thought. It would mean the life of an outlaw, hunted day and night.The forfeiture of all the great Bruce lands. Not only in Scotland but in England. And what hope had these rebels, in fact? Against the power and might of England and the fury of the Plantagenet?
So Robert Bruce paced and harried his wits and his heart and his conscienceand came to no conclusion. Save only this, that it was growing towards dusk and something must be decided before darkness fellfor it would be difficult indeed to ensure that there was no break-out from the castle under cover of night.
If his quarry were to steal away in the dark, he would be left without even a bargaining-counter, however poor.
His mind made up thus far at least, Bruce stripped off his handsome heraldic surcoat of linen, and tying it to a lance point like a banner, gave it to one of his men to carry by his side. Hoping this would serve as a flag of truce, he and an extremely doubtful companion paced slowly, on foot, towards the castle ditch once more.
It made an unpleasant walk. But no arrows came at them, no reaction of any sort was evident, no challenging shout was raised.
At the drawbridge-end, Bruce halted and lifted up his voice.
Hear me. Hear me, I say. The Earl of Carrick would speak again with the Lady of Douglas.
He was answered at once.
You are a bold man, Lord of Carrick. Whatever else! Wait you. I send for my lady.
Bruce nodded and wafted, seeking to collect his thoughts.
It was some time before the womans high voice sounded, from a small gatehouse window.
I am here, my Lord Robert. What kindness would your King Edward do me now?
The young man shrugged.
I speak not for Edward Plantagenet now, lady. But for myself, he said.
I regret what was done. Before. The shooting of arrows. While we talked. It was against my commands. Segraves Englishry …
No doubt, sir. It was ill done. But what we might have looked for, from Edwards men. As what they sought to do later. with the children.
You saw?
We saw, yes. They are gone?
Aye, gone.
Your Segrave would have slain those children? Hanged them, before our eyes!
I do not know. In the end. Perhaps he would not. Only the threat.
To cozen you. I do not know.
But I know. His kind have done the like before. Many times.
If I had still refused him, he would have hanged them. And you?
You would not have it?
No. I would not. Could not.
I fear you are too tenderhearted to be Edwards man, my lord.
Sir Nicholas Segrave, I mind, said the same! Bruce gave back. This shouting was difficult.
I … I would speak with you, lady. Not thus. But decently. As becomes our quality.
I am content to judge your quality from here, my lord I What have you to say?
Bruce sighed.
Just this. Now that the English are gone, you would do well to open to me. You may trust me, Bruce. You have naught to fear from me.
Then, my lord, why sit you round Douglas Castle? Go back whence you came. If I have naught to fear from you, I will do very well here!
No. Do you not see? Exasperated, finding this long-range discussion trying in the extreme, he shook his head.
The English will be back. They must come back. It is Edwards command.
They will come in strength. They will have you. And in ill mood.
You must see it? Yield your house to me, now, and I will make a show of spoiling it. Then I will take you away. And your children.
Before they come …
Where? Take me where, my lord? Clearly he was interrupted.
To a safe place … There was another interruption, more shouting, but from behind him this time. And Bruce was almost thankful for it, at his wits end as he was for what he might say to convince and reassure the woman. Some of his men were waving to him, urgently, and pointing. Beside them was a helmeted and leather-jerkined newcomer, obviously an English man-at arms, and a steaming horse.
A messenger, lord, the cry came.
Frae Lochmaben. Wi tidings. Instant tidings, he says …
Bruce hesitated, concerned with how this would look from the castle. Then he called back Send him to me. Towards the gatehouse he added, Your pardon, lady.
The courier came forward, far from eagerly, escorted by none.
He was clearly as tired as he was doubtful.
Well, man? You are from Sir Nicholas Segrave? What is your message?
Not so, lord. It is Sir Nicholas that I seek. First. To him I was
sent. By Master Benstead Eh? Then … then you have not seen him?
Segrave? Met with him? Bruce stared.
How came you here?
By a great weariness of hills, lord. By Moffat town, see you.
And Abington. And Roberton Water. This was a singsong voiced Welshman, not English, and of some intelligence.
So! You missed them, then. They would go back as we cameby Lowther. Sir Nicholas returns to Lochmaben. For … for more men.
And is like to need them I But will not find them there, lord.
Master Bensteads tidings are of rebellion. War!
You mean this Galloway revolt?
That, and a deal more. They have broken out of Galloway and marched
north, these rebels. They are none so far off, look you-nearing Ayr
…
Ayr, you say? That was making north, with a vengeance!
Nearly fifty miles north of the Galloway border. No more man thirty miles west of this Douglas, indeed.
Then none are opposing them?
So it looks, lord. All the country rises to join them. But that is not the worst. The Lord Earl of Clydesdale is dead. Slain.
Hazelrig? Dead? You mean, in battle? He sought to halt them ..
.?
No, lord. Not these. Another. He was murdered. Slain in his own town of Lanark. By one Wallace. Some brigand, leading broken men, outlaws. Lanark is now in their hands.
By the Rude I Lanark fallen? Then these are no broken men!
Think you such could take the Sheriffs town of Lanark, and Hazelrigs castle? Stuffed full with Edwards soldiery …!
Scarce that, lord. It was cunningly, shrewdly done. Most of the Sheriffs force had been sent towards Ayr. To stem the rebels from Galloway. This man Wallacethey say he is the son of some small Renfrew knight, a vassal of the Stewardsstruck by night. He is not as the other rebels, led by lords and bishops. A man of no account, a brigand hiding in the hills and forests. By some trick he gained entry to Lanark Castle, and slew the Earl.
They say in vengeance for his wifes death. Then turned on the town.
The townsfolk aided him. By daylight Lanark was his.
But, man-this is scarce believable! What were Hazelrigs captains doing? It is the garrison town of the SouthWest.
One, Sir Robert Thorn, hangs from the castles keep, in place of King Edwards banner, they say! The other it was came to Lochmaben with these tidings, looking for men. Sir Hugh le Despenser. Wounded. Finding no men there, he rode on for Dumfries.
So-o-o! The SouthWest is aflame? Edwards iron grip prised
Meantime, Lord-meantime, only I But only the SouthWest.
Master Benstead says that there are revolts in the North also. In Ross, wherever that may be. And Argyll, or some such place, gut these are afar off. Here is the danger. These sheriffdoms of Lanark, Ayr, Carrick and Gallowaythe command of these is vital to the King, Master Benstead says.
Aye. No doubt he is right. And who does command here now, with Hazelrig dead? And Despenser wounded and gone? Who commands in Edwards name, now?
The courier raised an eloquent hand.