55. Chapter 55 - Fraoch

CHAPTER 55 - FRAOCH

THE AFTERMATH OF THE SIEGE OF STIRLING CASTLE - JUNE 20, 1291

I watched as the helicopter lifted from the castle grounds and flew away. Time stood still and m’heart raced. Och nae, there wasna anything we could do .

I would hae tae keep his bairns safe.

I turned tae take in the scope of the castle, it had been destroyed by the English King and Asgall.

Jack was wailing.

Archie was despondent.

Isla was hanging ontae Emma sobbing.

They had seen their parents taken captive — what would I do?

I met Hayley’s eyes. She said, “We can’t stay here, there’s no place to sleep, it’s a ruin.”

I swept m’gaze along the horizon. I would hae tae make decisions: I was in charge of the castle, of Magnus’s bairns, of a kingdom.

Cailean said, “Fraoch, we ought tae get the prince tae a protected place. He is in the open.”

“Aye, though it seems as if the army is withdrawin’.”

All around the castle were storms, a vision of disaster and horror, but we were a distance away. We could watch without harm as storms whisked the War Machines away. This was just an army havin’ accomplished what it wanted tae do, leavin’ tae cause trouble somewhere else.

But the bairns were terrified.

“Take them tae the chapel, we will set up beds for them tae sleep.”

There was the rumble of horses galloping up the hill, the standard they carried in front belonged tae the English King.

Cailean ushered everyone away. “Tae the chapel!” Hayley, Zach and Emma herded the bairns as Edward and his men arrived at the gate and entered and milled around in m’courtyard as if they owned the place.

I planted m’feet in front of them. “Ye canna enter.”

Edward spoke down tae me from his horse. “We can, we will, and we accept your surrender.”

I scowled. “Nae.”

“Your surrender, now! It is the only way the prince survives. We are of a mind to arrest both the sons of Mag Mòr for the overthrow of the rightful King of Scotland.”

Wallace spit in the dirt. “What rightful King of Scotland? Mag Mòr was crowned King at Scone, in 1290.”

“We have been determined to be the administrator of the court, and therefore we have declared that action to be treason.”

Wallace said, “Ye are on Scottish lands, an illegitimate English usurper! Ye hae nae say in the Scottish throne, I will kill ye!” Wallace fumbled as he unsheathed his sword, but Edward’s guards lunged forward, knocked him over, and held him down. He struggled as they pinned his arms behind his back.

I said, “Unhand Wallace.”

“He must drop his sword at our feet and bow.”

“He winna bow tae the English King when ye hae just conspired tae overthrow the Scottish crown. He will sheath his sword and he will quiet down while we discuss this matter.” I spoke over my shoulder. “Dost ye hear me, Wallace? And next time twill save ye trouble if ye kill first and then say ye are goin’ tae kill a man. Ye waste valuable time with yer youthful tongue.”

The guards let him go and Wallace sullenly sheathed his sword.

The English guardsmen stood around him threateningly.

Wallace sneered.

I asked Edward, “Where hae ye taken the king?”

“We cannot say, Asgall has taken him. He did not tell us his plans, only provided assistance in our own pursuits in exchange for Mag Mòr.”

“Ye expect us tae stand for this? Ye hae unlawfully taken the king, and his wife, the queen, and removed them from their seat, Stirling castle. Yer armies hae destroyed our walls, and ye stand here threatening the crown prince?”

“Yes, it does seem that way.” A slithery smile spread across his face. “We command that you surrender.”

Behind him more men rode up the hill.

There was nae way we could fight them all.

Edward said, “We are convening the Scottish Magnates to plan the succession.”

Cailean said, “We will call on the French! We will bring their ships tae our shores, we will call up an army and chase ye from our lands!”

William Wallace yelled, “Hear hear!”

Edward said, “I am placing Prince Archibald and Prince Jack under arrest for high crimes against the throne of England?—”

I said, “Ye hae nae authority tae arrest the sons of Mag Mòr on Scottish sovereign lands.”

“Mag Mòr surrendered, he has given up his castle — his last man is standing in the courtyard arguing with us and risking the lives of his sons. But we will be benevolent. The English Crown will give you an hour to remove yourself from this castle. Whoever is left will be arrested. On the way to the tower, we will parade the sons of Mag Mòr through the streets of London as a warning — the line of Mag Mòr is no more.”

Wallace said, “Och nae, ye are an arse. English pigswill of the kind that needs tae learn a lesson.”

I nodded.

Edward said, “Who would be teaching us a lesson? Mag Mòr? His men? You have all been beaten.”

Wallace said, “It will be me, maybe not taeday, but someday soon.”

Edward chuckled. “What are ye waiting for?” His horse stamped. “If you want to survive to—” He made his voice falsetto tae mock Wallace, “‘teach us a lesson’ you will need to leave this castle, the time is counting down.”

He turned his horse and moved his men tae the gate.

Cailean and Wallace drew near, the men of the castle gathered around. Cailean said, so all could hear, “Make haste tae depart!”

There were groans, and some of the men yelled, “Nae!”

One of the men answered, “But we canna remain! We are nae match for the dragons. They hae destroyed the castle!”

I said, “If we want tae live tae fight another day we must leave. I hae tae get the prince tae safe lands.”

A man said, “My men will ride along tae protect yer passage.”

One of the men in the back said, “I will take m’men tae the south, send men tae the west, we will gather an army.”

Cailean said tae me, “We will take the princes and princess tae Innis Chonnell, my son is there, he has men, tis protected.”

I said, “I was thinkin’ the same thing, Magnus will ken tae find them there.”

“Aye, he will ken, he would expect it I think. If I am alive he kens I will take his bairns home tae keep them safe.”

Wallace said, “I will ride with ye, Cailean and Fraoch, I will lend m’sword tae the prince’s cause.”

Chef Zach and Hayley emerged from the chapel. She asked, “What are we going to do, Fraoch?”

“We need tae gather all we can carry, we must get the bairns tae safety.”

Zach said, “Fuck, that sounds dire, he would hurt a bairn?”

“A bairn in line for the Scottish throne? Aye.”

Zach looked up at the ruined Keep. “I’ll go see what I can salvage from upstairs.”

I said, “Hayley, go with him, grab whatever ye can carry. I’m goin’ tae get the horses readied. Tell Emma tae gather the bairns. We hae a long night of travel ahead of us.”

Cailean yelled, “Gather any blankets ye can find, as we will be sleepin’ along the way.”

I announced tae the group, “load them up!”

The courtyard and castle were rushin’ and chaos as we loaded horses with all we were able tae collect. We got the bairns up intae saddles; Ben and Archie on a horse, Isla rode with Emma, Zoe rode with Zach. Hayley had Jack wrapped tae her front. He had cried so hard he fell asleep and missed all the activity. Isla was exhausted from weepin’. Archie looked terribly frightened.

He asked, “Uncle Frookie, what are we doing?”

I said, “We are gettin’ on horses, goin’ tae stay with Cailean’s family.”

“Will Da know where we are?”

“Aye, he will ken where we are. He will come right there as soon as he can.”

When we were in the big group, about tae go, I saw him looking around everywhere, a look of panic on his face.

I rode up. “Ye well, Archie?”

He asked, “I daena see them — where is Isla? Where is Jack?”

“Isla is with Aunt Emma, dost ye see? And Aunt Hayley has Jack. We are goin’ tae ride slow, and all stick together. As soon as we leave the gates, it will be easier to see them.”

“I wish you were holding them.”

“I ken, Archie, but I hae tae ride guard — nae worries, we hae this. I winna allow anything tae happen tae ye or yer brother and sister. Ye will ride in the middle of a large guard. Twill be slow, but all will be safe.”

He nodded, anxiously.

I was on m’horse on one side of the gate, Wallace was on the other as the large group rode from the castle en masse. Archie said, “You’re coming?”

“Aye, I will be right in the back, with m’eye upon ye. I will catch up as soon as I ken tis safe.”

We watched them go, then I said tae the English King and his men, “Daena follow us, or we will kill ye.”

“We will not follow you, but do not return. If we discover that the son of Mag Mòr is returning for the throne his father lost, then we will have him executed in London for all to?—”

Wallace said, “I ken, I heard yer diabolical threats — I am sick of listenin’ tae ye goin’ on and on. Ye would threaten the son of the Scottish King? Truly? Then I will see yer head taken from yer shoulders.”

Edward said, “When fleeing a stronghold that has been destroyed by forces from England, ought you insult and threaten the King on your way from the gates?”

Wallace glared.

I rode my horse between them. “Come on, Wallace, we hae a journey ahead of us and yer whole lifetime tae solve this dispute.”