BAVARIA
Chapter 2
June 1401
King Ernst I found his country in a very uneasy position. Although he had an alliance with Hungary, even if he could trust them, there was still Austria and Bohemia to contend to the west.
He toyed with the idea of pursuing an alliance with Poland. Then, he thought alliances with both Hungary and Poland although safer, would only draw Bavaria into constant wars…wars that would avail his kingdom nothing.
LONG ISLAND TIME FACILITY - 1984
The Time facility had lost all contact with Range. Even though Range had only traveled back in time to 1399 a few moments before Walcott and Riley were getting worried.
Then, quite by accident they located our young hero.
WALCOTT: Maybe we’ve going about this all wrong. Change the date, and the year…see if we can’t catch him in some other month or year later than when we transported him.
RILEY: I’ve found him…in June 1401!
WALCOTT: Yeah…but, where he is…that’s not Ireland?
RILEY: (Beat) It’s Scotland…
WALCOTT: Well, how in heaven’s name did he get there?
RILEY: I suppose he took a boat…
WALCOTT: Well, you don’t think he swam from Ireland do you? Of course he took a boat. Get him back here!
RILEY: (Beat) I can’t…the portal is locked. All we can do is watch.
SCOTLAND – June 1401
Range had in fact taken a boat ride with an Irish contingent to help drive the English from Scottish soil. It had been very seasonally dry and hot thus far for the year. To their further displeasure the weather was as detested as the greeting they received from some of the Scottish clans… the Scottish called the Irish visit an intrusion on their clan lands.
Being ones that did not want to stay where we were not wanted, the Irish quickly began to make plans to return home to Ireland. Shortly after the time they decided to return home, the Scots and the English held a battle that the Irish were not invited to attend.
The Scots, greatly outnumbered, were thrown back in utter in defeat. However, the English for some dumb reason decided not to press the attack to finish the Scots. Instead, their general paused to regroup his army and discuss strategies for the next day’s battle.
Right before dusk an suspecting rider was seen moving up to the Irish position. Range climbed a tree by the roadside and waited for the rider to move beneath the limb that he was to perch on. As the rider passed beneath him Range dropped down upon him, knocking him from his horse. Range scrambled to my feet much quicker then the rider.
He was a Mercenary courier, given special charge of some response or compliance to an order given to the Mercenary general.
RANGE: I would suggest that you give up.
Range pressed the tip of his sword pressed against the courier’s throat.
RANGE: (cont) What’s your business?
Range then noticed the pouch hanging down from around te courier’s neck. By this time many of the men with Range had surrounded their guest. The pouch was soon grabbed roughly from about his neck by one of the men. .
CAPTAIN MICHAEL O’ROURKE: What do we have here, Range?
RANGE: I don’t know…he’s either a spy or a mercenary for the English.
The pouch was brought directly to O’Rourke who wasted little time before reading the dispatch. As he read, he gave orders,
CAPTAIN MICHAEL O’ROURKE: Robert tie our guest to a tree off the side of the road and gag him.
RANGE: What is it?
CAPTAIN MICHAEL O’ROURKE: Well, Range…it would appear that it’s from some English General to the general of the Mercenary. It reads, “From the honorable General Schmidt…to the general Turner of the English in Scotland…at sunrise we will advance with all hast through the gap marked on the map…and catch the Scots as they retreat from your frontal assault.”
COURIER: My father will hang all you Irish,” said their prisoner, defiantly.
RANGE: Quite defiantly isn’t he?
CAPTAIN MICHAEL O’ROURKE: He reminds me of you Range. (to courier) And, just who is your father, boy?
COURIER: General Schmidt.
RANGE: Then why are you not in an English uniform?
CAPTAIN MICHAEL O’ROURKE: Mercenaries make more money than regular army Range…(to courier) Isn’t that right boy?
COURIER: I’m not a child…
RANGE: One thing is for sure…you’re not a soldier.
CAPTAIN MICHAEL O’ROURKE: Range…didn’t I tell you it’s not nice to taunt our prisoners. (to a soldier) Robert, take him and do as I say immediately…we have to hurry to join the Scots.
RANGE: May I see the communiqué?
O’Rourke handed the communiqué to Range without a second thought. Range immediately began to read further.
McGREGOR: Were going to help them, when they want no help from us?
Having soon read further into the communiqué than O’Rourke, Range called out to him.
RANGE: Michael…might I suggest something?
McGREGOR: (Michael) Are you going to listen to mere lad?”
CAPTAIN MICHAEL O’ROURKE: So, far he has not done wrong by us…do you recall the tight spot he got us out of in Ireland…he has special knack…a discernment beyond his age and this gift cannot be taught.”
McGregor agreed nodding yes, as if wondering about Range.
CAPTAIN MICHAEL O’ROURKE: (amused) All right Range what do you see that I have missed?”
“You are right we do have to come to the aid of the Scots, but not in the normal way. If we were to join the Scots we’d only find ourselves in the same predicament that the English plan for the Scots.” Showing Michael the map I explained. “WE have to stop the Mercenaries at the pass.”
“Boy…they outnumber us more two to one.”
“I know but, we can cut them down…as the English are about to make two mistakes.”
Michael looked at McGregor.
McGREGOR: (mumbled) If he right about this one he’ll be hard to live with.
CAPTAIN MICHAEL O’ROURKE: You might be right…but, I’ll listen and consider what he has to say.
RANGE: The Mercenaries are dividing their forces…a portion of them with move ahead through the pass to engage in battle, leaving the rest to protect the supplies…supplies for the entire English army as well as the Mercenaries.
McGregor: We’re in for it now…we’ll never hear the end of it.
By the next morning’s light, we were in position. The Scots had been warned by the Irish of the British plan and the battle was about to begin.
The Irish were in position as well, broken into various groups. There were some on both ridges of the narrow pass. Some lay in wait off to the side, hidden behind some thicket just beyond the grassy path. From there was a field of tall dried grass that stretched sixty yards into the pass.
Range, along with a few others watched from behind the thickets, not making a sound, as the Mercenaries marched past them. And, as the lead element soon moved into the pass all hell broke loose. From above the ridge tied burning bundles of brush rained down to set the dry grass on fire. Horses were then sent scurrying through the pass dragging burning tied brush setting more of grass on fire until the entire field was in flames. The screams of the enemy in torment echoed from the pass. Some tried to run for opening of the far end of the pass only to find the pass blocked and guarded by Irish troops.
The Mercenaries outside the burning hell were stricken with disbelief…as they heard their comrades crying out in pain. Some the soldiers threw themselves from the flames, their friends hurried to assist them. That’s when Range’s detachment sprung out from behind the thickets “Erin Go Bragh!”
The Mercenaries didn’t have a chance. The Irish cut down every one of them before they knew what was happening.
Toward the end of the battle, a dispatch rider from the rear rode up to General Schmidt.
SCOUT: General, the Irish are attacking our stores…destroying everything.
The General Schmidt, furious, noticed Range standing in the open staring at him. Upon his horse the General charged at Range…his sword raised ready to cut our hero down.
Range allowed the General to draw almost on top of him, before he dropped to the ground a speared the General’s horse sending the General head over heels onto the ground. The spear was broken…but, it didn’t matter the General was dead.
Michael was furious with Range as he rushed to his side.
CAPTAIN MICHAEL O’ROURKE: What sort of silly move was that? Didn’t you know that horse was about to run you over and that General wanted to run you through?
O’Rourke then became silent as he stared into Range’s eyes. As he stared into Range’s eyes he could find no hint of fear or realization of the danger he just came face to face with.
CAPTAIN MICHAEL O’ROURKE: Someone once told me…after the training is through you must allow you instinct to rule your action in battle…anything else could get you killed through indecisiveness.
As for the young Mister Schmidt, who had been left tied to a tree, when the Irish returned for him the young man had vanished.
BACK IN THE LONG ISLAND FACILITY – 1994
Walcott and Riley sighed with relief.
RILEY: Riley…I don’t know what you have to do…but, get that boy home and in one piece.