The Throne by Franco Bernini

Author:Franco Bernini
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Europa Editions
Published: 2024-05-03T00:00:00+00:00

“Did you hear what I said?”

Niccolò is distracted. The duke finishes giving instructions to Corella, who starts to leave, and the duke is now addressing him again.

“We were discussing what it means to do battle when we were interrupted. I want you to understand what I’m talking about, and experience is the best instructor. Miguel!”

Corella, already at the door, turns back. “Yes, my lord.”

“Before you leave, send me a fifer and a drummer. The best ones.”

Niccolò looks with curiosity at Valentino. What is he thinking?

“Follow me,” Cesare says and walks over to the balcony.

They step out into the bright sunshine. The two crossbowmen who stand at either end automatically raise their weapons and point them out at the plains.

Below, beyond the dry ditch, obeying the signals relayed to them by the fife and drum corps, are four companies of one hundred men. They’re simulating a deep attack against a hillock that is being defended, for the sake of the exercise, by two hundred soldiers spread out in five rows. The assailants advance in close-knit ranks, one after the next.

“Those men are all subjects of mine from Romagna, they’re the same men you saw marching in a disorganized manner under your window. They were farmers, with no experience of weapons. I entrusted them to my best trainers and now, in less than a month, they move as a compact unit. Look at how they immediately recognize the signals that are being communicated to them. Can you see? Each company has its own fifer and drummer, near the flag-bearer. Can you hear the beat of that drum? It’s from that company, the one farthest away, down there. That sound means: turn to the right. And do you hear the fifer? That means: to the attack.”

Niccolò watches as the troops indicated by Borgia change direction and begin to rush up the hill. Other signals directed to troops on the opposite side have them bend to the left and begin running up the hill. The two central groups maintain the pace. Then they, too, initiate a swift attack, following different signals.

“That’s the flanking maneuver, and it wasn’t terribly well executed. But they will improve. Soon I will be able to send them into battle and they will fight honorably.”

Niccolò realizes that Valentino is capably transforming simple peasants into his own private militia. He wonders whether Florence might ever do the same.

There’s the sound of footsteps behind them. The drummer and fifer have arrived.

“Do you want to try and control the troops, Niccolò? I will order them to follow the commands issued from up here. You merely have to tell the musicians where you want them to go and your commands will be translated into music.”

“I truly do not think I am capable, Your Excellency.”

“Try! It costs you nothing!”

Before he can even answer, Valentino has told the fifer and drummer to issue a command to the entire company: stop, listen, and prepare for commands to be executed as one unit.

“They’re all yours,” Cesare says, gesturing

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