went trying to uncover what had set her on her path to God. The answers eluded her. She sought out Hélène, hoping the older woman would find a way to distract her. She found her protector in the practice yard, working through the slow careful movements that Hélène and Agnès had taught her out on the farm.

  “Join me.”

  Bertrada nodded and took her place alongside Hélène. It didn’t take long before the forms returned to her and she could move from one to the next without a pause. Her body of course was different, as the babe had grown large in her womb, but the slow progression of poses forced her mind to concentrate on something other than Pippin. When they were done, she felt quite relaxed, almost exuberant.

  Hélène was smiling. “Feeling better?”

  Bertrada nodded. “I should do this every day.”

  “You’re welcome to join me.”

  “I’d like that.” She smiled.

  “Oh, my lord, what’s that?” Hélène seemed alarmed.

  “What is what?”

  “It almost looks like a smile! Where did that come from?”

  Bertrada laughed, enjoying the moment, despite
being embarrassed. “I enjoy your company.” A sudden thought struck her, destroying the mood. “Hélène, what will you do when Pippin returns?”

  “That depends on the man he is when he returns.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I asked him a question when he came to the Abbey. He’s had plenty of time to consider his answer.”

  Bertrada shook her head. None of that made sense to her. “I meant, what about me? I’ve grown quite dependent on you.”

  “Pippin will protect you.”

  “It’s more than that. I’ve grown quite fond of you.”

  “Again, that will depend on the man Pippin is when he returns.”

  “What kind of man do you want him to be?”

  “One who will bring justice to the kingdom.”

  Miette stepped into the practice yard, her voice cutting through their conversation like a sword. “What about Carloman? Isn’t he the Holy Warrior and the Arm of God?”

  Bertrada could barely control her fury at the woman’s interruption. “How long have you been listening?” She felt like a farm animal next to Miette’s diminutive beauty. Sweaty and dirty after her practice, Bertrada couldn’t help but notice that Miette looked as if she had just bathed. Her hair, skin, and clothes looked fresh and delicate next to Bertrada’s girth and shorn hair. She could see why Pippin might prefer Miette.

  “The two aren’t the same thing.” Hélène answered the question as if Miette had always been part of the conversation. In fact, Hélène’s eyes seemed alight with an inner fire. “You serve the wrong master, Lady Ragomfred. The time of Clovis is at an end. The Merovingians no longer serve Francia. They only serve themselves.”

  “How do you know whom I serve?” Miette’s voice took on a coquette’s charm.

  “I serve justice,” Hélène said. “You serve power. The two are not the same.”

  “What if I served Pippin?” Miette looked directly at Bertrada. “What if I were to bear his child?”

  “You hedgehog!” Bertrada took a step only to be halted by Hélène’s raised hand. It had an authority that wouldn’t be denied. Hélène faced Miette with such power and strength that her very posture was an implied threat. When she spoke, her voice was barely a whisper but still carried all the severity of a gaoler.

  “Only time will tell whom you serve, milady. Perhaps you still have a role to play. Know only this: if Pippin is to serve justice – if he is who I believe he is destined to be – betraying him will be your death.”

  A thrill leapt through Bertrada at the look of utter fright that crossed Miette’s petite face. Yet the young woman recovered quickly, so quickly in fact that Bertrada almost believed she hadn’t seen the change at all. With a short, but dignified curtsy Miette left the room.

  Bertrada was about to speak when Hélène turned to face her, the threat still on her face. “Does that answer your question?”

  ✽✽✽

  Pippin rode into Paris late in the year with the army at his back, squandering any doubts that he was weakened by the rebellion. Bertrada watched from the ramparts as he crossed the bridge to the palace gate, hoping that he would have time for her. She had much to discuss with him.

  But from the moment he arrived, Pippin barked out a whirlwind of orders that sent most of the palace jumping to obey. Servants rushed to pack clothes, equipment and all the accouterments of his household into carts, Bertrada’s things included. The palace was in an uproar.

  Pippin was so preoccupied with Gunther, Childebrand and Arnot that he barely acknowledged her presence. Rumors ran rampant in the chaos: She heard that Carloman was dead; Hamar was dead. Trudi was dead. No one knew what to believe.

  When Pippin finally called for her, she found him pacing in the throne room, surrounded by Gunther, Childebrand, and the Lady Catherine. A furious look marred his face.

  She stepped towards him. “Pippin – ”

  He held up a hand to silence her. “Sister, please wait until the others are here.”

  It was as if she were a stranger! She could feel her cheeks flush with anger but did as he requested wondering what “others” were to arrive.

  Within a moment Hélène and Miette were ushered into the room. They were a study in contrasts; Hélène, tall and exuding power, strode into the room like a soldier. She even had a sword on her back. Miette, dark and diminutive, entered like a cat, cautious but curious, taking care to be sure of her exits.

  Pippin wasted no time on pleasantries. “Lady Hélène, please tell me what happened at Chelles.”

  Hélène spoke with a calm professionalism. “The Lady Ragomfred arrived with three of the king’s men. She entered the Abbey for the purpose of finding the Lady Bertrada. Once she became convinced of our presence, she notified the guards who attacked the Abbey. They killed several of the sisters and Agnès, a close friend of mine.”

  “This was Salau?” Pippin said.

  Hélène nodded. “Agnès and I fought and defeated two of them. But after Agnès fell, I faced Salau alone. At least I did until Lady Ragomfred stabbed him from behind with one of the guards’ knives. It was that wound that allowed me to finish him.”

  Pippin turned to Miette. “Why did you stab him?”

  “Couldn’t we discuss this in private?”

  “No banter, milady. Not today.”

  Bertrada could have cheered the way Pippin shut out Miette. Much as she had with Bertrada, Miette squared her shoulders and her coquettish persona dropped away. She addressed Pippin directly. “It’s true that I was sent to find Bertrada. But that was all I was told. Perhaps I should have guessed Childeric’s plan. In truth, I probably should have. But in the end, I couldn’t stand by while they killed her. I couldn’t be part of her murder. I,” Miette hesitated. “I couldn’t do that to you.”

  Pippin swore under his breath, his anger seething from him. “You must realize that you’re still complicit in killing the nuns at Chelles.”

  “Unknowingly, yes. But consider this, the only knife I raised was in defense of Hélène and Bertrada.”

  Pippin scowled.

  Catherine cleared her throat before speaking. “While you would be right to administer justice, my lord, this is perhaps not the most opportune time to do so. You can ill afford to start a civil war over the girl. Since she came to her senses – albeit late in the day – perhaps discretion might be the best course in this particular instance.”

  Both Childebrand and Gunther nodded their heads in agreement.

  “Very well.” Pippin addressed Miette. “Your act to save them has, in turn, saved yourself. You’ll be returned to your husband.”

  Bertrada felt a thrill at his words, but Miette looked so frightened that for once she almost felt sorry for her. “Please, Pippin, let me stay. They’ll kill me.”

  Pippin was unmoved. “They don’t know what happened. Tell them what you want…that Gunther killed him.”

  “Let me stay as your hostage. If you let me go, they’ll know I betrayed them. Tell them that I couldn’t bring myself to kill you…that our affair saved your life.”

  Bertrada felt her whole body grow cold. So, it was true! And Pippin wasn’t even embarrassed to admit it.

  “Please!” Miette begged, tears welling in her eyes.

  Pippin’s face was a mask. Even Bertrada couldn’t read it. Did he admit the affair? Did he care how she would feel about it?

  Miette must have realized her pleas would go unanswered. Although she wept, she straightened her shoulders and curtsied. “As you will, milord.” She turned to take her leave and walked regally from the room.

  Bertrada looked up to find Pippin staring at her. “Sister, you will travel with me to Quierzy. I can’t afford to have my child threatened again. I’m sorry for your plans at the Abbey, but they’re no longer possible.”

  Bertrada noticed that he had said “my child” and not “you.” It was almost as if she didn’t exist, save as a vessel for his progeny. She felt tears of humiliation coming and angrily pushed them
aside. She refused to show less control than Miette. Ignoring the irony of it, she curtsied and said, “As you will, milord.” She left the room with as much dignity as she could muster and followed Miette out the door.

  ✽✽✽

  The next morning, Pippin was roused early. Servants had found Miette’s body outside the palace gate on the far side of the bridge. She had been beaten so badly that she was barely recognizable. Both eyes and her left cheek were swollen and bruised. Blood caked about her nose, her mouth, and one eye. Although she still drew breath, she was close to death.

  Pippin cursed himself when he saw her. He should have listened to her. He should have believed her. He had dismissed her fears and she had paid the price. He lifted her into his arms, cradling her like a child, and carried her inside the palace. He shouted for his doctors and took Miette up to his room.

  Once he had her situated on the bed, Pippin grabbed a towel and doused it with ale leftover from the previous night and tried to clean away the blood on Miette’s face. She groaned at his touch, but her eyes fluttered open, two small slits in the bruising. When she saw him, she tried to smile.

  “I’m sorry, Miette. I should have believed you.”

  “No,” she whispered through cracked lips. “My fault.”

  “What did he do to you?”

  Her eyes misted with tears and she looked away from him. “He broke me.”

  ✽✽✽

  An armed delegation arrived at the gates of the palace two days later led by Bishop Boniface that included Childeric and Lord Ragomfred. Pippin met them in the throne room with Childebrand and Lady Hélène beside him.

  The fact that Pippin sat on the throne clearly wasn’t lost on any of his guests. The cheeks on Boniface’s face splotched red and Childeric’s eyes grew dark and menacing. The delegation crossed the room and stopped several feet before the throne.

  “Forgive me, Lord Mayor.” Boniface stressed the title when he spoke. “I expected a much warmer reception.”

  Pippin was in no mood for pleasantries. “Are you here at my brother’s request?”