The village of Glen Cairn was without a Scottish leader at the moment because he had been killed by the Kerrs on his own hearthstone. The Kerrs were the formally recognized leaders, but really the villagers (at least the other lads) saw the young son of Sir William Forbes as their future leader. His mother saw that if the attention of the Kerrs was drawn to her son he would be in grave danger. She told him not to take command of the other lad's play, but to treat them strictly as equals.
He practiced the art of sword-fighting with Sandy, the man who tended to the gardens and made sure that things were going right about the place. Lady Forbes had been allowed to stay in the castle as long as she did not stir the people up to rebellion. Archie was told stories of Sir William Wallace, for as quiet as his mother seemed, she really burned for her injuries to be avenged.
Archie wanted to know one night why the Kurrs were the lords of the village, and why the English lorded it over them. His mother told him to wait for the morning, when she would tell him the whole story.
He reminded her the next morning, and she told him how the only children of the king had died, the king himself had died, and many claimed the throne. The king of England had said that he would judge who was to be king of Scotland, and all the nobles agreed to this to have a chance at becoming king. They had made a treaty with him that strictly stated that Scotland was a free kingdom.
But after a king was made, they had to acknowledge the king of England as their lord paramount. Then some of them were required to appear in England, which was not allowed by the treaty. When they refused, Edward seized some of the towns and would not give them up unless they obeyed him. The king of Scotland, Baliol, soon found that he was just a puppet in the hands of Edward. He was forced to give up his office because he would not submit. All the nobles made peace with Edward, and it was shameful how they all flocked to make peace with a underhanded, mean man. The treaty had been revoked because Edward forced Baliol to do so, and Edward had made sure that the revoking covered all treaties that were made and that might be made. They were all illegal.
Archie was filled with indignation at this, and he said that he would one day help to free Scotland. Unknown to all but the participants, he formed a band of lads, all the same age as himself or older, and they had mock battles with each other. They said that they had been playing rough if they were asked about their bruises, and none suspected the existence of the Scottish Avengers.
One day they were surprised by Red Roy, one of Sir John Kerr's henchmen. He asked them questions about what they were doing, and one of the older boys answered. They had been playing Picts against Scots, that was all. Yes, they had been fighting rather hard, but they did not mind, and it was all better training for when they should serve under Sir John's banner. No, Archie did not really participate, he did not do well with a bow and his mother did not like it if he came home with some hard knocks. Red Roy went off, satisfied. They had been playing Picts and Scots, because no one would be called English, even in play. Picts, however, was fine, and it proved well that they had taken that title for the other side.
More soon!
Bell
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