The Family - Mario Puzo [178]
The king finally agreed, swayed by Cesare’s logic. That night the two men spent hours studying a map of Viana’s fortifications, and planning strategies for the following day.
It was before dawn when Cesare awoke. The king’s army had arrived, and was waiting. His mount, a spirited bay stallion, was impatiently stomping his foot at the gate. The army wound its way out of the castle, and with Cesare leading they crossed fields, climbed hills and streams, and finally arrived before the walls of Louis de Beaumont’s castle.
Cesare studied the fortress. The walls were high and well designed. But Cesare had seen higher, better walls. Compared to Forli and Faenza, this should be no difficult task.
Cesare deployed his men as he had so many times before, then donned light armor and prepared himself to fight once again. He himself would lead the charge of the cavalry; given the infantry’s condition, Cesare knew that charge would be critical—it could carry the day.
Recalling the lessons he had learned from Vito Vitelli, Cesare began by spreading his cannons around the perimeter of the walls and protecting them with units of cavalry and infantry. Once that was accomplished, he ordered them to fire initially at the ramparts. This behavior would kill or disable many of the defenders and reduce the ultimate risk to Cesare’s own forces. The artillery officers passed on his orders, and the bombardment began.
It went well. Time after time, as the guns fired, portions of the upper walls crumbled and fell on all sides of the castle. As the cannons continued their fire, Cesare could hear the screams of the defenders who had been mutilated or blown off the ramparts by the ceaseless attack.
But now, after more than an hour, it was time to change his tactics. Cesare instructed that all cannons be wheeled to one side of the castle. Then he ordered their fire directed to a single section of the wall no more than fifty feet wide. There, thought Cesare, is where my cavalry charge will strike.
This castle was not as well built as those Cesare had attacked in Italy. The walls began to sway with each barrage, and Cesare knew the end was near.
It was then he gave the command for the cavalry to prepare to charge. The cavalry officers passed on his command, and each of the mounted men placed a deadly-looking lance under his arm in the attack position. Each was wearing a sword as well, and even if dismounted would be a formidable foe.
Cesare himself mounted his bay charger, placing his own lance at the ready. He checked his sword and the spike-studded mace that hung from his saddle, ready for use if he were dismounted and lost his sword.
Cesare’s fighting spirit was aroused. But it was more than that. This was not just another battle for conquest. This king had been kind to him, had saved his life, had become a friend.
Moreover, Cesare knew all too well what a vicious baron like Beaumonte could do if left unchecked. He owed it to the king to put an end to Louis de Beaumonte.
Now Cesare heard the familiar cry: “A breach, a breach!” A huge, jagged hole had been opened in the wall, through which his cavalrymen could pass unimpeded and take the castle.
His heart beating mightily, Cesare turned and shouted at his troops to charge the wall. Pulling down the visor of his helmet, he spurred his charger straight ahead directly at the breach.
But as he raced toward the wall, he knew suddenly that something was terribly wrong. There was no sound of hooves beside him.
Without stopping, he turned in the saddle.
Behind him, where he had left them, the entire cavalry troop was standing motionless. With horror, he realized that not a man had followed him.
Any moment the castle reserve would rush to the breach, and without a cavalry charge, they would be difficult to dislodge.
Cesare slowed his charger. He turned again toward his cavalry unit, raised his visor, and bellowed,