60. Chapter 60 - the Wolf King
CHAPTER 60 - THE WOLF KING
THREE YEARS AFTER THE DO-OVER - EARNSIDE - 1304
T was night, we were in a tent on the edge of a field beside the Earn river near Crieff. Rain was pourin’ down the canvas sides, coolin’ the air, dampenin’ all other sound but the heavy raindrops, loud and constant.
The ground was bawbag-deep in mud.
I wrapped my arms around m’middle and pulled my fur around m’shoulders, starin’ out through a flap in the tent. Wallace was standin’ beside me. He said, “I wish Cailean Mòr was here, he did find enjoyment in the hours afore a battle, and he could begin a conversation tae take the edge off the cold…”
“He was a good man and he enjoyed the rain.”
“That he was, and och, how he loved the rain. He was a pain in my arse because when it would begin tae rain he dinna allow for grumbling, he wanted tae lift our spirits.”
“As if spirits could be lifted by this storm. This is the kind of storm that is bordering on tyranny.”
We had been here for a full week, waitin’ for the fight tae begin, sleepin’ night after night in our sodden tents under this seemingly eternal deluge. I said, “I ken I say this all the time, but och nae, this weather harkens back tae when m’da met with Edward in the field of Kippen. Tis forebodin’.”
Wallace said, “Ye say it, because of the rain, but ye ken, if Cailean Mòr was here he would say, ‘the rain is as much a blessin’ as a curse.’”
“Och, well Cailean would be wrong. This rain feels like a verra heavy curse. But m’sense of foreboding is also because of who we hae drawn near, we are about tae face off against Edward. I hae waited a long time for this, twould be good if God would give us a Scottish day for the battle, a pale blue sky and deep green grass, tae accentuate the spray of our enemies’ red blood?—”
Wallace chuckled. “Think how glorious their blood will be against the steel gray of a stormy sky, a true Scottish sky, think how we will delight with their heads in the mud?”
I raised the edge of the tent flap tae get a bit more of a view. My eyes scanned the landscape. “Och, we need tae get started. The sooner we beat Edward, the sooner we drive the English from our lands.”
Wallace said, “Aye, our freedom is callin’ us. And ye ought not hae forebodin’, Archibald, we will win, our cause is just.”
I said, “If we win, what is the first thing ye are goin’ tae do with yer freedom, Wallace?”
He chuckled, “ When we win. Tis hard tae think over m’desire for a woman, I think that is what I will do first.”
“That goes without sayin’, I mean after the revelry, then what are ye goin’ tae do?”
“Move tae a nice croft, hae a bonny bride, give her a proper number of bairns — twelve sons will do, I think, and then I will never sit in a tent in the rain again.”
“A nice croft! What about a lordship? A large castle, lands that stretch out?—”
“Och nae, I am tired of government.”
“I canna accept yer answer, Wallace, if ye succeed in placin’ m’arse ontae the throne, yer arse is goin’ tae sit upon a carved seat in a castle as well.”
The corner of his smile went up. “If ye insist, I will accept a modest castle, with good lands, but because I am nae getting what I want, the maiden must be verra bonny. What are ye goin’ tae do if we win?”
“I will marry Isobella as I promised.”
“Dom’s daughter will be a good choice for ye. Ye will bring yer lines taegether, the line of Mag Mòr and Cailean Mòr, the laird of Loch Awe.”
“I think twill be a good decision.” I lifted the tent flap again. “Och, this rain inna relentin’. Tis still foreboding.”
“Chin up, Young Archibald, ye hae yer crossbow readied, yer aim will be true. We hae Dom leading our men in the south, Niall leadin’ the highlanders tae the west, and our larger army here. We are goin’ tae meet Edward on three fields, stretchin’ him beyond his strength. Our men report he has troops headed tae all three locations, and he winna hae the numbers tae match ours. He will be met by our armies in each field, and vanquished, just as we planned.”
I said, “Aye, just as we planned, the time has come.”