“With the constant shifts in power as scheming men seek to control our child king,” David said, “who can say what counts for treason? It changes day by day.”
There was a rumbling murmur of agreement from the men on the hillside.
“I ask you again,” David said, “release my father’s widow.”
“I cannot,” D’Orsey said. “I am a reasonable man, however, and am willing to negotiate a resolution of the siege to avoid spilling blood. What else do you want? A few dozen cattle, perhaps?”
Did the fool not know who stole his cattle? Some of the Scots laughed aloud, but David was past humor.
“What else do I want?” David said, raising his voice to a thunder. “I want justice for the murder of my father and uncle.”
“They weren’t murdered, but executed for treason,” D’Orsey said.
“They were murdered through treachery!” David shouted. “They were invited to Edinburgh as the regent’s guests and promised safe passage.”
“I see I was mistaken in believing we could discuss our differences civilly.”
“My father and uncle agreed to discuss their differences with Albany civilly.” David spat on the ground. “I’ve seen what comes of that.”
“For the last time, I command you in the name of the king to cease the siege at Langton Castle,” D’Orsey said.
“When our Scottish king is old enough to speak for himself, I shall gladly follow his commands.” At least, he would if the king gave sensible commands.
D’Orsey’s face turned a darker shade of red, but David had never expected to persuade D’Orsey to release Isabella. He had spoken for the benefit of the Scots who rode at the Frenchman’s back, prodding their natural resentment against a foreigner’s authority. He also had reminded them that he had legitimate grievances, ones that could only be satisfied by blood vengeance, something they all respected.
David turned his horse, and his men did the same.As he rode away, he felt five hundred pairs of eyes on his back and hoped he had been sufficiently persuasive.
“I shall end the siege at Langton,” D’Orsey shouted after him, “and I shall make you and all who follow you pay for your insolence.”
David turned his horse abruptly back around.
“And I promise you before God and every man here,” he said, fixing his gaze on D’Orsey and raising his fist in the air, “that the next time we meet, I shall see you dead or in chains.”
CHAPTER 40
“Laird, come take a look,” one of the Hume men on the ridge called over his shoulder.
David crawled through the grass and rested on his elbows to watch D’Orsey’s forces as they traveled west on the far side of the river that cut a valley between the hills. He and his men had been following them for the past hour.
“D’Orsey’s still got three or four hundred men,” his man reported, “but the Scots have been quietly disappearing over the hills by the score.”
This was just as David hoped. The Scots would ride with D’Orsey for silver coin, but they were not so willing to fight the Laird of Wedderburn for the Frenchman. Most of them believed David was in the right and that the same injustice could easily befall their own families.
More than that, they knew D’Orsey would either die or return to France one day. But as long as the rivers flowed, there would be Humes in the Borders. In a land where blood was paid for in blood and grievances were remembered for generations, men did not cross the Humes lightly.
David glanced up at the sky. It was time. They didn’t have much daylight left, and they were close to the castle should they need to make a quick escape. As the saying went,leave the backdoor unlocked.
He crept back down the hill and gathered the men he would take with him in a circle. They were thirty of his fastest horsemen, for speed was essential. If all went well, a small, fleet group, similar to a raiding party, would serve his purpose.
If not, they’d ride like hell for the castle.
“Remember,” David told them, “I want D’Orsey captured, not killed, so I can trade him for Lady Isabella.”
He sent Robbie to stand watch halfway to the castle, which would keep him out of harm’s way.
“If ye see us galloping in your direction, ride ahead to the castle,” David instructed him. “Tell them to open the gate and be prepared to close it fast behind us.”
David led his thirty riders up to the ridge and paused, giving the men below time to see them. Then he gave the signal, and the Humes rode down the long hillside like a pack of running wolves.