Chapters 17-18 Summary

The three sons of the deceased Emperor Louis are in battle for the empire. Gerold's loyalty is to the youngest of the three, who has the most volatile and despotic temper, Lothar. Lothar does not care for Gerold and does not listen when he offers help in strategizing the battle. During their long wait for the enemy, Lothar's soldiers drink too much wine and charge too fast into the enemy, riding into the creek when the enemy is on the bank. During the gruesome battle, Gerold is hit by a swinging mace as well as an arrow, and wakes up among twenty thousand dead soldiers. Lothar has been defeated, the brothers Charles and Ludwig are celebrating with their troops. Gerold escapes quietly into the woods.

In the northern area of Fulda, the battle has little effect. After a period of unprecedented...