Homelands
Chapter Fourteen: For Which He is Remembered
Part 4
Prelude:
The coming of spring did not yield the defeat of Poland. Instead it just resumed the cat and mouse games that hard started last year. Aethelwulf sought a decisive victory over the Polish and found none. But Jakub could not run forever and finally was caught outside of Krakow. The bloody battle outside the Polish capital left many dead. Once again Poland was without hope or allies in a war against the ever growing rival. The noble court of Poland removed their faith in Jakub and signed a peace out from underneath their King. Jakub was without right or privilege. Instead, he took up refuge in Silesia, his homelands, and declared himself King. Prussia now made an uneasy truce with Poland in order to chase down the rogue King. By September Jakub was captured and his small Kingdom was re-annexed to Poland. And with that the Polish-Prussian truce ended, and the two went back to their saber rattling.
October 27th, 1160
The victories over Jakub in Silesia were short lived for Gunvald and Aethelwulf. Their father lay in Marienscír as his father once had, waiting for the end. He was joined only by the two sons he had kept close to him. The rest of his family was now estranged and sent in semi-exile to rule over poor, desolate Russian territories. So, with only his two sons to comfort him, he began his confession. Gunvald brought a priest and Eadbert repented his sins, as many as he could remember. He had joined the monastery to being the process, but now he must complete it.
“Gunvald, you as my heir must be ready to accept the crown. I want you to stay with me here until it is over. Aethelwulf, please return to Memelbuhr and rule for the time being. We trust you in the time. Bless you child.” Eadbert placed his hand on Aethelwulf’s forehead. Tears streamed down his son’s eyes as he nodded and readied to leave. Once Aethelwulf left the room, the dying King reached out and pulled Gunvald closer.
“Father, what is it?”
“By the time Aethelweard leaves this city, you’ll be king, so listen close. I have made many enemies in the world, but it will be you who will have to withstand their wrath. Now, keep Aethelwulf close, he will be the key for these next few years in defeating Prussia’s enemies. But before you do anything, strike Poland one more time. Weaken them so they cannot strike into us while we are distracted. That is the only rule. Do not let them regain their standing in the world.”
“I will do just that father.”
“And Gunvald, I have a gift for you.” The aging King pointed to the largest chest at the foot of his bed. Gunvald opened it as instructed and inside found a large, bound book. Runæshaná shev Baltikjá.
“Tevá! Paldátu!” Gunvald exclaimed. He opened the book and saw the meticulously drawn and etched pages his father had poured his life into. He looked up and saw his father smiling proudly.
“You’re welcome. And you’ll be proud to know that I’ve had an underling copy each page as I finished it. The book is now being copied by the monks in my old monastery. A few copies here and there will help your language bloom. I hate to say it, but the Saxons are old-fashioned, Gunvald.”
“What do you mean, father?” Gunvald asked returning to his father’s side.
“We Saxons were invaders, we tried to settle the lands, but we were outnumbered. Our blood is diluted. Only the elite has managed to keep its blood mostly pure, but even so many of my children, you and Aethelwulf included are half-bloods. Part Saxon, part native. That is the future of this country.”
“We have been forged as our own people.”
“Yes, Gunvald. And you shall be their King. Gunvald,” Eadbert coughed quietly.
“Yes?”
“I have one favour for you to do for me before you die…”
“What is it?”
“Write a letter to the Caliph of Iberia, plead to him: have him return Aelle’s body so it may be buried beside my own.”
Eadbert slipped from the waking world that night. Aethelwulf, who was barely at the city gate, was called back by runners. The reign of Eadbert the Cruel was over. In later years he would be known as Eadbert the Saved, the first native Saint of Prussia. But for the people who lived under him, it was his war with Poland for which he was remembered.
Prussia at the death of King Eadbert I Leofricson